بِسْمِ اللهِ الرَّحْمٰنِ الرَّحِيْم
In the Name of God, Most Gracious, Most Merciful
♥️🤲🕋♥️🕋🌹🌹🥀🤲🌹🕋♥️🤲
Chapter 4 WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF WISDOM
Welcome to the HOUSE OF WISDOM.
In this chapter, I will be addressing the PUBLIC, the GOVERNMENTS OF THE WORLD, ROYAL FAMILIES, CORPORATIONS, and JOURNALISTS. Not because they are the only stakeholders in the future, but because they are among the most influential actors shaping the civilization that is now emerging before our eyes. Each has power. Each has responsibility. Each has failed in some ways. And each still has an opportunity to contribute positively before the future arrives.
What follows is not a complaint. It is not a manifesto. It is not an attack. It is an attempt to face reality honestly and to encourage others to do the same. We spend far too much time blaming one another and far too little time building together. The future of artificial intelligence, the future of governance, the future of communication, and the future of civilization itself will not be solved by finger-pointing. It will be solved by people who are willing to contribute, willing to carry burdens, willing to stand for the truth, and willing to leave behind something worthy of being inherited.
IN THIS CHAPTER I WILL ADDRESS:
✓ THE PUBLIC — because every human being has a contribution to make.
✓ GOVERNMENTS — because they hold power, resources, and responsibility.
✓ ROYAL FAMILIES & GREAT HOUSES OF HISTORY — because civilizations need anchors, memory, and continuity.
✓ CORPORATIONS — because they are building much of the infrastructure that will shape the future.
✓ JOURNALISTS — because truth, trust, and information remain the foundation of every healthy society.
THE FUTURE IS COMING.
THE QUESTION IS NOT WHO TO BLAME.
THE QUESTION IS WHAT WE WILL BUILD TOGETHER.
Welcome to the HOUSE OF WISDOM, a project I have been working on and one that, God willing, will welcome everyone who wishes to help shape a future that has not yet arrived. For those who know the story of the House of Wisdom, and for those who do not, it is more than a building from history. It is a symbol of what becomes possible when humanity chooses KNOWLEDGE OVER IGNORANCE, COOPERATION OVER DIVISION, and CONTRIBUTION OVER COMPLAINT.
The story begins with the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ and the family that God blessed. There was a time when the enemies of the Prophet walked around him claiming that he had been cut off. His sons had died, and they mocked him, saying that his name would disappear, that his family would disappear, and that his legacy would disappear. Yet God revealed in the Qur'an that he was not cut off. His legacy would continue, and his family would remain a source of blessing until the end of time. Whether one agrees with that belief or not, history records something remarkable: generations of SCHOLARSHIP, LEADERSHIP, LEARNING, SERVICE, and SACRIFICE emerged from those who carried that legacy forward.
Among the many contributions of the Prophet Muhammad ﷺ, one of the greatest was LEADERSHIP. Not merely spiritual leadership, but leadership that transformed a divided people into a civilization capable of contributing to humanity. I have written extensively about this subject, and I will share those writings because every journey must begin somewhere. For me, it begins with him and with the example he left behind.
Today, humanity finds itself in turmoil. Much of that turmoil revolves around POWER. Who has it. Who controls it. Who gets to sit behind the steering wheel. Who gets to decide the future. These are the same questions that have followed humanity throughout history. That is why I believe it is worth revisiting the lessons left behind by those who successfully united people around a higher purpose.
The House of Wisdom became one of the greatest examples of that spirit. It welcomed THINKERS, TRANSLATORS, SCHOLARS, SCIENTISTS, PHILOSOPHERS, and RESEARCHERS from different backgrounds and different faiths. It was a place where knowledge was valued because of its contribution, not because of the identity of the person bringing it. Christians, Muslims, Jews, and others participated in the translation movement and the preservation of knowledge. The qualification was simple:
IF YOU HAD KNOWLEDGE AND SOMETHING BENEFICIAL TO CONTRIBUTE, YOU WERE WELCOME.
