HOPE and DEFIANCE

Jim Quinn December 13, 2013

A Lot of Hope is Dangerous

President Snow: Seneca why do you think we have a winner? Seneca Crane: [frowns !hat do you mean? President Snow: " mean, why do we have a winner? " mean, i# we $u%t wanted to intimidate the di%trict%, why not round u& twenty'#our at random and e(ecute them a)) at once? "t wou)d be a )ot #a%ter* [Seneca just stares, confused President Snow: +o&e* Seneca Crane: +o&e? President Snow: +o&e* "t i% the on)y thin, %tron,er than #ear* - )itt)e ho&e i% e##ective* )ot o# ho&e i% dan,erou%* S&ark i% #ine, a% )on, a% it.% contained*

Seneca Crane: So? President Snow: So, contain it* /re%ident Snow and hi% chie# &ro&a,andi%t, Seneca 0rane, have a di%cu%%ion that cou)d be takin, &)ace between &re%ident 1bama and 0hairSatan the 2ernank today* +o&e i% a #unny thin,* "# the ru)in, &ara%ite% remove a)) ho&e, then the ma%%e% be,in to #ee) they have nothin, to )o%e and revo)ution become% a #ore,one conc)u%ion* 3or the &ara%ite% o# /anem, ho&e i% u%ed a% a method o# contro)* /re%ident Snow under%tood the dan,er o# a))owin, the downtrodden mu)titude% too much ho&e* 4he +un,er 5ame% a))ow% one chi)d to %urvive out o# 26* 4he di%trict% are #orced to remember the iron ,ri& o# the 0a&ito) every year, whi)e rootin, #or an un)ike)y ho))ow victory o# one chi)d %urvivin,* 4he &arent% o# chi)dren in the di%trict% ho&e their chi)dren aren.t cho%en* 4hey ho&e they.)) %croun,e u& enou,h #ood to %urvive another day* 4hey ho&e they don.t ,et ki))ed in a mine e(&)o%ion* 4hey ho&e the &eacekee&er% don.t break down their door% and im&ri%on them #or i))e,a) huntin,* 4hey ho&e they can endure another week* Snow know% that a% )on, a% they have on)y a #aint ho&e to maintain their %ub%i%tence )eve) )i#e%ty)e, they are un)ike)y to rebe)* Seein, a %i(teen year o)d ,ir) o&en)y de#yin, the 0a&ito) and awakenin, a %&irit o# humanity and coura,e in the %ub$u,ated ma%%e% i% a hu,e threat to the ru)in, &ara%ite%* 7atni%% 8verdeen i,nited the #)a%h o# ho&e in the di%trict% when %he be#riended a youn, ,ir) #rom Di%trict 11 named 9ue* 4he conte%tant% are %u&&o%ed to ki)) each other, but 7atni%% &rotect% the youn, ,ir)* !hen 9ue i% ki))ed, 7atni%% decorate% her body with #)ower% a% a mean% o# memoria)i:in, 9ue, which the te)evi%ion audience in the di%trict% view% a% de#yin, the 0a&ito)* -% %he wa)k% away #rom 9ue.% memoria) and back into the #i,ht, %he turn% to the camera% and ,ive% a three #in,er %a)ute* 4he three #in,ered %a)ute o# Di%trict 12, a ,e%ture rare)y u%ed, mean% thank%, admiration, and ,ood'bye to a )oved one* +er me%%a,e to the &eo&)e watchin, i% they have a common enemy* 4hey don.t have to #i,ht each other becau%e a tyrannica) ,overnment command% them to do %o* 1nce the beaten down and %ub$u,ated ma%%e% be,an to under%tand the other di%trict% were not the true enemy, the #)ame o# )iberty wa% kind)ed*

7atni%% had e(&erienced an act o# kindne%% and mercy ear)ier in the nove) when %he had reached the end o# her ro&e and had #ai)ed to %caven,e any #ood #or her he)&)e%% mother and %i%ter a#ter her #ather.% death in a mine e(&)o%ion* +er thou,ht% were dark and dire* I couldnt go home. Because at home was my mother with her dead eyes and my little sister, with her hollow cheeks and cracked lips. I couldnt walk into that room with the smoky fire from the damp branches I had scavenged at the edge of the woods after the coal had run out, my hands empty of any hope. "n the wor)d o# Di%trict 12 bread %i,ni#ie% ho&e* 3ood %ymbo)i:e% ho&e a% #reedom #rom hun,er* !hen /eeta %ee% 7atni%% and her an,ui%h, he %how% com&a%%ion #or her* +e &ur&o%e)y burn% %ome bread #rom hi% &arent%. bakery and throw% the bread to 7atni%%, who i% hudd)ed out%ide in the rain* ;ater on, a% 7atni%% think% about the meanin, o# thi% interaction with /eeta, %he %ay%, !o this day, I can never shake the connection between this boy, "eeta #ellark, and the bread that gave me hope. 1ne o# the key undercurrent% o# the +un,er 5ame tri)o,y i% what ha&&en% in a wor)d where a)) ho&e %eem% to be )o%t* 4hrou,h %ma)) act% o# kindne%%, )ike &rovidin, a #ew )oave% o# bread or honorin, a de&arted conte%tant, ho&e can be %&arked, and a %&ark can turn into a #)ame, a <,ir) on #ire*= "n thi% way, 7atni%% come% to embody the ho&e o# a better #uture, a )iberated and #ree /anem* !hen an authoritarian re,ime can no )on,er kee& the &o&u)ace %edated with bread and circu%e%, they turn to o&&re%%ion and #orce* !ith >3 mi))ion &eo&)e wa))owin, in &overty and rea) median hou%eho)d income )ower than it wa% in 1??? a &a))or o# ho&e)e%%ne%% ha% de%cended u&on our )and* 2ankin, and cor&orate intere%t% have ca&tured the economic, #inancia) and &o)itica) %y%tem% to %uch an e(tent the &eo&)e no )on,er have any %ay in how thi% country i% ,overned* 4he

