Forged in Fire

There is this quote that has been incredibly heavy on my heart and mind recently.

With all of the noise in the world around us, these words have brought about a sense of calm, whilst simultaneously provoking so much introspective thought and consideration.

It goes like this:

“The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good men to do nothing.”

-Edmond Burke

Read that once more. Let it sink in, and allow it to fester a bit.

What does it mean exactly? Is it an accurate assessment?

I think, unequivocally, that it is spot on.

Here’s why:

Touching back on the aforementioned noise – the nonsense and craziness surrounding all of us at this very moment – is, by my own assessment, evil in every sense of the word.

Without detailing specific examples, I’m most certain you can use your imagination to drum up exactly what it is that I’m referring to. The societal norms that seem to be degrading the very fabric of what the United States was built upon. The nastiness derived from various forms of media, manifesting themselves into our school systems, into our workplace, tearing apart our families, and staining the mind, heart and soul of so many of our fellow human beings.

All of this, unfortunately, is readily visible. It’s happening right before our eyes.

But, the kicker is something perhaps even more sinister. 

The subset of evil in this world is the minority – this much I’m absolutely certain of. It’s a small, but loud group.

On the other side, a much larger unit of good. A portion of the population that is far from the latter, but chooses to sit idly by, allowing for the degradation of all that they love.

Why?

Why are they silent? Why do they do nothing?

This question is something I’m obsessed over, and one that I’m allowing to guide my actions now on a daily basis. 

I’ve opened my eyes to the greatness around me. To those who long for something much better than what they see and feel. I’ve taken a stance and planted my flag in the ground for what I believe to be righteous and true, in pursuit of bringing others along with me.

A stance, that is, for the betterment of the place we call home.

A stance, where I don’t just sit quietly. Instead, I choose to act. To proudly profess my beliefs and to actively work at healing the brokenness surrounding me. To grow in my faith, to sharpen my mind and body, to protect and to provide for my family – the nuclear family that holds such an important role in a functioning and prosperous society.

I’ve come to realize that there truly is no secret recipe for the triumph of evil other than, as the quote so eloquently describes, for good men to do nothing.

I’ve chosen to do something. Will you?

Forge on.

---

Thank you for taking the time to read. If you enjoyed my writing, you can subscribe to future posts by using the field below!

---

Any donation would also be very much appreciated! Funds will go directly toward growing the Forged in Fire outreach in our efforts to share our mission with others. Thank you kindly in advance!