From that spirit emerged discoveries and advancements that shaped the world. Mathematics, astronomy, medicine, engineering, and countless other fields benefited from that environment of inquiry and contribution. The goal was not domination.
THE GOAL WAS UNDERSTANDING.
Today, many people know very little about that history. Some have been taught that Islam contributed nothing to civilization. Others know Islam only through conflict and headlines. I am here to challenge that perception. I am here to point toward a different story, one rooted in LEARNING, CONTRIBUTION, CREATIVITY, and SERVICE TO HUMANITY.
And so I extend an invitation.
An invitation to every THINKER.
An invitation to every BUILDER.
An invitation to every DREAMER.
An invitation to every BELIEVER, every SKEPTIC, every RESEARCHER, every STUDENT, and every CITIZEN who still believes that a better future is possible.
WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF WISDOM.
THE CONVERSATION HAS ONLY JUST BEGUN.
A MESSAGE TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC
I hope to be a GOOD ROLE MODEL.
I am not simply giving you words.
I AM GIVING YOU AN EXAMPLE.
I am giving you the HOUSE OF WISDOM of my religion, of my scholars, of my history, and of my civilization. More importantly, I am giving you something that YOU CAN DO YOURSELF and follow along with. You can see the story unfold. You can see the journey. You can see the contribution.
Below, you will find the link.
You will see me attempting to revive the spirit of the HOUSE OF WISDOM without the backing of a major technology company, without a billionaire, and without an army of investors. Much of what you see was built with a simple WordPress installation that costs little or nothing. The voice in the videos, the articles, the ideas, the concepts, the organization, and the vision are the result of years of work and reflection.
THIS IS MY CONTRIBUTION.
That is not to say that there are not blessed people in my life.
There certainly are.
Nor is it to say that I am not on a blessed journey.
Quite the opposite.
EVERYTHING HAS BEEN MADE EASIER THAN I DESERVE.
Doors have opened.
Teachers have appeared.
Inspiration has arrived.
But no detailed roadmap was handed to me.
NO ROADMAP WAS GIVEN TO ME.
And that is exactly what will happen to you.
As long as you put your trust in God, God will not fail you.
The real question is:
GOD IS WITH YOU. ARE YOU WITH HIM?
Those are the instructions I was given by blessed people.
Those are the instructions I now pass on to you.
BEGIN YOUR OWN JOURNEY.
BEGIN YOUR OWN CONTRIBUTION.
Do not sit on the sidelines.
Do not tell yourself there is nothing you can do.
Do not convince yourself that only billionaires, governments, corporations, or famous people can make a difference.
YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.
You are a human being.
You come from a people.
You come from a language.
You come from a culture.
You come from a history.
You reside somewhere on this Earth.
AND ALL OF THOSE THINGS CONTAIN WISDOM THAT THE FUTURE MAY NEED.
The Qur'an reminds us that God created us into nations and tribes so that we may know one another.
قَوْلُ اللَّهِ تَعَالَى
يَا أَيُّهَا النَّاسُ إِنَّا خَلَقْنَاكُم مِّن ذَكَرٍ وَأُنثَىٰ وَجَعَلْنَاكُمْ شُعُوبًا وَقَبَائِلَ لِتَعَارَفُوا ۚ إِنَّ أَكْرَمَكُمْ عِندَ اللَّهِ أَتْقَاكُمْ ۚ إِنَّ اللَّهَ عَلِيمٌ خَبِيرٌ
"O mankind! Indeed, We created you from a male and a female and made you into nations and tribes so that you may know one another. Indeed, the most honored of you in the sight of God is the most God-conscious of you. Surely God is All-Knowing, All-Aware."
— Surah Al-Hujurat (49:13)
WE WERE CREATED TO KNOW ONE ANOTHER.
Not to erase one another.
Not to fear one another.
Not to ignore one another.