&eo&)e are ,iven a choice o# #)avor% in what &a%%e% #or e)ection% by the cor&orate intere%t% that choo%e the candidate%* 1nce a &o)itician attain% o##ice and doe% what they are in%tructed by the #inancia) intere%t% that #und their cam&ai,n%, they become rich and &ower#u)* 4hi% i% why ?0@ o# incumbent% are re'e)ected de%&ite 0on,re%% havin, a 12@ a&&rova) ratin, in &o))%* 4he )a%t 13 year% ha% con#irmed the country i% run by one &arty, a% the 9e&ub)ican #i,urehead ro))ed out new tri))ion 39A entit)ement &ro,ram%, #ou,ht undec)ared war%, created an 1rwe))ian or,ani:ation to %&y on -merican%, and drove de#icit% to %ta,,erin, )eve)%* Aow the current Democrat #i,urehead ha% ro))ed out a di%a%trou% new tri))ion 39A entit)ement &ro,ram, continue% to #i,ht undec)ared war%, drone% innocent &eo&)e in #orei,n countrie%, %ecret)y co))ect% data on every -merican, and ha% driven de#icit% to e&ic hei,ht%* 4he 0ri%i% be,an in 200B with the !a)) Street created wor)dwide #inancia) im&)o%ion, %&urred by the ,reate%t contro) #raud in hi%tory* 4he bank%ter% and &o)itician% have im&)emented <%o)ution%= that have #urther enriched the k)e&tocratic &ara%ite c)a%%, whi)e im&overi%hin, %aver%, %enior%, and the workin, midd)e c)a%% who &)ayed by the ru)e%* 4he tem&erament o# the country ha% continued to darken and %ocieta) tru%t i% im&)odin,, $u%t a% Strau%% C +owe &redicted in 200D* $s the %risis cataly&es, these fears will rush to the surface, jagged and e'posed. (istrustful of some things, individuals will feel that their survival re)uires them to distrust more things. !his behavior could cascade into a sudden downward spiral, an implosion of societal trust. * The Fourth Turning !hen a tyrannica) &rivi)e,ed c)a%% ha% taken their ,reed and avarice too #ar, rea&ed the remainin, %&oi)% o# a dec)inin, em&ire and the e(&)oited horde% be,in to ,row re%t)e%%, the o)i,arch% wi)) a)way% uti)i:e their mercenarie% to retain contro) and kee& the mu)titude% cowerin, and #ear#u)* 8ven thou,h the #inancia) &ara%ite% have been harve%tin, the riche% o# our bounti#u) )and #or decade%, it on)y %tarted to become a&&arent to a #ew aware critica) thinker% in the )ate 1??0.%* "t i% no coincidence the !ar on 4error ha% been u%ed a% an e(cu%e to &a%% the /atriot -ct, un)ea%h the AS- to ,ather every &iece o# e)ectronic data ,enerated by a)) -merican%, mi)itari:e )oca) )aw en#orcement a,encie%, conduct mi)itary <trainin, e(erci%e%= in ma$or citie%, ro)) out drone% to monitor the activitie% o# the &eo&)e, %ub$ect citi:en% to de,radin, body %earche% in air&ort% and train %tation%, in%ta)) %urvei))ance camera% throu,hout the )and to monitor our every move, u%e 2ernay%ian &ro&a,anda techniEue% and create #ake terrori%t &)ot% to kee& the ma%%e% tremb)in, and terri#ied* 4he ru)in, &ara%ite )eeche% )o%t their b)ood %uckin, ,ri& on the #inancia) market% in 2000 and a,ain in 200B* -% the common &eo&)e have )o%t their tru%t in the #inancia) and &o)itica) )eader% and their &ro&a,anda techniEue% wear thin, truncheon%, ,un% and a va%t trea%ure trove o# wea&on% and %urvei))ance eEui&ment are bein, &re&ared #or u%e a,ain%t the &eo&)e*

