My family has been going through a rough time recently. No, it's not about family structure or relationships or anything like that. It's about this country, about its integrity. We held our country in reverence. We never doubted this country's position as a symbol of virtue and justice in the world. Hell, when I was a young child I saw this nation as one of the few "pure" things left in this world. I think it's something that every kid gets in his mind when reading his second grade history book. I remember, I used to actually save one dollar bills so George Washington would "look out for me." He, and Jefferson, and Franklin; they were demigods. More than men. They were giants in a word of weaklings. It was their vision that created the greatest nation in the history of human civilization.I have complete and total faith in our system of government. I have complete and total faith in the dreams of our Founding Fathers. I would die defending them. So you can imagine the sound of my heart when I head my sister say four little words yesterday...
"I hate this country."
I was stunned. Sure, I'm not a big fan of the Republican-controlled Congress or the Bush White House. I feel that this country is headed in the wrong way, just like many of you. But I love this country. With every inch of me. And I am convinced that we can change things.
My sister was not so optimistic.
"Everybody hates us." I asked her what she meant. "The world. The world hates us." I told her that she was wrong. The world hated either President Bush, or what we stand for. "First of all, President Bush is our number one representative to the world. When they hate him, they hate us." She made a good point. "And second, what do we stand for anymore? Corruption? Politics? I hate that. It's so stupid."
Is that what we've come to represent? Is that how the world see's us? A spoiled-little-brat-of-a-nation? A entire country of people who want nothing more to further their own position in the world with as little expense to them as possible, regardless of the effects on other people?
"Obviously." She said that like this wasn't news. Maybe it's not. Maybe the world isn't just sick of Bush, but of our attitude. This used to be the country of progress, of leadership. We are the beacon of hope and justice to peoples all over the world. But how can we be a beacon of justice if we don't promote it in our own system? Our founding father's would be ashamed of us. How low have we sunken? From Ben Franklin, who Turgot claimed "seized the lightning from the Gods and the scepter from the Tyrants", to George Allen, a man who wears Cowboy Boots, enjoys dip, and has a famous father, so is therefore acceptable to hold public office?
November 7th could be a turning point in America's history.
It cannot be about political gain.
It cannot be about establishing power.
It cannot even be about our hot-button issues.
It must be about restoring what this country truly is. A place where everyman is equal to the man next door. A place where every man has a chance to succeed. A place where men fall down, and the leaders are there to pick them up again. Where no man is left helpless unless he wishes it.
My sister is not the only one who has lost faith in this nation. 40% of the country decided not to vote in 2004 for the highest office in this nation. That number of apathetic Americans is growing. It's a cynicism that we can't defeat with soundbites or hot-topics. We can only fight it with a message of hope and inspiration. We must bring the promised opportunity of FDR, the hope of Kennedy, the tenacity of Truman, and the strength of Jackson. We must all find what it was when we were young children that made us see this country as the unshakeable shrine to what is good in this world.
You may say that we can't really make a difference anyways. That's not an excuse, that's a problem. One that we can easily rectify. As Jackson said, "One man with courage makes a majority." We need to refuse to back down from the fight. We must show virtue and integrity no matter what. If we can do that, we will have gotten our message out. And we will be victorious, regardless of the numbers.
Upon leaving the Constitutional Congress, citizens asked Ben Franklin what kind of government had been created. His response is legendary:
"A Republic...if you can keep it."
We haven't been doing a good job of keeping it recently. It's time we lived up to the legacies left for us 230 years ago. Instead of waiting for a giant to emerge and lead us again, I say we ALL become giants, and make this country the shining beacon once again. Every man and woman has it in them to lead. That's what I ask everybody to do. To become a giant, and to lead. There's a lot at stake here, and we can't back away from the responsibility. We just need a little courage, a little integrity, and a little faith. Faith in ourselves, faith in each other, and faith in our country.
That's what's at stake here. A nation's faith in itself. I'm not going to let that slip away, and I doubt you will either.
God Bless the Commonwealth. God Bless America.
and of course,
"... we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
Rhetoric is BORING.
But I guess you aren't interested in making the country more right. And that rumble in the ground isn't distant thunder, it's JFK's rotating remains breaking the sound barrier in Arlington.
The primary thrust of my original posting was to point out that this country has stood as the "shining city on a hill" for millions around the world. If you can't see that fact, you are blind.
Of course, if the social conservatives stay in control for another decade or so I wouldn't be at all surprised to see a brain drain from this country. This happened in 1930s in Germany--many of the best and brightest went elsewhere (many to America) once the social cons in that country started consolidating power and beating down on minority groups. Germany is still recovering.
If worst comes to worst your sister could always retain her American citizenship and simply travel around the world with a backpack that has a Maple leaf on it (as Canadians are wont to do when travelling around the world). There are also parts of the world where should could try to pass herself off as English.
Also, there's a moral obligation to keep this country out of the hands of the social conservatives. If we abandon this country without putting up a fight, the world will truly have cause to hate ALL Americans without distinction.