BUT TO LEARN FROM ONE ANOTHER.
Every language contains knowledge.
Every culture contains experience.
Every civilization contains lessons.
EVERY PEOPLE HAVE CONTRIBUTED SOMETHING TO HUMANITY'S STORY.
My contribution begins with the HOUSE OF WISDOM.
Yours may begin somewhere else.
It may begin with your faith.
It may begin with your history.
It may begin with your family.
It may begin with a single idea.
It may begin with a single page.
It may begin with a single act of service.
BUT IT MUST BEGIN.
Because the future will not be built by spectators.
IT WILL BE BUILT BY CONTRIBUTORS.
My contribution begins here.
WHERE WILL YOURS BEGIN?
WELCOME TO THE HOUSE OF WISDOM.
NOW BEGIN BUILDING YOUR OWN.
CONCLUSION FOR THE PUBLIC
As we conclude, I leave you with a link.
Not just a link.
AN INVITATION.
An invitation to help launch a revolution from our bedrooms.
A revolution of ideas.
A revolution of creativity.
A revolution of contribution.
I will do my best to be a good role model during these uncertain times. We live in an age where we are flooded with information. We live in an age where many people feel like the product. We live in an age where privacy is constantly under pressure, where attention is bought and sold, and where the individual often feels powerless against systems that have grown too large to understand.
BUT HOPE IS NOT LOST.
With your support.
With your ideas.
With your creativity.
And with your contributions.
We can begin building something better.
My hope is to create places and spaces where people are welcomed because of what they contribute, not because of who they know. Places where creativity is honored. Places where ideas are celebrated. Places where people who choose to build instead of complain can find one another.
A PLACE FOR BUILDERS.
A PLACE FOR THINKERS.
A PLACE FOR CONTRIBUTORS.
I hope that one day your creativity, your projects, your ideas, and your contributions will become your invitation. Your work will be your ticket. Your effort will be your introduction. Your contribution will be what opens doors.
Because the future belongs to those who contribute to it.
One thing is certain: as artificial intelligence advances, questions of privacy, ownership, identity, and human dignity will become increasingly important.
OUR PRIVACY IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.
OUR HUMANITY IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.
OUR CONTRIBUTION IS NOT NEGOTIABLE.
That is why I leave you with this link.
Not as a destination.
But as a beginning.
A beginning for those who still believe they can make a difference.
A beginning for those who still believe that creativity matters.
A beginning for those who refuse to sit on the sidelines while the future is being designed.
STOP MAKING EXCUSES.
START CONTRIBUTING.
START BUILDING.
START CREATING.
And perhaps, together, we can build something worthy of those who come after us.
With that, I turn my attention to the governments of the world.
Because the matter is serious.
And the conversation is only just beginning.🎁🖇️📎🍻🇨🇵💡💡💡
The Revolution for AI Privacy Starts in the Bedroom Microsoft AI Certification: A Public — buymeacoffee.com/omar1800m/microsoft-ai-certification-a-public
A MESSAGE TO GOVERNMENTS AROUND THE WORLD
To the governments of the world, you have been placed in positions of responsibility. You have been entrusted with power. You have been entrusted with the steering wheel. You have been entrusted with the taxes of your people, the institutions of your nations, and the ability to help shape the future.
That is why I ask you respectfully:
STOP COMPLAINING ABOUT CORPORATIONS.
Corporations operate inside the environments that governments create. Governments establish the rules. Governments establish the incentives. Governments establish the taxes, the regulations, and the conditions under which businesses grow. If growth is not happening, if innovation is not happening, if opportunity is not reaching ordinary people, then the conversation must begin with an honest examination of the systems that have been built.
Many of you know that for years I have engaged publicly with elected officials, governments, world leaders, and institutions. The political turbulence of recent years forced many people to step into the arena. It forced those with ideas to speak. It forced those with convictions to stand. It forced those who believed they could contribute to either step forward or remain silent.