4he /arty &ut #orth an unknown ho&e and chan,e te)e&rom&ter #)im'#)am man in 200B in a )a%t ditch attem&t to %ooth the ma%%e% and a))ow the #at cat% to continue #ea%tin,, with the &eriodic &ur,in, in the vomitorium when their ,u))et% were %tu##ed* 4he &roo# o# a %in,)e ru)in, &arty ha% never been c)earer, a% a %u&&o%ed)y )ibera) &o&u)i%t democrat ha% #a))en into )ine and #o))owed the order% o# the 3inancia) "ndu%tria) 0om&)e(, Fi)itary "ndu%tria) 0om&)e(, and Sickcare "ndu%tria) 0om&)e( by not &ro%ecutin, one crimina) bank%ter, )ettin, !a)) Street write the B00 &a,e Dodd 3rank bi)), ram&in, u& our war% in the Fidd)e 8a%t whi)e %&endin, more on De#en%e than 2u%h, and ,)ad)y a))owin, the in%urance and dru, indu%try to write the 1,000 &a,e 1bamacare abortion o# a )aw* -t the %ame time he ha% taken the 1rwe))ian %urvei))ance %tate to )eve)% that wou)d have been con%idered crimina) and im&eachab)e in 1??0* 4he two head% o# the ru)in, &arty &)ay their &art% to kee& the ma%%e% di%tracted, be)ievin, votin, actua))y matter%, whi)e #i,htin, the wron, enemy* 4he &ara))e)% between the +un,er 5ame% nove)% and our current %ituation are innumerab)e* 2ut the dehumani:ation o# a %ociety i% the mo%t %i,ni#icant ana)o,y between the dy%to&ian cu)ture o# /anem and the ,reed and materia)i%m o# our )ate %ta,e dec)inin, em&ire* "t wi)) not be war, &)a,ue or #amine that %et% the %ta,e #or our co))a&%e* - mora) %ickne%% ha% en,u)#ed the %ou) o# our civi)i:ation, %&read by the dark #orce% o# wickedne%% occu&yin, the throne o# &ower on !a)) Street, !a%hin,ton D0, and in the boardroom% o# me,a'cor&oration% acro%% the )and* It neither kills outright nor inflicts apparent physical harm, yet the e'tent of its destructive toll is already greater than that of any war, plague, famine, or natural calamity on record + and its potential damage to the )uality of human life and the fabric of civili&ed society is beyond calculation. ,or that reason this sickness of the soul might well be called the -,ifth .orseman of the $pocalypse. Its more conventional name, of course, is dehumani&ation. / Ashle !ontagu 4he #inancia) &ara%ite% have u%ed the &ower o# ma%% media &ro&a,anda and $uri%diction over the &ub)ic educationa) %y%tem to turn accountab)e thinkin, citi:en% into irre%&on%ib)e irrationa) con%umer%* 4he u)tra'rich men, con%titutin, the invi%ib)e ,overnment de%cribed by 8dward 2ernay%, have u%ed their contro) o# the #iat currency and monetary %y%tem to create a &)antation %ociety o# en%)aved debtor% who have been trained )ike monkey% to con%ume when they are not #aceber,in,, twitterin, or twerkin,* 4hi% dehumani:ation i% in #u)) di%&)ay on 4hank%,ivin,G2)ack 3riday a% the cor&orate #a%ci%t% %tir the ma%%e% into a #ren:ied materia)i%tic or,y o# &andemonium #or chea& e)ectronic% &roduced by %)ave% in 0hina, doin, $ob% #ormer)y &er#ormed by -merican%* 0or&orate &ro#it% have reached a))'time record hi,h% a% the "vy ;ea,ue F2- 081% have u%ed ,)oba) wa,e arbitra,e to de'-mericani:e their work #orce, convinced the )ow)y wi)#u))y i,norant -merican %er#% to %&end money they no )on,er have on cra& they certain)y don.t need, and &aid them%e)ve% bi))ion% in bonu%e% #or %ucce%%#u))y de%troyin, the #ormer midd)e c)a%% by the book*

4he /arty ha% uti)i:ed the cud,e) o# 3edera) 9e%erve created in#)ation to #)eece the math cha))en,ed ma%%e% #or the )a%t 100 year%* 4he modern day #inancia) mad %cienti%t% u%e in#)ation, con%umeri%m, debt, and media &ro&a,anda to kee& the rat% in their ,rand e(&eriment runnin, #a%ter and #a%ter around the ma:e, %eekin, an ever dwind)in, hunk o# chee%e* 4he rat% are tra&&ed in thi% e(&eriment and have not the time, ener,y, re%o)ve or enou,h chee%e to e%ca&e* 4he rat% wi)) never breakout and their &ro,eny are born into the ma:e, a)%o with no ho&e o# ,ettin, out a)ive* 4he mad %cienti%t% &eriodica))y reorient the ma:e, ad$u%t the %timu)i to e)icit new behavior, and increa%e or decrea%e the reward% a% they deem a&&ro&riate* 4hrou,h their contro) o# the #inancia), &o)itica) and media center%, the ru)in, &ara%ite% not on)y mani&u)ate %ociety, they convince the rat% they are rea))y #ree and not con#ined in a ma:e, with no &o%%ibi)ity o# e%ca&e* 4he ru)in, &ara%ite% ha% %ucceeded in ca&turin, the %y%tem to %uch an e(tent that they are %y&honin, o## the income o# the nation at a rate on)y %een &rior to the 5reat De&re%%ion*

