Asymmetrical Information

IS THERE ANY EASY ROAD

IS THERE ANY EASY ROAD TO FREEDOM?
Carl Sandburg

A relentless man loved France
Long before she came to shame
And the eating of bitter dust,
Loving her as mother and torch,
As bone of his kith and kin
And he spoke passion, warning:
"Rest is not a word for free peoples--
rest is a monarchical word."
A relentless Russian loved Russia
Long before she came to bare agony
And valor amid rivers of blood,
Loving her as mother and torch,
As bone of his kith and kin:
He remembered the old Swedish saying:
"The fireborn are at home in fire."
A Kentucky-born Illinoisan found himself
By journey through shadow and prayer
The Chief Magistrate of the American people
Pleading in words close to low whispers:
"Fellow citizens... we cannot escape history.
The fiery trial through which we pass
Will light us down in honor or dishonor
To the latest generation...
We shall nobly save or mealy lose
The last best hope of earth.”
Four little words came worth studying over:
“We must disenthrall ourselves.”
And what is a thrall? And who are thralls?
Men tied down or men doped, or men drowsy?
He hoped to see them
shake themselves loose
and so be disenthralled.
There are freedom shouters.
There are freedom whisperers.
Both may serve.
Have I, have you, been too silent?
Is there an easy crime of silence?
Is there an easy road to freedom?