Exploring the shackles of the existence in the United States the easy direction to point is the nearly daily mass shootings, the illusions of jobs without livable wages, the attack on public education through de-funding as a way to discredit its efficacy and the ballooning costs of health care with inefficient red tape. Although these four are examples of major concerns that all strike toward the core of the country I love the concern I care to identify was observed close to 250 years ago.
“If tyranny and oppression come to this land it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” James Madison
As a child, I was told that America was a melting pot. I was informed that America was a country that proposed to do the right thing for its people, “We the people…insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity,” a country with open arms where we wanted to accept, “your hungry, sick and poor,” and as was quoted in on August 28, 1963, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” I was trained to believe these deceptions and I am so sorry to acknowledge the truth behind one of my professor’s comments that the United States is a melting pot that melts the “different” people, religions and cultures away.
At this point in time, I see this homogenization even more present than ever before. The restriction of people from certain countries from entering this country because of extremists in their countries are seen as a threat, the mantra of building a wall for the concern that Mexicans are criminals, even the threat that socialism, as other countries have, is a threat to liberty to American citizens. Like brilliant magicians, who are successfully trick with misdirection, there are many in charge who employ the same tactic. The misdirection in this country in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy; the illusion is to distract us from the tyranny and oppression.
The pride and patriotism that citizens experience shield them from the damaging bullets being cast toward them often. I went to see a play a few nights ago at a local high school. I was disappointed that there needed to have an announcement in the playbill that warned that there was going to be 2 gunshots heard off stage. I understand why this warning was present, as we live in a country where the sound of gunshots off stage during a play could cause panic and riots, I am still horribly disappointed. The terrorism within the borders is ignored and diminished because of the constant distraction of the threats from an outside enemy.
It stresses me to present this post today, “The eleventh day at the eleventh hour of the eleventh month.” As much as I enjoy agitating issues and pressing toward conflict, I am strained at the necessity for this post on this day. With every ounce of respect that I can manage for me to be permitted to share my thoughts through the defense of my right to free speech with the loss of many people’s lives I quote with the thought of these lost lives who seem to be held the same pride that once blindly held onto me:
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” Thomas Jefferson
Happy Veteran’s Day, thank you all for your service.
Changing the world, one person at a time 