4he rea) median hou%eho)d income o# the bottom ?0@ i% )ower than it wa% in 1?HB, a% in#)ation ha% de%troyed the &urcha%in, &ower o# the &ro)etariat* !hi)e wa,e% have %ta,nated due to me,a'cor&oration% o##'%horin, -merican $ob% #or the %ake o# Euarter)y &ro#it% and %tock &rice &er#ormance, the &rice o# midd)e c)a%% e%%entia)% )ike #ood, ener,y, %he)ter, tuition and medica) care have %kyrocketed* 4he demented -merican nobi)ity have di%re,arded centurie% o# hi%tory with re,ard% to ineEua)ity borne o#

corru&tion and un#ettered ,reed* !hen mi)d de#)ation rei,n%, a% it did #or mo%t o# the 1? th century, ,ood% and trade are &)enti#u)I &ro%&erity i% am&)e and broad)y %&read to the workin, c)a%%e%* !hen centra) bank%ter created in#)ation cau%e% &rice% to ri%e, trade &)ummet%, )ivin, %tandard% deteriorate, and e(treme wea)th ineEua)ity acce)erate%* 1nce &overty reache% a ti&&in, &oint, unre%t and di%content )ead to revo)ution and rebe))ion* "t i% not a coincidence the rebe))ion in the Hunger "a#es be,in% in the two &oore%t di%trict%* Di%trict 12 i% inhabited by mo%t)y white &eo&)e in the -&&a)achia re,ion o# the #ormer Jnited State%* Di%trict 11 i% inhabited by mo%t)y b)ack &eo&)e in the Southern re,ion o# the #ormer Jnited State%* 4he %ymbo)i%m o# b)ack &eo&)e &ickin, cro&% and bein, &ub)ic)y whi&&ed i# they %tea) any o# the #ood #or their own %urviva) i% re#)ective o# the &)antation economy we have today* Finer% ,ettin, ki))ed in mine e(&)o%ion% due to un%a#e condition% are re#)ective o# the cor&orate ,reed that &ermeate% our cu)ture* 4he ma%ter% o# thi% human tra,edy attem&t to kee& the &)eb% in one di%trict an,ry and mi%tru%t#u) o# the &)eb% in the other di%trict% %o they don.t #ocu% on the rea) enemy* "t ha% worked #or decade%, but a% the worker% %ee their )ot% in )i#e de%cend to bare %ub%i%tence )eve)% they have nothin, to )o%e by re%i%tin, and rebe))in,* 4he &rivi)e,ed ru)in, &)utocrat% have the &ower to )e%%en the burden on the %)ave%, dimini%hin, the chance% o# revo)ution, but in their %ocio&athic ,)uttonou% hun,er #or ever more riche% and %u&remacy they %ea) their #ate o# u)timate de%truction, a% $ohn %enneth "al&raith a&t)y de%cribed* "eople of privilege will always risk their complete destruction rather than surrender any material part of their advantage. - %im&)e act o# human kindne%% by a youn, ,ir) i% what i,nited a rebe))ion in /anem* 4he &ower o# ho&e and coura,e, once un)ea%hed, can overwhe)m the wickedne%% o# evi) men* 2ut, tho%e men wi)) not be de#eated without an e&ic %tru,,)e reEuirin, much %acri#ice, %u##erin,, death and de%truction* 7atni%% did not rea)i:e the im&act %he had unti) on her victory tour when durin, her %&eech an o)d man ,ive% her the three #in,er %a)ute, )eadin, the crowd to #o))ow hi% )ead and de#y the &eacekee&er%* She had in%&ired the o&&re%%ed to re%i%t their bonda,e*

"n the mo%t di%turbin, %cene o# the movie, the o)d man i% ,rabbed by the &o)ice thu,%, dra,,ed to the &odium and %hot in the head, whi)e the other thu,% beat and &umme) the crowd into %ubmi%%ion* Shade% o# the 1!S beatin,% by the AK/D are c)ear*

4hi% i% how an 1rwe))ian %urvei))ance %tate react% to the di%content cau%ed by the a&&a))in, treatment o# their %ub$ect%* 8very di%trict i% ke&t under the thumb o# the ironica))y named &eacekee&er%* 4hey en#orce the dictatoria) mandate% o# the 0a&ito) at the &oint o# a ,un and threat% o# im&ri%onment, or &ub)ic beatin,%* 4he techno)o,ica))y advanced 0a&ito) u%e% %urvei))ance camera% and %&y aircra#t to monitor the di%trict% and en#orce their dictate%* Since the &a%%a,e o# the &arado(ica))y named /atriot -ct, the -merican %urvei))ance %tate ha% been &er#ected to a )eve) that wou)d im&re%% 1rwe))* !ith the AS- ,atherin, every &iece o# e)ectronic data ,enerated by every citi:en, %urvei))ance camera% monitorin, our every movement in ma$or citie%, %&y drone% &atro))in, the %kie%, #a%ci%t% attem&tin, to di%arm the &ub)ic, and &o)ice %tate thu,% roamin, the country%ide en#orcin, the dictate% o# the o)i,archy, we.ve de%cended into authoritarian ru)e* 4he 0on%titution i% no )on,er a va)id document* 4he /re%ident i% #ree to %end boy% to their death in #orei,n countrie% without the a&&rova) o# 0on,re%%* +e i%

