Adam from Michigan on Freedom and Inaction
Dear Global Community,
There currently exists an enormous divide within our great nation between people who wish to change our country for the better and people who don't. Those brave and vigilant enough to speak up about it are being criticized by those who refuse to. I have heard many responses to the constructive criticism of our country, and beyond pointless name-calling, it often involves the assertion that those questioning our government are 'anti-American' and should leave the country if they do not like it. There is nothing wrong with voicing such an opinion, and in fact, the freedom to express it is one of the basic rights that we still have left that continue to make our country great.
But in order to continue the absolutely critical and always necessary discussion and evaluation of our leadership, we must be honest with ourselves. We must step back and look, with neutral objectivity, upon our words and evaluate what they truly mean. To hold such an opinion, that questioning our government is invalid and unnecessary, is to demonstrate not only a complete lack of understanding, but also a contempt for those most basic ideas upon which our nation was founded. This opinion itself is, in fact, not only un-American, but self-destructive.
Our nation was founded by great men with great intelligence that questioned and criticized their government. It is not only the foundation of America's entire way of life, but the foundation of all democracy. America has long led the world by example, but in much of the last few decades, it has set a very poor one. In doing so, it has undermined our basic principles, destroyed the faith in and of our country both within and without, and discredited the very principles of democracy that so embody the American spirit.
We impose our will upon other nations under the guise of freedom, a concept so backwards that it is utterly impossible. Freedom cannot be given. If it is given to a country or a people, then it is done so under the implicit assumption that there is something to be given back in turn, which therefore nullifies the freedom given in the first place. Freedom must be taken, it must be fought for and won, and it must never be given up because it will never be given back again. America has given up it's freedom for the illusion of security.
I get it. America is afraid, and so am I. I am afraid of our government, and the actions it might take against people like me who stand up and question the things they are doing. I'm afraid to write these words, and pass them onto my fellow Americans. I'm afraid of their reactions, that they won't listen, or won't take any action. I'm afraid to post this video to Youtube. I'm afraid that our current situation is hopeless. And yet, here I am, doing what I have to in spite of my fears because I know' not think, KNOW' what I'm doing is right.
The media has betrayed us by assisting those in power in their quest to deconstruct our language. This deconstruction is very important, because it allows tyranny to enter, invited, into our homes under the false impression of good intentions. Once powerful and critically meaningful words like 'freedom,' 'patriot,' and 'terrorism' have been turned into media buzz words. We have seen this type of manipulation before, during other times in other countries, and if we fail to acknowledge and understand history, then we are doomed to repeat it.
It works as follows: first, these powerful words are chosen, because of their significance to the people, by those who wish to extend their reach. These words are then abused, misused, and overused so extremely to the point where they become meaningless. The media is often used, and has been, to enable the nullification of their meanings. Once their true meanings have been completely forgotten, the government is then free to redefine these words however they choose, and to distribute those definitions to an unassuming and unaware population. 'Freedom' becomes the will of the government. 'Terrorist' becomes anyone who speaks out against their government. 'Patriot' becomes an obedient servant to the empire. 'Citizen' becomes subject. 'President' becomes dictator.
Our schools have betrayed us because they have failed to teach us to think critically. They've failed to adequately explain history and stress its importance. They've failed to adequately instill in us the meaning and value of the ideas our country was founded upon, and the great sacrifice that was necessary to do so. Education is no longer a service, it is a business. America gets dumber as the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the powerful become more powerful.
The world has watched this happening and has heard the deafening silence of the American people, who either no longer care about or no longer pay attention to the reality around them. Complacency, inaction, and hopelessness are the enemies of free people, and America is ripe with them.
The objective of our form of government is to empower the people. The Framers constructed our government specifically around the basis that we govern ourselves. It is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and therefore, it is we the people who are ultimately responsible for the actions of our government. Questioning and changing our government for the better is not only our right as Americans, but our undeniable and inescapable duty as members of a self-governing body.
About the author:
Name: Adam
Age: 25
Country: United States
State: Michigan
Gender: Male
Income: Medium
Occupation: Authorized Inspector
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQAl8jsvyCU
0 Comments
Published on Friday, July 27, 2007 at 2:22 PM.