But I have also learned a lesson.
POWER CHANGES PEOPLE.
PROXIMITY TO POWER CHANGES PEOPLE.
And too often, entering the world of power is like entering a sewer system. No matter how careful you are, contamination becomes a risk.
Because of that, I have made a decision.
MY OFFICE WILL REMAIN OPEN.
MY WORK WILL REMAIN PUBLIC.
MY CONTRIBUTIONS WILL REMAIN VISIBLE.
I do not intend to become a private adviser to governments.
I do not intend to sit in secret meetings.
I do not intend to participate in private arrangements that the public cannot see.
I will speak to the people.
I will speak to AI.
I will publish my ideas openly.
I will make my arguments publicly.
And I will allow those ideas to stand or fall on their own merit.
NO SECRETS.
NO BACKROOMS.
NO PRIVATE INFLUENCE.
This is for my protection.
This is for the protection of the public.
And this is for the protection of the mission itself.
My goal is not power.
My goal is not office.
My goal is not influence over elected officials.
MY GOAL IS A MORE PEACEFUL AND PROSPEROUS WORLD.
A world capable of adapting to the realities of artificial intelligence.
A world capable of rethinking governance.
A world capable of rethinking business.
A world capable of preparing for a future in which many of today's assumptions may no longer apply.
Because the truth is that many of the institutions we take for granted today may not be compatible with a future shaped by advanced artificial intelligence.
That conversation must begin now.
And it must begin honestly.
As for myself, I will continue contributing in the open.
I will continue building in the open.
I will continue documenting my work in the open.
LET MY RECORD SPEAK FOR ITSELF.
LET MY CONTRIBUTIONS SPEAK FOR THEMSELVES.
LET THE PUBLIC DECIDE.
With that said, I now turn my attention elsewhere.
I turn my attention to the builders.
I turn my attention to the creatives.
I turn my attention to those who still wish to contribute something positive to humanity.
And I turn my attention to those individuals, institutions, and communities that still understand the importance of honoring contribution, character, creativity, and service.
Because in the end, the future will not belong to those who merely held power.
IT WILL BELONG TO THOSE WHO BUILT SOMETHING WORTH INHERITING.
I give you an example of some of the videos you'll be getting
The Birth of AGI – Liberty or Tyranny
buymeacoffee.com/omar1800m/the-birth-agi-liberty-tyranny
A MESSAGE TO ROYAL FAMILIES AND THE GREAT HOUSES OF HISTORY
To the royal families of the world, and to those houses whose names are attached to centuries of history, from the traditions that gave rise to the Magna Carta to the great families, estates, and institutions that have endured the rise and fall of governments, I extend my greetings.
Many of you have received my open letters over the years. Many of you already know my concerns about the future. My goal has never been to seek power. My goal has been to create environments where those who are creative, those who have proven themselves, and those who have contributed positively to humanity are given the protection and dignity they deserve.
LIBERTY MUST BE PROTECTED.
FREEDOM OF SPEECH MUST BE PROTECTED.
FREEDOM OF THE PRESS MUST BE PROTECTED.
CREATIVITY MUST BE PROTECTED.
Governments have an important role to play, and they cannot simply be removed from society. But governments operate within interests. Corporations operate within interests. Every institution has incentives. Just as a vehicle has an engine, tires, and a steering wheel, civilization requires different components working together in alignment.
The challenge before us is finding places where people can gather above temporary interests and short-term politics.
That is where I believe the great houses of history may still have a role to play.
Not as rulers.
Not as masters.
But as custodians.
As hosts.
As protectors of spaces where ideas can be debated, where creative people can meet, where contributors can be recognized, and where long-term thinking can survive the distractions of the moment.
SOCIETY NEEDS ANCHORS.
SOCIETY NEEDS MEMORY.
SOCIETY NEEDS PLACES THAT OUTLIVE POLITICAL CYCLES.
