Let freedom ring | opportunity

Joe Noland asks what we are taking for granted

People ask me why I do this (blogging) especially during my reclining years, and my answer is quite simple: Opportunity! The internet phenomenon - being able to get your thoughts out into cyberspace with split-second timing and the ability to have a large world-wide voice with instant access to the multitudes - represents unprecedented opportunity. Not so long ago this was unavailable except to a privileged few, now its open to everyone and anyone.

I feel fortunate to have access to the front-end of this internet revolution in these tail-end, “four-score and ten” years of my life. With an increasingly renewed sense of urgency, I have been exploring new and creative ways to broaden my blogging horizons - this opening on theRubicon being one of them. Kudos to Geoff, Bram and their team for their courage, creative vision and pioneering spirit - William Booth would be proud!

And God bless the Canadians for leading the way for The Salvation Army, innovatively exploiting this cyberspace, street-corner experience, i.e. ArmyBarmy and theRubicon.

I must admit, the complacency elsewhere, especially in America, is worrisome to me. Or is there more to it, possibly a shadow of subtle suppression in play? There have been a few hints, suggesting that such is coming this way. Aldous Huxley may have indeed have got it right when he wrote in Brave New World, “Almost all human beings have an infinite capacity for taking things for granted?”

For example, some time ago [ed: opens as a 351 KB pdf], The Salvation Army was selected as one of the world’s “10 Most Enduring Institutions,” as was “The U.S. Constitution”, incidentally. The framers of the Constitution wisely understood that religion and speech are two liberties that we so often take for granted and, therefore, it is no accident that these freedoms were the subject of its first amendment:

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.“

The Salvation Army is what it is today in my country because of these freedoms. I wonder, are we now taking those liberties for granted and/or are they being suppressed both externally and internally? Unfortunately my word allotment is up for this post, the editor being the tough taskmaster that he is. Look for my take on the answer to these questions next time, remembering it’s all about opportunity - my mother would be proud!

Writer: Commissioner Joe Noland’s ministry can be summed up in three words: chaos, creativity and controversy - three elements implicit in any successful innovative endeavor. Cecil B. DeMille, renowned producer of Biblical epics, once wrote, “Creativity is a drug I cannot live without.” Joe’s mantra reads, “Creativity is my drug of choice.”  Access Joe Noland’s complete bio, among other things, by clicking into his website.

Tags: creativity, freedom

1 Comment to Let freedom ring | opportunity

1. I’ve often wondered about this notion of suppression. Utilizing cyberspace is a natural form of spreading our wings and attaining the next level for the Army. Why it is not happening more universally puzzles me, frankly.

   Commissioner, I commend you for doing what you are so adept at - remaining at the forefront of the cutting edge and continuing to be a prophet’s voice in the wilderness! Thank you…
Rob on February 9th, 2009

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