#ree to i,nore )aw% and u%e e(ecutive order% to im&)ement hi% a,enda* -ny doubt re,ardin, whether we are %ti)) #ree wa% ob)iterated by the &o)ice %tate cru%hin, o# the 1!S &rote%t% and more recent)y the door to door i))e,a) %earche% conducted by heavi)y armed -merican <&eacekee&er= thu,% in !atertown, Fa%%achu%ett% %earchin, #or a wounded 1D year o)d kid*

4he coura,eou% action% o# 7atni%% in the Hunger "a#es i,nited a rebe))ion and the u)timate demi%e o# /re%ident Snow and hi% evi) em&ire* 8dward Snowden.% audaciou%)y bri))iant take down o# the AS- and 1bama.% ,rowin, %urvei))ance em&ire ha% awakened a %)umberin, &ub)ic and ho&e#u))y kind)ed the #)ame o# #reedom in enou,h &atriot% to in%ti,ate the revo)ution which wi)) drive the ne(t %ta,e o# thi% 3ourth 4urnin,* !he risk of catastrophe will be very high. !he nation could erupt into insurrection or civil violence, crack up geographically, or succumb to authoritarian rule. If there is a war, it is likely to be one of ma'imum risk and effort / in other words, a total war. 0very ,ourth !urning has registered an upward ratchet in the technology of destruction, and in mankinds willingness to use it. ' Strauss ( Howe )The Fourth Turning

Defiance ' Catching Fire

$t some point, you have to stop running and turn around and face whoever wants you dead. !he hard thing is finding the courage to do it. / %atniss E*erdeen ' Catching Fire

!he great fear that I have regarding the outcome for $merica of these disclosures is that nothing will change. 1"eople2 wont be willing to take the risks necessary to stand up and fight to change things3 $nd in the months ahead, the years ahead, its only going to get worse. 1!he 4S$ will2 say that3 because of the crisis, the dangers that we face in the world, some new and unpredicted threat, we need more authority, we need more power, and there will be nothing the people can do at that point to oppose it. $nd it will be turnkey tyranny. / Edward Snowden Aow we ,et to the mo%t im&ortant theme o# the +un,er 5ame% tri)o,y and a theme that wi)) drive the re,eneracy %ta,e o# thi% Fourth Turning L Defiance* 4here can be no chan,e un)e%% %omeone ha% the coura,e to make a %tand* 5enerationa) archety&e% wi)) need to &)ay their a%%i,ned ro)e%, $u%t a% they did in the +un,er 5ame% nove)%* 4he 2oomer% %hou)d be %eekin, a new vi%ion o# a better #utureI 5en'M %hou)d be %eekin, rea)i%m and im&)ementab)e %o)ution%I and the Fi))ennia)% %hou)d be %eekin, the &ower to chan,e the cour%e o# a terrib)y mi%,uided country* "t wi)) not take a ma$ority to &revai) durin, thi% 3ourth 4urnin,, $u%t an in%&ired coura,eou% minority wi))in, to %acri#ice them%e)ve% #or the ,reater ,ood* Su:anne 0o))in% may not have meant to &)ace her character% into their &ro&er ,enerationa) ro)e%, but they &)ayed their &art% a% wou)d be e(&ected durin, a 0ri%i%* /)utarch +eaven%bee, a >0 %omethin, /ro&het 5eneration vi%ionary, i% the )eader o# the rebe))ion who e(&)oit% the &ower and coura,e o# 7atni%% 8verdeen, #rom the +ero 5eneration, to in%&ire and )ead the rebe))ion* +aymitch -bernathy, the 60 year o)d drunk #rom the Aomad 5eneration, i% the brain% behind the &)an to %&ur rebe))ion and de#eat the 0a&ito)* +e made it hi% &ur&o%e in )i#e to &rotect and %u&&ort the youn, heroe% who were reEuired to do the heavy )i#tin, durin, the 0ri%i%*

