No Cult Here

Yesterday I heard the late 80's song "Cult of Personality" on the radio, which describes the dangers of being so taken with a leader that you just simply accept anything they say without question. Being an enthusiastic supporter of Ron Paul, I thought about the "Ron Paul Revolution" as compared to the scenario described in the song. There's a huge difference. The "Revolution" is not really about Ron Paul - it's about the idea of Liberty. He just happens to be an eloquent messenger who is at the right place and time to help deliver the message. I had the pleasure of spending an hour or so in his company the other day (see below) and can say that he is a very likable man who can express his ideas intelligently and clearly. But he doesn't have that forceful charisma that you see in a lot of other political leaders, or that some people expect to see in a presidential candidate. That's what is so exciting about the Ron Paul Revolution. Since it's more about his message of Liberty rather than him as a person, the Revolution can continue beyond this particular election, regardless of its outcome.

Here's a great quote from Anthony Gregory over at LewRockwell.com from an article discussing the appeal of this unlikely hero to a huge number of young people:
"The people of my generation, those a little younger or a little older, have been longing for an escape from politics as usual for a long time. Ron Paul offers the out. He is a cultural conservative and political radical. He is a Republican peacenik, a straight-laced Christian who wants true tolerance for all Americans, an honest and humble man offering an honest and humble foreign policy. He might not follow the latest fads, but he follows the Constitution and champions individual rights. His revolution is one of liberty, not the libertine conservatism that misses the point entirely."