There are revolutions, and then there are revolutions.
Revolution is an American’s heritage. We had a revolution in the 13 colonies in 1776, and the nation was born with the Declaration of Independence on July 4.
This founding document of our young nation, though, was actually not a call to revolution or rebellion. Check the text, and you won’t find “revolution/revolt” or “rebellion/rebel” anywhere.
It was a noble call to uphold the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God”—a call to respect the highest traditions and principles of humanity, not to destroy them.
The declaration sought to throw off the bonds of tyranny from an overseas power that “excited domestic Insurrection among us.” It listed in detail the many outrageous offenses committed by the British crown against people who, by and large, wanted to remain loyal subjects.
It was a reluctant revolution that was fought vigorously once the decision was made, yet the declaration graciously referred to the crown as “Enemies in War, in Peace, Friends.”
The declaration did not declare war, but actually “Separation” under the guidance of “Prudence.” The authors sought to preserve dignity, honor, justice, and ultimately peace—not to create ongoing strife.
In stark contrast, the instigators of the various communist revolutions of the 20th century sought precisely to create a state of ongoing strife among “classes.” A particular class would be selected as the “enemy of the people” because that class—the Kulaks, the small landowners, the intellectuals, above all the bourgeoisie—might potentially threaten the stranglehold on power of the actual ruling class at the top of the communist hierarchy. The notion that many in the West have that communism creates a classless, share-and-share-alike society is a bitter joke played on millions of peasants and workers who can only dream of the opulent, privileged lives of politburo members and their families.
The revolutions that brought the Bolsheviks in Russia and the Chinese Communist Party to power were built on treachery and subterfuge. They cited the Communist Manifesto, a piece of grandiose theorizing that was imported from 19th century Germany, a piece calling for destruction, violence, and strife among people. This declaration was against all traditions and all belief in the “Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God.” It sought to create an atheistic and egalitarian utopia—of course, some in the Party were “more equal than others,” to borrow a phrase from George Orwell’s “Animal Farm.”
In China, the periodic calls to revolution have been cynical attempts to manipulate popular sentiment with the goal of keeping the communists in power. The communists’ fear of losing their illegitimately gained power has kept them continually scheming to portray domestic groups as being against the Party (sounds suspiciously just like the “domestic Insurrection” that the American revolution sought to shake off) or fan flames of nationalism and hatred against foreign enemies, real or imagined. All these are designed to distract the people from how bad a job the CCP has done at managing and building the nation.
The Cultural Revolution of 1966–76 was the most vivid example of violence, killing, destruction of families and careers, and annihilation of all that was considered good and traditional from China’s 5,000 years of history. Priceless works of art and ancient scriptures were hacked up or burned, Taoist and Buddhist monks and nuns and countless intellectuals were stripped of their positions and banished to remote regions, and millions everywhere were killed on pretext or for no reason at all.
In America, we hold our founding documents, the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, to be above any person or party. In China, the opposite is true. The constitution is a frequently changing document that is always subordinate to the wishes of the CCP.
The so-called Revolutionary War in the United States was fought to raise people back to the best of traditions. It has led to peace and prosperity in the land.
The communist revolutions brought people in dozens of countries down under a dark cloud of systemic violence, strife, and impoverishment. Some, such as those in Eastern Europe, now see a brighter future post-revolution. Others, particularly peasants, laborers, and people of traditional belief in China, still suffer under the oppressive pall of continual revolution.
This 4th of July in the United States, let us thank those signers of the declaration, those reluctant revolutionaries, for their fight for traditions, belief in God and nature, and peace. Let’s also remember those who suffer under the darkness of destructive, Godless, rapacious, and perpetually violent revolution in the remaining countries that call themselves communist.
For full July 4th 2013 Coverage click here.