There currently exists an enormous divide within our great nation between people who wish to change our country for the better and people who don't. Those brave and vigilant enough to speak up about it are being criticized by those who refuse to. I have heard many responses to the constructive criticism of our country, and beyond pointless name-calling, it often involves the assertion that those questioning our government are 'anti-American' and should leave the country if they do not like it. There is nothing wrong with voicing such an opinion, and in fact, the freedom to express it is one of the basic rights that we still have left that continue to make our country great.
But in order to continue the absolutely critical and always necessary discussion and evaluation of our leadership, we must be honest with ourselves. We must step back and look, with neutral objectivity, upon our words and evaluate what they truly mean. To hold such an opinion, that questioning our government is invalid and unnecessary, is to demonstrate not only a complete lack of understanding, but also a contempt for those most basic ideas upon which our nation was founded. This opinion itself is, in fact, not only un-American, but self-destructive.
Our nation was founded by great men with great intelligence that questioned and criticized their government. It is not only the foundation of America's entire way of life, but the foundation of all democracy. America has long led the world by example, but in much of the last few decades, it has set a very poor one. In doing so, it has undermined our basic principles, destroyed the faith in and of our country both within and without, and discredited the very principles of democracy that so embody the American spirit.
We impose our will upon other nations under the guise of freedom, a concept so backwards that it is utterly impossible. Freedom cannot be given. If it is given to a country or a people, then it is done so under the implicit assumption that there is something to be given back in turn, which therefore nullifies the freedom given in the first place. Freedom must be taken, it must be fought for and won, and it must never be given up because it will never be given back again. America has given up it's freedom for the illusion of security.
I get it. America is afraid, and so am I. I am afraid of our government, and the actions it might take against people like me who stand up and question the things they are doing. I'm afraid to write these words, and pass them onto my fellow Americans. I'm afraid of their reactions, that they won't listen, or won't take any action. I'm afraid to post this video to Youtube. I'm afraid that our current situation is hopeless. And yet, here I am, doing what I have to in spite of my fears because I know' not think, KNOW' what I'm doing is right.
The media has betrayed us by assisting those in power in their quest to deconstruct our language. This deconstruction is very important, because it allows tyranny to enter, invited, into our homes under the false impression of good intentions. Once powerful and critically meaningful words like 'freedom,' 'patriot,' and 'terrorism' have been turned into media buzz words. We have seen this type of manipulation before, during other times in other countries, and if we fail to acknowledge and understand history, then we are doomed to repeat it.
It works as follows: first, these powerful words are chosen, because of their significance to the people, by those who wish to extend their reach. These words are then abused, misused, and overused so extremely to the point where they become meaningless. The media is often used, and has been, to enable the nullification of their meanings. Once their true meanings have been completely forgotten, the government is then free to redefine these words however they choose, and to distribute those definitions to an unassuming and unaware population. 'Freedom' becomes the will of the government. 'Terrorist' becomes anyone who speaks out against their government. 'Patriot' becomes an obedient servant to the empire. 'Citizen' becomes subject. 'President' becomes dictator.
Our schools have betrayed us because they have failed to teach us to think critically. They've failed to adequately explain history and stress its importance. They've failed to adequately instill in us the meaning and value of the ideas our country was founded upon, and the great sacrifice that was necessary to do so. Education is no longer a service, it is a business. America gets dumber as the rich get richer, the poor get poorer, and the powerful become more powerful.
The world has watched this happening and has heard the deafening silence of the American people, who either no longer care about or no longer pay attention to the reality around them. Complacency, inaction, and hopelessness are the enemies of free people, and America is ripe with them.
The objective of our form of government is to empower the people. The Framers constructed our government specifically around the basis that we govern ourselves. It is a government of the people, by the people, and for the people, and therefore, it is we the people who are ultimately responsible for the actions of our government. Questioning and changing our government for the better is not only our right as Americans, but our undeniable and inescapable duty as members of a self-governing body.
About the author:
Name: Adam
Age: 25
Country: United States
State: Michigan
Gender: Male
Income: Medium
Occupation: Authorized Inspector
Website: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQAl8jsvyCU
Labels: 20's, democracy, education, foreign policy, freedom, government, inspector, male, media, medium income, michigan, terrorism