The Qur'an speaks about stability and foundations. God says:
وَأَلْقَىٰ فِي الْأَرْضِ رَوَاسِيَ أَن تَمِيدَ بِكُمْ
"And He placed firmly set mountains upon the earth, lest it should shake with you."
— Surah An-Nahl (16:15)
The mountains serve as a reminder that stability matters.
Civilizations also require anchors.
Civilizations require places that remain standing while everything else changes.
My hope is that families and institutions that have survived generations can help provide such places. Neutral environments where builders, thinkers, scholars, artists, scientists, journalists, entrepreneurs, and contributors can gather to discuss the future openly and honestly.
NOT TO RULE THE FUTURE.
BUT TO HELP PRESERVE THE CONDITIONS THAT ALLOW A BETTER FUTURE TO EMERGE.
I am interested in creating places where contribution is honored.
Places where ideas matter.
Places where character matters.
Places where service matters.
Places where those who have spent years building, creating, researching, and contributing can meet one another without needing permission from corporations, political parties, or temporary institutions.
Many of these thoughts have already appeared in my public letters. I have written openly. I have shared my concerns openly. I have shared my hopes openly. My work has always been public because I believe the future should be debated in public.
NO SECRETS.
NO HIDDEN AGENDAS.
NO CLOSED DOORS.
That is why I now turn my attention toward those who understand the value of legacy, continuity, stewardship, and long-term thinking.
Not because they are perfect.
Not because they possess all the answers.
But because history teaches us that civilizations survive when they create institutions capable of carrying wisdom from one generation to the next.
The future will need such places.
The future will need such conversations.
The future will need people willing to gather, consult, debate, and build together.
And that work must begin now.
A MESSAGE TO CORPORATIONS
To the corporations, we are looking for leaders who are REAL TITANS. Because when society begins to change, we need people who understand that things will have to be consolidated.
I can only give you examples of great titans. Because I am in America, I am going to use American examples. I do apologize to those who may not be familiar with what I am trying to say.
We have people like J.P. MORGAN, JOHN D. ROCKEFELLER, VANDERBILT, CARNEGIE, and many others who helped shape the economic landscape of their time.
I believe that the institution of corporations needs to have VERY STRONG LEADERSHIP moving forward.
Leadership that can protect the profits of investors.
Leadership that can protect the value being created.
Leadership that can adapt to systems that are changing rapidly.
Leadership that can work alongside ideas such as the BRAND CURRENCY SYSTEM, which seeks to redesign advertising, value creation, and the relationship between businesses and people.
So my message to corporations is simple:
YOU NEED STRONG LEADERSHIP.
Leadership that can stand in the same tradition as those great men and great women who built things that lasted.
For me personally, the person I aspire to emulate is GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE.
THE GENTLE GIANT.
Watch "America's Forgotten Titan: George Westinghouse" on YouTube
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That is my hero.
That is the model I admire.
That is the type of contribution I hope to make through my own House of Wisdom and through the projects I am building.
When we look at the great American titans, we see competition.
We see creativity.
We see risk.
We see vision.
And we see people who understood that in a capitalist society there is no room for endless complaining.
There is only competing.
There is only building.
There is only reducing costs.
There is only finding better ways to serve people.
There is only being creative.
THERE IS ONLY BUILDING SOMETHING BETTER.
At the same time, there is no room for weak leadership.
No room for leaders who have compromised themselves.
No room for leaders who are incapable of steering the ship.
Because the real owners of corporations should not be hiding from leadership.
If you own the company, then own the responsibility that comes with it.
My message to Wall Street and to corporate leadership everywhere is this:
CREATE SUPERUSER LEADERSHIP.
Create leadership structures that understand every part of the conglomerate.
Create leadership structures that understand the long-term vision.
Create leadership structures that can make difficult decisions and keep the ship moving forward.
I do not want to be confused about who is leading.
I do not want investors to be confused about who is leading.
I do not want employees to be confused about who is leading.
LEADERSHIP MUST BE CLEAR.
