Castle Freedom

After a long summer that has been unusually hot and dry, this morning starts with clouds and a light sprinkle of rain. Hopefully, more will fall over the next few days.

I am sitting in my office creating a blog to write the future of Castle Freedom ™. If I can write a program to control a computer, why can’t I write a script to create one possible future?

I believe I can, and I believe this future will include you.

This morning, when I close my eyes, I see a field next to a river, with mountains just beyond. Rising from the brown grass in the field is a gray stone wall with hints of several buildings enclosed within.

Just outside the stone walls flows a stream that fills the moat. There is a river on the far side of the castle and enough water is diverted from the river to fill the moat.

As I look north across the field, there is a massive drawbridge built of oak timbers and steel rods, bolts, and reinforcements. To the left and right are large torches held by hand-wrought steel fixtures. The light of the torches casts stark shadows on the walls and bridge and the smoke drifts into the light fog over the river.

There is a gravel-filled road leading up to the drawbridge and continuing on both sides of the castle walls.

A carriage drawn by two chestnut mares slowly approaches the drawbridge and slows to a stop. The footman jumps to the ground and places a portable step in place before helping the men and women step down from the carriage. They pause to look around and the smiles on their faces show their delight at being here.

One points out the word “Freedom” which is spelled out in large steel letters above the drawbridge. To the right, just before the drawbridge, they read the small sign that says, “To all who come in peace, welcome!”

The ladies and gentlemen remove their bags from the carriage and enter the castle walls.

Why are they here?

What will they do today?

In the distance, another carriage approaches and it becomes apparent that some sort of gathering is upon us.

It is a beginning.

Act on your dream!

JD

Today is March 23, 2004 and I have just registered CastleFreedom.com and created the first vestige of this website that will eventually lead to the creation and grand opening of Castle Freedom ™.

The idea is brand new and I’ve spoken to only a very few people about it.

They all agree to two things:

1. It’s an impossible dream that will take too many people and too much money.

2. It’s a great idea and would be hugely popular if we could find a way to pull it off.

So, I’m going to engage my imagination and start creating it in my own mind. Each day, I’ll imagine more of the castle and what it will be used for. When I get to the point where I can actually see it and walk through it, it will be time to start sharing the dream and attracting others.

I know this will take millions of dollars and several years to accomplish and I’m starting with no money and about a dozen people who have started imagining it in their minds.

A corporation will be formed, initial funding will be solicited, and the trademarks and service marks will need to be registered and protected.

How does one raise approximately $100 million without someone wanting to take over and change the dream to something else. One way would be to raise $100 from a million or more people. This would be accomplished over a period of time and all of it isn’t needed to begin.

My first ideas are that it will take five or six million dollars to secure the land that will be necessary and another million or two to start building phase one of the structures that will be necessary.

Over time, in multiple phases, the dream will be manifested near Murphy, NC, which is located approximately equidistant between Chattanooga, TN and Asheville, NC on US Hwy 64. North to south, we are between Knoxville, TN and Atlanta, GA.

The southern entrance of the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, in Cherokee, NC, is about an hour away and millions of people visit the park every year.

The Biltmore House is located a couple of hours east of here in Asheville, NC.

This is a great location for people to attend conferences, seminars, and classes related to peace and freedom. I can already see thousands of people smiling and laughing as they meet others who share their views and want to learn how to achieve more freedom in their lives.

One day, you will visit Castle Freedom ™ and I will be happy to shake your hand and thank you for all you have done to make this a reality.

Alone, I can only dream.

Together, we can change the world.

Act on your dream!

JD