In “The Secret Garden,” Colin Craven is treated as a cripple and pandered to, which causes him to become selfish and hostile. Everyone pities him and caters to his whims, thinking he is helpless. Ultimately, it is discovered he was fine all along, and respect and independence is what he needed. With encouragement, he is able to be free from his bondage to other’s pity.
This is a picture of the relationship of the left with those they are “helping,” or oppressing. Needy groups have retreated to wheelchairs of welfare because this gives the illusion of a better life. In reality, freedom waits for them to leave the coddling provisions of the left.
Oppression does not always come violently; sometimes it is voluntary. Handouts, condescension and nannying lure in folks and lead to their oppression. What develops over time is a symbiotic relationship of victims and placaters, but the hand on the shoulder quickly shifts around to the throat. This is seen in the war on poverty on the national and state level. The hand on the shoulder sought to eradicate inequality through programs and redistributed funds, but merely threw gasoline on the fire. The hand on the throat saw the number of poor burgeon and families dwindle, succumbing to the soft chains of the master’s dole. You serve the one who gives you bread.