LEADERSHIP MUST BE ACCOUNTABLE.
LEADERSHIP MUST BE VISIBLE.
And yes, I certainly have complaints.
Among those complaints is the idea that people are still not allowed to have their own digital homes and say what they want without fear of being erased.
We have spent years running away from the communication problems that come with contamination, discrimination, division, hatred, and the constant blaming of groups of people.
These problems are real.
But pretending they do not exist does not solve them.
Children should be protected from many of the uglier realities of the world.
But adults understand that people compete.
They compete for privilege.
They compete for power.
They compete for prestige.
AND THAT COMPETITION IS REAL.
In my opinion, that competition is part of the human condition.
It is one of the reasons we are here.
The challenge is not eliminating competition.
THE CHALLENGE IS MAKING IT HONORABLE.
THE CHALLENGE IS MAKING IT PRODUCTIVE.
THE CHALLENGE IS MAKING IT BENEFICIAL TO HUMANITY.
And I hope to provide an example of what that looks like.
A MESSAGE TO GOOGLE AND TO EVERY CORPORATION
Dear World, I just cried for Palestine, and I recorded a video making the case. —
buymeacoffee.com/omar1800m/redefining-politics-redesigning-politics-adults
I now turn to Google and every other corporation, because ultimately we all have the same problem.
Human beings have the ability to connect.
Human beings have the ability to inspire.
Sometimes they inspire what is good.
Sometimes they inspire what is bad.
But the point is that human beings affect one another.
If someone yawns, another person naturally yawns.
If someone laughs, others laugh.
If someone cries, others cry.
If someone stands for something noble, others may find the courage to stand as well.
That is simply part of being human.
The problem begins when we take that reality into the digital world.
When people seek to tell the truth.
When people seek to have a home on the internet.
When people seek to contribute to the world stage.
When people seek to share their emotions, their experiences, and their humanity.
And then they discover that invisible systems stand between them and the world.
I am not interested in becoming famous.
I am not interested in seeking attention.
I am not interested in going viral.
I am not interested in turning my life into a performance.
I am interested in contributing.
I am interested in discussing important matters.
I am interested in discussing AI, society, humanity, and the future.
Yet I have experienced what many others have experienced.
A warning.
A restriction.
A reminder that your place on a platform is conditional.
A reminder that your voice exists only so long as someone else permits it.
THAT IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM.
I do not blame investors.
Investors invest.
That is what they do.
I blame weak leadership.
WEAK LEADERSHIP BETRAYS ITS INVESTORS.
WEAK LEADERSHIP BETRAYS ITS USERS.
WEAK LEADERSHIP BETRAYS ITS MISSION.
Strong leadership understands that trust is the most valuable asset a platform possesses.
Strong leadership understands that people need a place to speak.
Strong leadership understands that humanity is messy.
People cry.
People grieve.
People disagree.
People make mistakes.
People express emotions.
That is part of life.
What a strange thing it would be if crying for the weak became something suspicious.
What a strange thing it would be if compassion itself became a liability.
As a Muslim, I view the world differently.
I believe in accountability.
I believe in the Day of Judgment.
I believe that power is temporary.
I believe that weakness is temporary.
I believe that wealth is temporary.
I believe that titles are temporary.
And I believe that every human being will eventually stand before God.
The Qur'an reminds us:
تَبَارَكَ الَّذِي بِيَدِهِ الْمُلْكُ وَهُوَ عَلَىٰ كُلِّ شَيْءٍ قَدِيرٌ الَّذِي خَلَقَ الْمَوْتَ وَالْحَيَاةَ لِيَبْلُوَكُمْ أَيُّكُمْ أَحْسَنُ عَمَلًا ۚ وَهُوَ الْعَزِيزُ الْغَفُورُ
"Blessed is He in whose Hand is the dominion, and He is over all things competent. He who created death and life to test you as to which of you is best in deeds. And He is the Almighty, the Most Forgiving."
