Caught in a Loop: The Human Paradox of Freedom and Control
Seeking Liberation in
A World Of Misguided Directions
The American Revolution, often celebrated as a noble struggle for liberty, was not simply just a quest for independence but may have been a strategic maneuver influenced by the British Empire's own interests.
This perspective challenges the traditional narrative and has caused many debates among historians by highlighting economic, political, and geopolitical factors that suggest British involvement in fostering revolutionary sentiment. The resulting paradox reflects a deeper, enduring cycle of control and liberation that has shaped human societies, where the quest for freedom is continually entwined with manipulation and misdirection.
"We are all caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly."
— Martin Luther King Jr.
To summarize: 168 years passed between 1607, First Settlement
Jamestown, VA and the American Revolution in 1775, between that time
there were a series of laws and events starting with the Navigations Act
(1651-1696). Then you had the French and Indian War (1754-1763), which
gave Great Britain control of much of North America, but it also greatly
increased their debt.
The Sugar and Stamp Act (1764-1765) were introduced, quickly following the Declaratory and Townshend Act, and all without having any type of representatives in Parliament. The Boston Massacre in 1770 occurred which made tensions even higher, then of course the Tea Act of 1773 that led to the Boston Tea Party.
The final blow being the Intolerable Acts of 1774, which restricted colonial self-government and judicial independence, prompting the formation of the First Continental Congress, that ultimately led to the Battles of Lexington and Concord of 1775 and then began the Revolutionary War.
"The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes." — Marcel Proust
Here we are, 249 years after declaring our independence. Since
then we’ve revisited, interpreted, and updated constitutional laws, bill
of rights, and several other foundational principles to help address
changing societal needs and issues. However, are the ones in power
making these changes really the best representatives for us, the
real people, and were they ever for the people?
Much like the political divide we are facing to this very day, only 40% of the colonists were in favor of the revolution according to historical records. Which statistically speaking, is inevitable.
While the quest for independence and the principles of liberty and self-governance were central to the American Revolution, there were many other factors behind the motivations and interests that shaped the conflict. Figures like George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and John Adams were motivated not only by ideological commitments but also by personal aspirations for leadership and legacy.
Thinkers like John Locke and Montesquieu also helped influence these revolutionary leaders, who began to see British rule as incompatible with these new enlightened philosophies emphasizing liberty, democracy, and self-governance. Anyone in their shoes would have probably done the same, including forging alliances with France, Spain and the Netherlands.
"We do not see things as they are, we see them as we are." — Anaïs Nin
In the meantime, the British Empire was well aware of the
limitations it had over direct colonial governance and the rising cost
of maintaining control. Seeking ways to leverage the situation,
Parliament may have viewed the emergence of an independent, yet
economically and culturally aligned America as a more manageable
outcome.
This geopolitical maneuvering could suggest a broader imperial goal, where the appearance of losing control in one area masked broader strategic gains elsewhere, reinforcing the paradoxical nature of the quest for liberation among global power struggles.
The American Revolution's legacy is just part of a much broader human condition: the perpetual cycle of seeking freedom while constantly being subjected to various forms of control, misdirection and manipulation.
The newly established United States has maintained many of the same structures and hierarchies that existed under British rule, continuing the cycles of control under the disguise of liberation. Which can quickly develop into its own mechanisms of control and exclusion, mirroring the very systems it sought to escape.
This reflects the paradox of human societies, where liberation movements often lead to new forms of authority, manipulation and control. Leaving all of us, the real people, caught in a continuous loop within a much larger game of misguided directions and beliefs.
While in our pursuit for freedom over these coming months, be
aware of the subtle forces guiding our beliefs and actions.
Ask yourselves: Are the narratives we accept as truth controlling and shaping our own reality, morals and beliefs, or are we perpetuating the very cycles of control, manipulation and misdirection we aim to escape?
For anyone interested here are some reference pieces based on facts, or to the best of my knowledge, and are from semi non-biased resources as one can come:
The Consequences of the American Revolution
The Ideological Origins of the America Revolution
Why the American Revolution Was Really an Economic Revolution
Arendt, H. (1951). The Origins of Totalitarianism
Simms, B. (2009). Three Victories and a Defeat: The Rise and Fall of the First British Empire
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