We WILL Start the Fire

Voltaire (B. Caskey)

Can I ask you, how can one person know how to lead a country when he or she does not even know what those under him or her want, or even need? How can that one person tell if he or she is doing something wrong? And how, if in extreme cases, can the public let the leader know it is time to release his or her power? Our leaders, present and future, need to let us, the people, speak our minds. Those few and powerful leaders need to release their grasp enough on their own people to allow opinions to escape. Opinions can lead to sides, sides can argue, and arguing can produce and IDEA. One idea, this is all that is needed to start something. One spark in a dry field is all that is needed to start a forest fire, and let me tell you, we are sitting in a dry field, waiting for a spark to erupt. We are waiting for that one idea to burn all of this vegetation down, all of these obstacles blocking our way to freedom. I believe in freedom of expression, nothing else. I don't care if I disagree with you, but if you cannot get your opinion out, then no argument can ensue, and no ideas can be created. If you are restrained, if you are stopped from saying what you think is right, then we will be tripping over branches for the rest of our life.

-Voltaire