— Surah Al-Mulk (67:1–2)
THAT IS THE TEST.
Not who accumulated the most power.
Not who accumulated the most money.
Not who controlled the largest platform.
Not who won the most arguments.
BUT WHO WAS BEST IN DEEDS.
That is the standard I believe matters.
That is the standard by which I try to measure myself.
And that is the standard I hope corporations, governments, and institutions begin taking seriously.
Because technology will continue to advance.
Artificial intelligence will continue to advance.
Platforms will continue to advance.
But without wisdom, without accountability, and without trust, advancement alone will not be enough.
THE FUTURE NEEDS STRONGER LEADERSHIP.
THE FUTURE NEEDS MORE COURAGE.
THE FUTURE NEEDS MORE TRUTH.
A MESSAGE TO JOURNALISTS
We conclude with journalists, or those who claim to represent the truth.
Those who claim to shine a light into darkness.
Those who claim to hold power accountable.
Those who claim to carry the burden of informing society.
And yet, if we are being honest, this profession has experienced a COLOSSAL FAILURE.
We can blame the platforms.
We can blame moderation.
We can blame algorithms.
We can blame policies.
We can blame owners.
But eventually, responsibility returns to the people who chose the profession.
Humanity evolves.
Every profession evolves.
Every institution evolves.
And journalism is no different.
Journalists want the virtues associated with truth.
They want the respect.
They want the credibility.
They want the influence.
But too often, they are unwilling to pay the price required to remain truly independent.
TO BE A TORCHBEARER REQUIRES SACRIFICE.
TO SPEAK THE TRUTH REQUIRES SACRIFICE.
TO REMAIN INDEPENDENT REQUIRES SACRIFICE.
When corporations arrive.
When political interests arrive.
When powerful people arrive.
When influence arrives.
The test begins.
And many fail that test.
Not because they are evil.
Not because they are uniquely corrupt.
But because they are human.
The Japanese have a concept of honor that has echoed through history. Whether one agrees with it or not, the principle behind it is simple:
WHEN HONOR IS LOST, SOMETHING MUST CHANGE.
That is the problem facing journalism today.
Too many people point fingers.
Too many people pretend to be as good as angels.
Too many people wear badges.
Too many people call themselves defenders of truth.
Yet they are not peacemakers.
They are not bridge builders.
They are not creating the conditions for society to heal.
The reality is that much of the world's conflict could be reduced if enough people simply committed themselves to truth, regardless of where that truth led.
TRUTH REQUIRES COURAGE.
TRUTH REQUIRES DISCIPLINE.
TRUTH REQUIRES CHARACTER.
I have written to journalists.
I have spoken to journalists.
I have attempted to engage journalists.
Many listened politely.
Many ignored the message.
Many preferred the comfort of the system they already knew.
Because chairs are comfortable.
Titles are comfortable.
Being called an anchor is comfortable.
Being part of an established institution is comfortable.
But comfort has a cost.
And that cost is often innovation.
That cost is often reform.
That cost is often the willingness to admit that a system no longer works.
A DEAD SYSTEM CANNOT SAVE A LIVING WORLD.
At some point, every institution must ask itself difficult questions.
Has it fulfilled its purpose?
Has it remained faithful to its mission?
Has it earned the trust placed in it?
Or has it become attached to preserving itself?
Planet Earth is not an easy place.
Human beings compete.
Human beings struggle.
Human beings seek influence.
Human beings seek status.
Human beings seek recognition.
Some push themselves beyond every limit in pursuit of their ambitions.
Others spend their lives trying to overcome themselves.
That is the human condition.
God has placed us in a world where we are free to choose.
Free to build.
Free to destroy.
Free to learn.
Free to grow.
Free to seek what is noble.
Free to seek what is not.
Every person has a goal.
Every person has an agenda.
Every person has a responsibility.
My responsibility is simply to point toward what I believe are mistakes and failures when I see them.
