"Man is by nature a political animal." - Aristotle
Photograph by Kilroy_60
IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the
thirteen united States of America
thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
The Declaration of Independence - Full Text and More
Saluting American Democracy...
Red States and Blue States {Be sure to put the Red before the Blue} have become a mainstay of the American lexicon. Boil everything down and that is the root of the problem in that we should be Purple.
Not that everyone should share the same beliefs. But it needs to be about US not We and Them --- or We and Them. People are flocking to the far ends of the spectrum, not only abandoning the middle but seeking to ignore {at best} or deny {at worst} the existence of the other. One thing for sure, the agenda of whichever group you do not belong is likely being dismissed. There is no meaningful dialogue, no debate, no exchange of ideas. Let alone any effort to find common ground.
Further, we seem to have lost sight of a basic principle on which this nation was founded. While the person {man thus far} who lives in the White House is said to be the most powerful in the world we should not forget it is because he works for US --- ALL OF US --- Red and Blue and Blue and Red. And the people who work in that building with the big dome at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue {the ones who are empowered to choose the wage they will be paid} are charged with representing us.
Who is the "us" that is being represented in Washington, D.C. and {insert the name of your state's capital city}? It's the fanatics at the farthest ends of the spectrum that are setting the agenda and creating the environment in which we are expected to survive. The majority of us are silent in terms of what counts.
You (whomever you may happen to be} are more likely to have voted for the winner of American Idol than for the people who are charged with representing you in our government(s = local state and federal). You are most likely also not one of the people making telephone calls, sending emails, transmitting faxes or writing letters to the people responsible for creating policy and making law.
If you are happy with the way things are then you likely needn't do anything. {All indication are there are very few of us who are happy with the way things are.} Continue as you are and there will be no improvement. Although things could get worse.
Starting tomorrow declare REAL independence. Stop being part of the silent majority.
Engage in conversations about political matters with people you know and people you don't know. Don't have fear to express what you think or to stand up for what you feel. Don't forget that communication means listening not just talking and hearing. Listening and considering the value of information that is offered to you. It's not about being right or wrong; it's about finding what is best for the country as a whole. Not for whatever particular niche to which you belong.
Write an email, make a telephone call, fax, dare I say write a letter to someone who is representing you at the local state or national level each week. As this becomes a habit perhaps you'll contact one at each level on a weekly basis. You can make contact to support what that person is doing, to object to what they are dong or to suggest an adjustment in their stance to better reflect what is better for your community or your state or your country.
Don't be silent. Don't whine or bitch to people who don't have the power to do anything about the situation with no follow-up. Do encourage people {those who agree with you and those who don't} to write that email, make that call or send that letter.
One last thing. Whether you're happy or unhappy with the way things are do one thing ----------------------------VOTE. {Talk about twisted ideas. I'll call tomorrow to look into mental health treatment}
Saluting American Democracy...
- The United States of America - Wikipedia
- United States Declaration of Independence - Wikipedia
- United States Constitution - Wikipedia
- Declaration of Independence
- Studying the Declaration - About.com
- The Declaration of Independence - History Channel.com
- Interpreting The Declaration of Independence by Translation
- Constitution for the United States of America
- The Constitution of the United States Annotated
- Resequenced United States Constitution
- United States Constitution: Information from Answers.com
- National Constitution Center
- The U.S. Constitution Online (Since 1995)
- The National Archive Experience
- The National Archives Online Exhibits
- The United States Senate
- United States Senate - Wikipedia
- United States House of Representatives
- United States House of Represetnatives - Wikipedia
- The White House
- Supreme Court of the United States
- The Library of Congress
- FindLaw
- Pledge of Allegiance - Wikipedia
- The Star-Spangled Banner - Wikipedia
- United States Government Printing Office Online
- Arlington National Cemetery
Red States and Blue States {Be sure to put the Red before the Blue} have become a mainstay of the American lexicon. Boil everything down and that is the root of the problem in that we should be Purple.
Not that everyone should share the same beliefs. But it needs to be about US not We and Them --- or We and Them. People are flocking to the far ends of the spectrum, not only abandoning the middle but seeking to ignore {at best} or deny {at worst} the existence of the other. One thing for sure, the agenda of whichever group you do not belong is likely being dismissed. There is no meaningful dialogue, no debate, no exchange of ideas. Let alone any effort to find common ground.
Further, we seem to have lost sight of a basic principle on which this nation was founded. While the person {man thus far} who lives in the White House is said to be the most powerful in the world we should not forget it is because he works for US --- ALL OF US --- Red and Blue and Blue and Red. And the people who work in that building with the big dome at the other end of Pennsylvania Avenue {the ones who are empowered to choose the wage they will be paid} are charged with representing us.
Who is the "us" that is being represented in Washington, D.C. and {insert the name of your state's capital city}? It's the fanatics at the farthest ends of the spectrum that are setting the agenda and creating the environment in which we are expected to survive. The majority of us are silent in terms of what counts.
You (whomever you may happen to be} are more likely to have voted for the winner of American Idol than for the people who are charged with representing you in our government(s = local state and federal). You are most likely also not one of the people making telephone calls, sending emails, transmitting faxes or writing letters to the people responsible for creating policy and making law.
If you are happy with the way things are then you likely needn't do anything. {All indication are there are very few of us who are happy with the way things are.} Continue as you are and there will be no improvement. Although things could get worse.
Starting tomorrow declare REAL independence. Stop being part of the silent majority.
Engage in conversations about political matters with people you know and people you don't know. Don't have fear to express what you think or to stand up for what you feel. Don't forget that communication means listening not just talking and hearing. Listening and considering the value of information that is offered to you. It's not about being right or wrong; it's about finding what is best for the country as a whole. Not for whatever particular niche to which you belong.
Write an email, make a telephone call, fax, dare I say write a letter to someone who is representing you at the local state or national level each week. As this becomes a habit perhaps you'll contact one at each level on a weekly basis. You can make contact to support what that person is doing, to object to what they are dong or to suggest an adjustment in their stance to better reflect what is better for your community or your state or your country.
Don't be silent. Don't whine or bitch to people who don't have the power to do anything about the situation with no follow-up. Do encourage people {those who agree with you and those who don't} to write that email, make that call or send that letter.
One last thing. Whether you're happy or unhappy with the way things are do one thing ----------------------------VOTE. {Talk about twisted ideas. I'll call tomorrow to look into mental health treatment}
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6 comments:
Philosophically this is all well and good. What makes it problematic is the poor choices that are offered. The way things are done, it's too much of a hassle for the people who would likely do the best job.
ps:
"Man by nature is an animal."
- Red Dirt Girl
Well, as Kilroy says, if you don't try, then things will continue quite happily in the direction they're already going.
I strongly believe that you have to do your little bit, even if it is ineffectual. One little drop of water might not do a lot to a rock, but over time drop after drop can wear a deep hole. And, conversely, drop after drop elsewhere can build stalagmites and stalactites. On a larger scale, it takes many quiet whispers to create a voice; and many voices make a declaration of intention!
Things can change if people speak out...
Kilroy, that is one of the few sane commentaries on politics I've read lately. As long as we are more concerned with which party wins than anything else, we will be doomed.
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