For Liberty movie review: How the Ron Paul Revolution Watered the Withered Tree of Liberty

The documentary film “For Liberty” with its subtitle; How the Ron Paul Revolution Watered the Withered Tree of Liberty, was a pleasant surprise. Not surprising, seeing as I’m tremendously partial, as I too helped water the tree during the recognized part of the revolution. Actually, I have been watering the tree for well over 14 years now, waiting for some green shoots of life. I think I see something.

The movie “For Liberty” starts with us following a small dedicated group of citizens “walking with a timeless freedom message.” Their journey is interweaved throughout the film and takes us back to a simple idea. That idea is that grassroots efforts develop and spark action. That effort at the grassroots level starts by initiating face-to-face encounters and one-on-one discussion with our fellow citizens.

In the slice of time of Ron Paul’s campaign that the documentary covers for the office of President, “the revolution” grows quickly. All revolutions grow quickly when the Liberty Tree’s roots are refreshed. George Washington said it best when he said: "Liberty, when it begins to take root, is a plant of rapid growth." The Liberty Tree’s roots stretched and widened its reach when the liquid elixir of visual and audible truth that the Ron Paul Revolution carried and poured on the Withered Tree of Liberty were absorbed, and so much so that the extra spilled over onto the grass-roots as well!

There were a few themes in the movie that were covered, but for me the most glaring and documented theme was that of the defensive nature of the revolution’s main opponent, the corporate press. Fox News was singled out in particular, and for good reason, as this was in large part the New Party Republican news station working feverishly to maintain the neocon ideals it forwarded for the last decade. Protecting their perceived legitimacy meant repeating ad nauseum the same failed political plans as the prescribed answer to America's ills. No new ideas or fresh perspectives were welcomed.  Hearing falsehoods by their anointed Republican candidates carried over the airwaves was not enough. Reinforcing the falsehoods by their corporate handlers and opinionators in the press became the norm. Further, conglomerate media took offense when Dr. Paul administered the remedy of common sense. The common plan for the masses’ media became vilification, demagoguery, and flat out dismissal of those who dared carry the refreshing water of common sense truth. The corporate media then began to fight hard to persuade the viewers to retain and maintain their personal pride and self gratifying honor of willful ignorance when truth managed to escape during the presidential debates. I will admit, they were largely successful at this game of self assurance. However, this tactic only emboldened the grassroots to work harder to overcome the American condition of being fearful apathetic sheepish animals incapable of independent and rational thought.

To overcome the corporate press, becoming our own media was imperative. The film showed the ingenious ways people rallied to become their own media outlet. The success we did have would never have been possible had it not been for the Internet. The public’s growing disgust for the obvious bias toward certain candidates by corporate media didn’t hurt either. This bias reporting and commentary was exposed during the campaign and well documented in the film. Sadly though, most of the revolution’s message when delivered over traditional airwaves could only be done with simple yet intriguing signs. Signs which were so poignant that they exuded the most minimalist sound bite in nature, yet intriguing enough to raise eyebrows high enough that a few brain cells became engaged by the dumbed-downed masses. The many signs with the word “Revolution”, and its special twist of “love” within being the most significant and recognized sign, helped bring us to the top of the well known circular conditions that society moves within during various political stages. The apex of the circle and the word REVOLUTION on the signs screamed to me… This stop, Revolution, next stop… liberty! So we became our own media, grabbed hold of the 1^st Amendment with all our might and wielded the Internet and hand held placards with military precision. Not well enough to win the war, but well enough to swell our ranks for the next battle.

The Ron Paul Revolution was a peaceful loving venture that still continues under many facets of activism today, all of which are important. Let’s pray that these roots of liberty are revived enough that the founder’s fertilizer consisting of the blood of patriots and tyrants won’t be necessary. Let’s hope, and stay the course!

And yes, let it never be said that we did nothing!