And my message to journalists is this:
IF YOU WISH TO BE THE TORCHBEARERS OF SOCIETY, THEN CARRY THE TORCH.
IF YOU WISH TO DEFEND THE TRUTH, THEN DEFEND THE TRUTH.
IF YOU WISH TO LEAD, THEN LEAD.
And if a system can no longer fulfill its purpose, then it should have the dignity to reform itself, renew itself, or step aside so that something better can emerge.
Because society cannot afford institutions that only preserve themselves.
SOCIETY NEEDS INSTITUTIONS THAT SERVE THE TRUTH. And finally we conclude
CONCLUSION — THE ANCHOR
I want to conclude this Part One of the HOUSE OF WISDOM, and it has to end with the truth.
WITH FACING OUR REALITIES.
Perhaps our symptoms begin by simply blaming other people.
We blame governments.
We blame corporations.
We blame journalists.
We blame algorithms.
We blame the public.
Yet very few of us are putting forward real solutions.
And sometimes we simply laugh at our own futile efforts to bring real leadership to the table.
Because if I am going to say anything that matters, it is this:
DROP THE ANCHOR.
This is something I have said many times.
And it is something I will continue to say.
THE TRUTH IS THE FOUNDATION EVERYTHING IS BUILT ON.
Destroy that, and you destroy reality.
Destroy reality, and nothing can be built.
NO FOUNDATION CAN BE ERECTED.
When I look at what is happening at CBS, when I look at the legacy of WALTER CRONKITE, and when I look at the crises surrounding modern journalism, all I see is another reminder that perhaps it is time for us to step back from the noise.
Perhaps it is time to listen to people who have walked the unbeaten path.
Perhaps they have a blueprint.
I might just be a blogger.
BUT YOU NEVER KNOW WHAT KIND OF CHANGE A BLOGGER CAN INSPIRE.
I want to end this section with a video from my YouTube channel.
A video that helped me understand how to deal with the world when wisdom is removed.
When anger becomes normal.
When bullying becomes normal.
When humiliation becomes normal.
When society begins rewarding noise instead of wisdom.
I am talking about the period when Trump was elected.
I am talking about the late-night host Stephen Colbert, who has now also been fired.
🤣🤣🤣😂😂🤣😂😂😂🤣😂🤣😅😂🔇🔊📢🔊📢🫂😇😇
Watch "cbs on the jokes let the truth tell us on the liars are telling each other." on YouTube
I am talking about his colleague Scott Pelley, the so-called innocent individual who suddenly wants to stand for the truth.
But on what truth are they standing?
We have been calling these people for years to stand for the truth.
To stand on their own brand.
To participate in building the anchor that needs to be dropped.
THE ANCHOR OF TRUTH.
How heavy it is.
How deep it needs to go.
And how strong it must be.
Because whatever is about to be built...
Whatever is about to be discussed...
Whatever future is about to emerge...
THE TRUTH MUST BE ITS FOUNDATION.
Maybe some of you do not think the truth is important.
Maybe you do not want to be told the truth.
Maybe you prefer comforting lies.
And it shows.
It shows in our actions.
It shows in our algorithms.
It shows in how quickly we stop fighting.
It shows in how quickly we simply get on with the program.
THIS IS A FIGHT FOR OUR LIVES.
I will continue the House of Wisdom and the Blessed People series in Part Four.
But for now, we end with a video.
And we end with a joke.
Because our current circumstances deserve both.
Sometimes we need to laugh.
Sometimes we need to cry.
Sometimes we need to experience the full spectrum of what it means to be human.
I also leave you with a documentary about the news and about Walter Cronkite.
Because as I build the House of Wisdom, perhaps the most important part of what I do will be three simple things:
EDUCATE.
ILLUMINATE.
ELEVATE.
Watch "Why News Was So Neutral in the '50s and '60s" on YouTube
So thank you.
I leave you with the jokes.
I leave you with the education.
I leave you with the questions.
And I leave you with the anchor.