Once upon a time, in the not-so-distant past, our world was simpler. Folks knew how to separate truth from make-believe. Remember those old fables told by storytellers to keep children on the right path? They weren't just tales for bedtime; they were about teaching good values and helping us understand the world around us. But somewhere along the way, this wisdom got tangled up with idealistic dreams that have nothing to do with reality.
Who came up with these fanciful dreams, when did it all take a nosedive, and why? As societies evolved, people latched onto enticing but unrealistic visions. It happened when the lines blurred between rational thinking and utopian fantasy, grounded in little more than wishful thinking. Suddenly, dreams of a world where everyone gets along perfectly and resources are unlimited became the norm. What happened to the concept of earning one's way through hard work, thrift, and personal responsibility?
Fables traditionally served a purpose. They reinforced moral lessons through clever storytelling. They were tales like "The Boy Who Cried Wolf" or "The Tortoise and the Hare," teaching us about honesty and perseverance. Fast forward to today, and the air is thick with dreamy tales that defy logic. Some dreamers imagine a future where everyone gets a trophy, no one is held accountable, and big government can solve all problems without anyone lifting a finger.
Remember the story of "The Ant and The Grasshopper"? The hard-working ant prepared for the future, stocking up for winter, while the grasshopper sang all summer long, expecting to skate by on hope. Yet, in today's landscape, the narrative shifts, rewarding the grasshopper's leisurely lifestyle with the spoils that the industrious ant labored to earn. Maybe it's time to return to those sturdy old morals. After all, instincts and hard work have proven themselves, generation after generation, for a reason.
This shift reflects how some want to reshape the morals of the past into something new and shiny. It makes life easy but at what cost? Societal growth doesn't stem from lowering standards to avoid hurting feelings. Instead, progress emerges from struggle and achievement, from setting the bar high and giving people the tools to reach it. A thriving society acknowledges this, teaching timeless virtues that sustain and guide rather than dwell in dreams that crumble under the weight of reality.
How did fantasy stories overtake hard facts? When did we start dismissing the importance of borders and celebrating the idea of open borders instead? Fables once philosophical and insightful now jangle as utopian anthems, ignoring the lessons of perseverance, consequence, or patience. America's founders, like the wise storytellers of old, understood freedom and responsibility went hand-in-hand, not simply the idea of everyone getting something for nothing.
Think of the cautionary tales embedded in our culture; they’re gems of wisdom. Yet today, we replace these with dreams founded on thin air. Climate change narratives blow out of proportion to foster fear and guilt, stirring needless panic in place of balanced adaptation and innovation. Conversely, fables reminded us of hubris and the real risks of jumping to conclusions because the grass is always greener.
Sooner or later, an overdose of dreams breeds complacency and a sense of entitlement. Younger generations, raised on comforting lies, emerge unprepared, their skills weak, and their resolve softer than needed. The community stops competing; it forgets the grind. Will they know how to weather future storms, or will they be lost in the storm of their own making?
To those who stand by the fables of yesteryear: Don’t yield to whims of fancy. The timeless stories that built our societies are as essential today as ever. Fables had a way of bypassing the carnal ear, touching that part of the heart where real change happens. Let's stop the world from drowning in dreams and start striving to make tangible change one well-earned accomplishment at a time. After all, when dreams wake up to reality, who will be ready to embrace it? Let’s favor the fables that guided our forefathers and start preparing like the wise ant once again.