4he theme o# de#iance and it% abi)ity to undermine an evi), yet #ra,i)e, authoritarian re,ime i% &ortrayed throu,h the %ymbo) o# the mockin,$ay in the nove)%* 4he mockin,$ay i% a %urvei))ance %tate b)under, accident)y #a%hioned by the hubri%tic 0a&ito)* -#ter the #ir%t rebe))ion, the 0a&ito) )e#t the $abber$ay%, a bird they created to %&y on the di%trict% and re)ay who)e conver%ation% to the 0a&ito), in the wi)derne%% to die o##* "n%tead, the $abber$ay% mated with mockin,bird% and a %&ecie% ca))ed the mockin,$ay wa% born* 4he mockin,$ay wa% a %i,na) o# weakne%% in the armor o# the 0a&ito)* Fockin,$ay% had the ta)ent o# bein, ab)e to re)ay any %on, or tune they hear to any %&ecie%* 7atni%%. #ather u%ed to )ove to %in, %on,% in the wood% whi)e huntin, and )oved to hear the mockin,$ay% re&eat hi% tune back to him* 7atni%% and 9ue u%ed the mockin,$ay% to communicate durin, the 5ame%* Fockin,$ay% were a hardy re%i)ient %&ecie% that cou)d %urvive in the har%he%t o# environment%* 4he mockin,$ay become% a %ymbo) o# de#iance, rebe))ion and ho&e amon, the di%trict%* 2e#ore the 5ame%, a #riend o# 7atni%%. #rom %choo) ,ave her a ,o)d mockin,$ay &in a% a token #rom home* 4he te)evi%ion audience %ee% the &in on 7atni%%. c)othe% durin, the 5ame%* -#ter the 5ame%, the %ymbo)i%m o# the mockin,$ay become% a ra))yin, &oint #or the %ub$u,ated ma%%e% in the di%trict%* -% the rebe))ion ,ather% %team, the rebe))in, di%trict% u%e the mockin,$ay %ymbo) a% a &rimary method o# communication* 4he rebe)% bake the bird %ymbo) into bread%, cracker%, and other thin,% that cou)d ea%i)y be eaten or hidden Euick)y* 4he mockin,$ay become% %i,n o# re%i%tance, a %i,n o# u&ri%in,, and a %i,n o# ho&e* 4he bru%h #ire% o# rebe))ion are ,)im&%ed by 7atni%% durin, the victory tour and ce)ebration be#ore the D>th anniver%ary 5ame%* /)utarch +eaven%bee, %u&&o%ed)y a hi,h )eve) 0a&ito) a&&aratchik, attem&ted to win 7atni%%. tru%t by %howin, her hi% watch, which viewed in the ri,ht &o%ition you cou)d %ee the %ymbo) o# the rebe))ion L the mockin,$ay* 4he de#iance o# a youn, ,ir) ver%u% the #aNade o# an a))'&ower#u) %tate, throu,h her humanity, the mockin,$ay %ymbo), and the wi))in,ne%% to eat &oi%on berrie% a% the u)timate act o# rebe))ion a,ain%t the ru)er% o# the ,ame, i% the de#inin, moti# o# our time* !he bird, the pin, the song, the berries, the watch, the cracker, the dress that burst into flames. I am the mockingjay. !he one that survived despite the %apitols plans. !he symbol of the rebellion. L %atniss E*erdeen ' Catching Fire !hat i% not immediate)y a&&arent to the va%%a)% o# a tota)itarian re,ime i% the interna) rot, in#i,htin, amon, the )ieutenant%, and %u&er#icia) )eve) o# %u&&ort amon, the citi:enry* - ,overnment racked by corru&tion, de&endent u&on #inancia) ,immickry and ma%%ive )eve)% o# debt to ,ive the a&&earance o# %o)vency, on)y ab)e to &re%erve domination throu,h bruta) &o)ice %tate thu, tactic%, monitorin, it% %ub$ect% with intru%ive %urvei))ance machine%, and )ed by %ocio&athic &aranoid e,omaniaca) men, i% %ick)y and rottin, on the in%ide* /re%ident Snow %&ittin, u& b)ood throu,hout the nove)% i% %ymbo)ic o# thi% di%ea%e* ;ike a ,i,antic 226 year o)d oak tree that a&&ear% im&o%in,, robu%t and inde%tructib)e, but ha% been decayin, within, a %trate,ica))y &)aced )i,htnin, %trike or %udden ,u%t o# wind i% ca&ab)e o# to&&)in, the once mi,hty tree*

Sometime% a)) it take% i% #or one &er%on o# ,ood con%cience, with the coura,e to acce&t the con%eEuence% o# revea)in, the truth, to %trike down the mi,hty oak and i,nite bru%h #ire% o# #reedom in the mind% o# men* 8dward Snowden i% that &er%on* I cant in good conscience allow the 5S government to destroy privacy, internet freedom and basic liberties for people around the world with this massive surveillance machine theyre secretly building * I do not want to live in a world where everything I do and say is recorded. !hat is not something I am willing to support or live under. 0veryone everywhere now understands how bad things have gotten + and theyre talking about it. !hey have the power to decide for themselves whether they are willing to sacrifice their privacy to the surveillance state. / Edward Snowden "n the Hunger "a#es tri)o,y 7atni%% 8verdeen created a &rob)em #or /re%ident Snow when %he &u))ed out the &oi%onou% berrie% and #oi)ed the ,ame bein, orche%trated by the crue) ru)in, &ara%ite% o# /anem* She re#u%ed to be a &awn in their ,ame* She had the coura,eou%ne%% o# %&irit to i))u%trate to the %u&&re%%ed citi:en% in the )ocked down &ri%on')ike di%trict% that %he wa% not owned and en%)aved by the %tate* She wa% a human bein, who de%erved to be treated with re%&ect, not )ike an anima) or a %&ecimen in their ma)iciou% man'made ,ame* I want to do something, right here, right now, to shame them, to make them accountable, to show the %apitol that whatever they do or force us to do there is a part of every tribute they cant own. !hat 6ue was more than a piece in their 7ames. $nd so am I. L %atniss E*erdeen ' The Hunger "a#es

