America Needs More Browns

America has a history of enslavement and social wrongs. And through these atrocities, men and women fought for the freedom of those who were forcefully shackled. These abolitionists were so against the sin of slavery that most of them died for it. In order to fight the current corruption—that we call an administration—we must visit the past. This time, we are focusing on one man whose name should be a hot topic in every household in this country. People need to be aware of the great John Brown.

John Brown, abolitionist (1846–1847)

However, before John Brown, there was his father, Owen Brown. And before Owen, there was his Revolutionary War captain of a dad, who was a North Carolina politician, but we aren’t going to go that far back in the Brown family—all the "John Browns" will just get confusing, since the John Brown we are talking about was named after his grandfather John Brown.

Born on February 16, 1771, Owen grew up to be a wealthy cattle breeder who operated a tannery in Hudson, Ohio. He was also very outspoken about his views against slavery. Working as a civil servant, Owen had founded multiple institutions, including the Western Reserve Anti-Slavery Society, Western Reserve College, and the Free Congressional Church. He gave many speeches promoting the freedom of the enslaved. Running one of the earliest way stations for enslaved individuals to escape, he was the stationmaster for the Underground Railroad in Hudson, Ohio. Having many children with two women, around seven of them followed in their father's footsteps and became abolitionists. The most notable was John Brown, who had strictly adopted his father's ideals.

Born on May 9, 1800, in Torrington, Connecticut, John Brown grew up in a devout evangelical Christian family who were openly opposed to slavery, severely so. Strongly influenced by his faith, he believed he was "an instrument of God." He thought breaking apart the institution of slavery to be a most "sacred obligation." After decades of peaceful efforts failed to end slavery, he had become the "leading exponent of violence" in the American abolitionist movement.

Slavery had to end, by any means necessary.

Following the Declaration of Independence, John Brown upheld the phrase, "all men are created equal." He also upheld his Christian values by following the Golden Rule in fighting to free enslaved individuals: "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" (Matthew 7:12).

Old Testament:

"You shall not take vengeance or bear a grudge against any of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the LORD." (Leviticus 19:18)

"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the native-born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." (Leviticus 19:33-34)

Septuagint:

"And thy hand shall not avenge thee; and thou shalt not be angry with the children of thy people; and thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself; I am the Lord."

"The stranger that comes to you shall be among you as the native, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God."

Following his father's radical views, he ventured forth and created his own legacy. In the 1850s, he led abolitionists, including a few of his sons, in the Bleeding Kansas war—a period of violent unrest in the Kansas Territory (1854-1859) about whether the newly forming state should become a slave state or a free state. After raiding Harpers Ferry, where he tried to lead a slave rebellion, he was captured and executed by the Commonwealth of Virginia in 1859. Two of his sons were killed as well.

John Brown may not have been successful in the rebellion, but his name lives on in the civil rights movement. Fighting for the freedom of others was in the Brown family's blood, and it wasn't pretty.

Are you scared? Good. But I assure you that you’re scared about the wrong things. You’re probably scared of being killed or being imprisoned for resisting. But that’s not what you should be scared of. We all die in the end, and we all suffer from illness, pain, loss, and many other human things. It’s called life.

However, you should be scared of dying knowing you allowed your fellow humans to be oppressed. How could you face your God, gods, or the universe? If you’re agnostic or atheist, how could you allow your energy to taint the essence for which it will go? So, what are you waiting for—death to come get you from old age, an accident, or illness? Stop being a dipshit and speak up for your brothers and sisters. Stop staying silent while watching this dictatorship of idiots grow. We have tried peaceful resistance, and we are failing. By any means necessary, we must protect the people.

Is this a call for violence? No, but this is also not saying no to violence if you see violence. So, if you see the “law” attacking someone, intervene in any way possible. Record, yell out, anything to help. We need bravery. We need offensive defense. We need the people to unite.

America, we need more Browns and less Kirks. Now.