By Diane Sare, an Independent Candidate for President of the United States, and Founder of the Schiller Institute NYC Chorus
The Executive Intelligence Review (EIR) hosted an online event on March 2, 2026, entitled “Epstein and the Bottomless Depravity of the Elites – Urgent Need for a Cultural Renaissance!” Diane Sare delivered a speech at this forum, which is presented below.
I want to express my gratitude to Helga Zepp-LaRouche for organizing this event and to everyone present, as well as those listening attentively to the discussion.
Currently, we face what might be considered the opposite of Friedrich Schiller’s insight into the French Revolution’s failure. We stand at a pre-revolutionary crossroads, especially in the United States, where long-held beliefs are coming under intense scrutiny, coinciding with declining living standards and increasing unaffordability. Yet, the population as it exists today lacks the readiness to address these challenges.
There is often talk about a breaking point that would spark public outrage. I assumed that moment arrived when the Abu Ghraib torture photos were released, yet Bush was re-elected afterward. This brought to mind Caligula’s words, “let them hate me, but let them fear me.” It puzzles me how a leader committing such atrocities could still gain votes.
The continuous escalation in U.S. military aid to Ukraine illustrates this absence of limits. President Biden initially declared, “We are not going to send tanks,” yet eventually tanks were sent. He said, “We are not sending fighter jets,” but then fighter jets were provided. Even restrictions on long-range strikes into Russia were lifted as guidance was supplied for them.
I want to raise an alert because, in my view, the U.S. appears to have no bottom yet to reach. Perhaps only mass American casualties in this conflict would rouse the nation. But who would wish for such devastation? Therefore, it falls to us to awaken Americans to their true identity. I appreciate the first panel’s speaker recalling the principles of the American Revolution, noting that today’s United States starkly contrasts with those who declared independence from the British Empire, condemning a multitude of abuses—many of which are now carried out by our own government.
Our history is a powerful tool to revive awareness among Americans. As we approach our 250th anniversary, we can remind the nation of its once deep commitment to liberty. The declaration that “all men are created equal,” even if unrealized and sometimes contradicted by the Founders themselves, remains a foundational ideal underpinning our nation and government.
George Washington warned in his Farewell Address that, despite the extensive freedom and influence Americans hold within the government—which we retain but often fail to exercise—education, culture, and religion must be carefully preserved. Protecting American culture was vital to ensuring citizens act in the nation’s best interest. His concerns remain relevant today. This partly inspired my recent statement, “Make Crazy, Crazy Again,” reflecting how society has degenerated to normalizing outrageous acts, like abducting a Venezuelan head of state and bringing him, along with his wife, to the U.S. Such conduct is beyond reason. Just imagine how John Quincy Adams would have reacted.
I have argued that the Epstein case represents a test of whether the United States can endure. If Congress, having access to documents including some unredacted names of offenders, fails to initiate any criminal investigations or indictments, it will demonstrate that America has lost the moral integrity required to survive. This decay explains how the nation can tolerate and commit genocide against children.
To address this seemingly bottomless crisis—and because the theme is a renaissance—I assert that the U.S. urgently needs a cultural rebirth. If a dark age is necessary for a renaissance to follow, then we have already reached this prerequisite; there is no need to fear creating a darker period because it is already here.
Considering the decline in language proficiency, can we elevate millions of Americans’ literacy enough, soon enough, to stop these horrors? I recall a discussion with Lyndon LaRouche just a few years ago. While reading Shakespeare with some younger colleagues and youth, I was struck by the monotone delivery and realized many did not grasp the words nor feel an emotional connection. He suggested that instead of reading Macbeth, people should first experience Verdi’s opera—connecting emotionally with the music, thereby developing empathy before returning to the drama text.
This approach offers a hopeful starting point; I share this not to imply hopelessness but to stress the urgency of active effort. We cannot wait passively for a shock to awaken the U.S. Hundreds of thousands of young people were moved by the genocide in Gaza, showing that people can be stirred. We must commit ourselves to elevate thinking profoundly. I value the preceding sculptor’s comments because as Schiller said, “it is through beauty that one proceeds to freedom.” This need is urgent, and Helga Zepp-LaRouche is among those who understand it deeply. That concludes my remarks. Thank you.
Original article: unitedworldint.com
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