8dward Snowden ha% created a &rob)em #or /re%ident 1bama, hi% %urvei))ance %tate a&&aratu%, and the bank%terin, caba) that &u)) the %trin,% in thi% em&ire o# con%umeri%m, by revea)in, the dirty %ecret% o# a &aranoid tyrannica) ru)in, &ara%ite%* !e are )ate in the ,ame and &)eadin, i,norance re,ardin, how techno)o,y i% bein, u%ed by evi) men #or evi) &ur&o%e% i% ine(cu%ab)e* Snowden re#u%ed to remain a &awn in the AS- ,ame and decided hi% #e))ow citi:en% needed to be warned about the dan,er% o# an omni%cient, %ecretive, ma)evo)ent %tate who%e &ower% were unchecked and who%e motive% were ,eared toward% o&&re%%ion and coercion* +e wa% a bri))iant youn, co, within the ,overnment machinery, makin, ,ood money, with a bri,ht #uture i# he con#ormed and obeyed, but he cho%e to be #ree* - #ree man can.t be bou,ht, contro))ed or conEuered* 8dward Snowden decided %omeone needed to make a %tand and that %omeone wa% him* Secrecy is the keystone to all tyranny. 4ot force, but secrecy and censorship. 8hen any government or church for that matter, undertakes to say to its subjects, !his you may not read, this you must not know, the end result is tyranny and oppression, no matter how holy the motives. #ighty little force is needed to control a man who has been hoodwinked in this fashion9 contrariwise, no amount of force can control a free man, whose mind is free. 4o, not the rack nor the atomic bomb, not anything. :ou cant con)uer a free man9 the most you can do is kill him. ) +o&ert Heinlein 4he e(&)o%ive di%c)o%ure% o# ,overnment crimina)ity, ma%% %&yin,, cover'u&%, )yin, to 0on,re%% by ,overnment a&&aratchik%, and conc)u%ive evidence o# a %urvei))ance %tate com&)ete)y out o# contro) con#irmed another truth #or tho%e not ca&tured by the redGb)ue &arty &ro&a,anda* Snowden wa% dec)ared a traitor by 1bama, 9omney, Schumer, Fc0ain, /e)o%i, 2oehner, 9eid, Fc0onne)), 3ein%tein, 9ove, and o# cour%e, the b)ood thir%ty, hate %&ewin,, dark')ord o# the neo'Aa:i% L Dick 0heney* 4he immediate and united venomou% re%&on%e #rom the %)imy &o)itician %nake% %hou)d have removed a)) doubt there i% rea))y one ru)in, &arty and the re%t o# u% are nothin, but &awn% in their ,ame* !e )ive in a cor&orate #a%ci%t war#areGwe)#are %urvei))ance %tate run by u)tra' wea)thy une)ected men with evi) intention%* 8eve slipped away from a true republic* 4ow were slipping into a fascist system where its a combination of government, big business and authoritarian rule, and the suppression of the individual rights of each and every $merican. 8hen it comes to any significant differences on foreign policy, economic intervention, the ,ederal 6eserve, a strong e'ecutive branch, a welfarism mi'ed with corporatism, both parties are very much alike. !he major arguments in hotly contested presidential races are mostly for public consumption to convince the people they actually have a choice. / +on Paul Snowden.% re%&on%e to the murderin, thu, 0heney ca))in, him a traitor make% me &roud to ca)) him a hero and a &atriot, on &ar with 5eor,e !a%hin,ton, Samue) -dam%, and 4homa% /aine*

