Memorial Day Reflections: Reviving Critical Thought, Bitcoin Could Honor Service Members

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This is an opinion editorial by Mickey Koss, a West Point graduate with a degree in economics. He spent four years in the infantry before going into the Finance Corps.

“He was before my time… Of course it’s true, everybody knows it’s true.”

The above quote is from the movie “The Sea Beast”. And although bitcoin is never specifically mentioned in the movie, it is probably one of the best bitcoin movies I have ever seen.

It is set in a fictional world in the grip of a perpetual war between a seafaring economic power and a population of monsters, who seem to attack ships out of nowhere. The hunters, the protagonists of the story, patrol the seas in an almost constant state of war, fighting to keep the trade routes open and safe. In return, they are paid after presenting proof of their demon slayings to the monarchy.

It was a fairly straightforward critique of the military industrial complex, although the deeper theme I saw was the toxic effect that the media propaganda complex has on society, reducing people’s ability to exercise reason, and obscuring objective truth. .

Learn or repeat history

I think the reason for “The Sea Beast” It struck a chord with me because at its core, it is a story of what can happen to a society when truth is obscured by revisionist history and propaganda. In the end, it was up to individuals to exercise discretion, and break the societal trance that had propagated violence for generations. In the end, rulers only had power because the people allowed them to.

American culture and history is rich in individualism and critical ideas, such as the idea that taxation without representation is immoral. this ideal ultimately led to the Revolutionary War that established this country, But now, people are afraid to have genuine and engaging conversations, especially in public, because it could be perceived as “the wrong idea” or offensive, ultimately leading to the cancellation of their public lives and digital exile.

Bitcoin rejuvenates many things, but I think the most important is the recognition of truth.

Bitcoin is basically an exercise in reclaiming the power of your conscience. One must sift through the hype and fear, uncertainty and doubt (FUD) to know the truth and see the true value. The journey one must make to truly understand bitcoin requires discernment and critical thinking. And once we reach a critical mass, extremists become entrenched in the minority culture.

Furthermore, once you are able to store your hard-earned money in a self-sovereign manner, the courage to speak up becomes self-evident. No more worries about cancellation and debanking. A change in time preference is likely to increase your savings rate, making people more financially stable and with less fear of quitting or losing a job that can hold them back.

‘You can be a hero but still be wrong.’

I know that many bitcoiners are particularly critical of the military and governments. They detest war in all its forms and hope to put an end to it with the introduction of a new, harder money standard. It is definitely a worthy goal. But I must urge bitcoiners to separate service members from the policy decisions they are charged with implementing.

According to Jordan Peterson’s analysis that I have seen, one of the main reasons people join the military is the desire to find meaning and purpose in life. Peterson argues that young men often lack a clear sense of direction and purpose, and that the structure and discipline of military life can provide them with a sense of belonging and fulfillment. Additionally, the military can provide opportunities for personal growth, challenge and adventure, as well as a sense of pride and accomplishment.

Many have died in the search, hence the day of remembrance we celebrate as Memorial Day. And yet, some of the much-anticipated criticism of the soldiers’ names has been dismissed.

The line from “The Sea Beast”, “You can be a hero and still be wrong” was particularly striking in this context. Without the ability to see objective facts, it is difficult to ascertain objective truth. Prudence is a skill, a skill that has rapidly eroded throughout society over the years. Perhaps this is one reason why calls for the government to protect us have become so loud.

There is no truth without debate and disagreement, whose characterization has escalated from uncomfortable to downright unsafe. And yet, growing protectionism has its costs; The slow erosion of freedom that we may never get back. The very freedoms that many service members have died to protect are the same service members we are charged with remembering on Memorial Day.

If we are to remember and honor those sacrifices, perhaps the best way to do so in the present age is to use our conscience. Critical thinking is a skill that can be learned, or in some cases re-learned. Bitcoin helps those who want to exercise responsibility in their lives, and yes, use some critical thinking to discern fact from fiction, news from hype.

Bitcoin reinvigorates critical thinking, critical thought leads to truth. Few have the humility to admit it. Others get slapped in the face with it, eventually experiencing the pangs of ego death. Truth is the only way to honor the fallen. Have the courage to choose the truth, not to live on the support of lies.

This is a guest post by Mickey Koss. The opinions expressed are solely his own and do not necessarily reflect those of BTC Inc. or Bitcoin Magazine.