Only He Who Risks, Is Free..

I met a very interesting character today on Twitter.. specifically, an individual that goes by the handle, ObeyMyObama; whose profile states:

The people want PROVISIONS supplied & RISK removed. Statist gov't only option. Statism works with fair & just leader like Obama. AcceptCopeObey

At first I thought that this was obviously a sham account; one that was created tongue and cheek.. but the more that I observed this fruitcake, the more I saw that this person was actually serious:

http://bit.ly/edmSn0 We believe a strong central government, led by a honorable, fair & just authority is most efficient & equal. #p2 #tcot

And...

We don't think that freedom is most important thing. Equality is most important. Government is the answer. #p2 #tcot

So I decided I make contact with this person:

>>@obeymyobama <<

to which this sad, sad person replied,

Communism failed, unfortunately. Statism will work this time w/ fair & just leader. Obama removes risk & provides provisions.

To which I retorted,

@obeymyobama And who provides Obama with the provisions to provide to you? Is it the magic provisions dust that Obama carries in his pocket?

To which she retorted:

@Leo_Pusateri those that can provided, must provide. Equality is the foundation to a fair and just society. Don't hate, give if you have.

Can one believe that such people exist in our United States? Someone who wants to be taken care of, womb to the tomb, so willing to give up their liberties in lieu of a life supposedly free of risk.

This exchange made me think a lot about how some people are quite comfortable with living their lives in economic squalor, devoid of liberties, so as to provide themselves with a false sense of security. This harkened back to me in the form of a poem from the 1980s that had been shared with me:

Only a Person who Risks is Free

To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach for another is to risk involvement.
To expose your ideas, your dreams,
before a crowd is to risk their loss.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
To live is to risk dying.
To believe is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the
greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The people who risk nothing, do nothing,
have nothing, are nothing.
They may avoid suffering and sorrow,
but they cannot learn, feel, change,
grow, love, live.
Chained by their certitudes they are slaves;
they have forfeited their freedom.
Only a person who risks is free.

- anonymous