Being called a traitor by (ick %heney is the highest honor you can give to an $merican. Edward Snowden 1bama and the /arty are continuou%)y bein, made #oo)% o# by a 30 year o)d Fi))ennia), a% he &eriodica))y re)ea%e% in#ormation dama,in, to the ,overnment.% %urvei))ance e##ort% on the -merican &eo&)e and #orei,n )eader%* 8ach reve)ation #urther erode% the tru%t &eo&)e and countrie% once had in the mora) )eader%hi& o# the Jnited State%* Snowden i% our mockin,$ay, a creature the AS- never intended to create* 4he &redator drone ha&&y 1bama wou)d )ike nothin, better than to have Snowden e)iminated, but he i% #aced with the %ame di)emma a% /re%ident Snow in the #ictiona) wor)d o# /anem, ca&tured in thi% dia)o,ue: President Snow, I have a problem, #iss 0verdeen. $ problem that began the moment you pulled out those poisonous berries in the arena. If a girl from (istrict !welve of all places can defy the %apitol and walk away unharmed, what is to stop them from doing the same; %atniss E*erdeen, It must be very fragile, if a handful of berries can bring it down. "# the mi,hty -merican em&ire can be embarra%%ed by a %o)e youn, &atriot, &rovin, to the wor)d they are in dec)ine #inancia))y, mora))y, and mi)itari)y, it mu%t be very #ra,i)e* Snowden.% reve)ation% did not immediate)y %&ark rebe))ion, but an attitude o# de#iance i% ,ainin, traction, a% the mood in the country darken% )ike the %ky be#ore a b)i::ard who%e #u)) #ury wi)) %trike with a ven,eance )a%tin, #or %evera) year%* Since our entry into thi% Fourth Turning in 200B there have been %&ark% o# rebe))ion O1!S C the ori,ina) 4ea /arty movementP but they were immediate)y %ubverted, di%credited and cru%hed by the /arty and their &ro&a,anda media machine%* 4he attitude o# de#iance can be %een in the ri%e o# 2itcoin, citi:en% buyin, &hy%ica) ,o)d and %i)ver de%&ite the 3edera) 9e%erveG!a)) Street e##ort% to di%credit it, the e##ort% o# hacker% )ike -nonymou% to di%ru&t the cor&orate #a%ci%t %tate, the tire)e%% e##ort% o# web%ite% )ike Qero +ed,e, !a%hin,ton.% 2)o,, 0har)e% +u,h Smith, and Fike 7rie,er to uncover the truth, and the re)ent)e%% &ur%uit o# )iberty and #reedom by 9on /au) and hi% army o# &atriot%* "t i% time #or more )eader% and heroe% to %te& u& and act* I had been looking for leaders, but I reali&ed that leadership is about being the first to act. I understand that I will be made to suffer for my actions, and that the return of this information to the public marks my end. ' Edward Snowden De%&ite the monetary mani&u)ation% o# the 3edera) 9e%erve arm o# the /arty, %u&&orted by the &ro&a,anda e##ort% o# the cor&orate media arm o# the /arty, the e(treme )eve) o# crimina))y induced wea)th ineEua)ity wi)) u)timate)y re%u)t in a %econd #ar wor%e #inancia) cra%h that wi)) to&&)e thi% teeterin, edi#ice o# corru&tion* 4he vio)ent %ta,e o# thi% 0ri%i% wi)) then eru&t*

But as the %risis mood congeals, people will come to the jarring reali&ation that they have grown helplessly dependent on a teetering edifice of anonymous transactions and paper guarantees. #any $mericans wont know where their savings are, who their employer is, what their pension is, or how their government works. !he era will have left the financial world arbitraged and tentacled< (ebtors wont know who holds their notes, homeowners who owns their mortgages, and shareholders who runs their e)uities / and vice versa. / The Fourth Turning Strauss & Howe 4he #ir%t -merican 3ourth 4urnin, wa% a rebe))ion a,ain%t a #orei,n em&ire* 4he %econd -merican 3ourth 4urnin, wa% an interna) rebe))ion that ki))ed D00,000 youn, men* 4he third -merican 3ourth 4urnin, re%u)ted in a #orei,n con#)ict that re%u)ted in the death% o# H> mi))ion &eo&)e* Do the%e once every B0 year turnin,% a)ternate between e(terna) and interna) con#)ict? "# %o, we are on the ver,e o# event% that wi)) tear the #abric o# thi% nation a&art* 4he debt, civic decay, and heinou%ne%% o# tho%e in &ower wi)) )ead to the di%inte,ration o# our e(i%tin, %ocia) order and %heer chao%, a% #orce% batt)e #or the %ou) o# the nation* !hat it i% re&)aced by i% unknown at thi% time* "t cou)d be %omethin, #ar wor%e, or it cou)d be a rekind)in, o# our nation.% #oundin, herita,e o# )iberty, #reedom and civic duty* ;inear thinkin, o)d timer% are )ike)y to %co## at the notion that %ome tri)o,y o# nove)% #or teena,er% cou)d ca&ture the mood o# the time in a way that e(&)ain% how the &eo&)e o# thi% country wi)) re%&ond to the current wor%enin, 0ri%i%* ".m %ure the work% o# Steinbeck and 4o)kien were %co##ed at durin, the )a%t 3ourth 4urnin,* +i%tory i% cyc)ica) and we.ve returned to a time where )eader% %te& #orward to )ead and brave heroe% %te& #orward to #i,ht* 4he #uture o# the country han,% in the ba)ance* !he original $merican patriots were those individuals brave enough to resist with force the oppressive power of =ing 7eorge. I accept the definition of patriotism as that effort to resist oppressive state power. !he true patriot is motivated by a sense of responsibility and out of self*interest for himself, his family, and the future of his country to resist government abuse of power. .e rejects the notion that patriotism means obedience to the state. L +on Paul Do you re$ect the notion that &atrioti%m mean% obedience to the %tate? 7now your enemy* 6emember who the real enemy is. L Ha #itch A&ernath ' Catching Fire