Before entering yet another diatribe on my opinions, let me take this opportunity to write that I am completely taken aback by yet more political violence as occurred in the state of Minnesota. Let us all remember that the people attacked were first and foremost just that: people. My thoughts are with their families and friends; their people.
Democracy in America started and still exists as an governmental, social and political experiment. Our founding fathers believed that a society had the right, responsibility and capability to govern itself. "Liberty" was not just a slogan, but a heartfelt, widely-held belief in self governance. It stopped, just short, of rugged individualism. But that, together as a nation, we could, should and would seek out and attain "life, liberty" and successfully pursue happiness. And for nearly 250 years, we have.
This is not the first time, and if we continue to be a democracy, it won't be the last time that internal threats to that liberty have occurred. Andrew Jackson tried (and failed, thanks to Congress) to consolidate power in the executive. Sen. Joseph McCarthy wielded fear and "otherness" to gain power, but again was stopped (thanks to journalists). While I have called out institutional responses that stopped previous threats, I left out the one common factor: the people. The people reigned in their fear, raised their voices and casts their votes to remove these threats and, in the end, were the forces that saved democracy.
Most recently, our current President seeks to rule unilaterally from the White House. He has sewn hatred and branded a peoples "other" and "evil". This is a common thread among despots and dictators. He has issued edicts, spewed lies and sewn fear. Fear is his motivation to keep, not just "others" in line, but everyone. This includes you, gentle reader and I.
If a sitting U.S. Senator can be manhandled and shackled for daring to ideologically oppose the executive branches policies and actions, what, for a second, do you imagine can happen to you? If persons legally in the United States are detained without warrant and due process, what do you think can happen to you? If these same persons are separated from their families, their children and legal counsel, what do you think can happen to you?
And that's the idea behind these actions - to instill fear among everyone. