Have you seen "10,000 B.C.", the Roland Emmerich film epic? With a loose adaptation of history, and an abundance of larger-than-life scenes, it is entertaining, but most memorable for a bit of thought provoking dialog. The action centers around a young hero's quest to overcome a family stigma and fulfill tribal prophecy. Early in the story he is counseled solemnly by a wise elder:
"Some men draw a circle around themselves and protect those who are in it: Wife and children. Some men draw a bigger circle around themselves and protect more: Mother, uncles, aunts, grandchildren. Some men draw a big, big circle around themselves and protect many, many more. There comes a point in a man's life when he must find out for himself, which of those men will he be."
It sounds pretty profound doesn't it? That scene set the stage for the adventure that led to the young hero becoming the leader of his people. It seems to be largely consistent with the historical archetype of leaders and how we glorify and idealize them in society today.
As I watched the story unfold, in the back of my mind I was ruminating about what kind of circle I have drawn in my life, and considering what kind of value judgment I attached to my conclusion. It seemed like no matter how I turned the idea over in my head, I concluded I am mostly satisfied to have a small circle that includes those closest to me. I am also content to let others enjoy their own small circles in peace. I believe most people of good will feel similarly.
My thoughts naturally turned to those among us who draw larger circles. They are typically quite competent persons with extraordinary means, skills, and tenacity, and they become the leaders in business, religion and politics. Sometimes they have good intentions, but perhaps just as often, they do not or their intentions become corrupt along the way. Frequently there is an underlying sense of superiority, and a philosophy that the end justifies the means. Often the means and the ends are both found wanting.
Ambitious leaders work tirelessly to encompass our smaller circles, despite the fact that most humans are independent by nature. If you don't believe humans have an independent nature, try spending a day caring for a healthy two year old, or giving advice to a teenager. It has always been so, even before 10,000 B.C. Human beings are fiercely independent, and the big circles drawn by ideologues, leaders, and regimes ignore the fact that many of us from an early age simply don't want to be encircled. We want freedom and liberty, and we push back; the push-back gives rise to most of the conflict in our world.
The founders of our nation were suspicious of individuals, institutions and regimes that drew circles around people. They founded our nation on the principles of liberty, and codified our right to be free of such bondage. Theirs was a vision of a co-op of many smaller circles, operating in a free market, and enjoying the safety of numbers. Each was to contribute according to his means, ability and initiative, and receive back in equal measure. Live and let live and voluntary cooperation were fundamental to their model, and they preserved it all for posterity in our founding documents.
Imagine your circle. Is it in harmony with the circles of others? Does it fit the vision of the founding fathers? Do you believe as they did that our country is a co-op of small independent circles? Or, do you instead believe it is a big circle with leadership authorized to limit freedom in the name of unity?
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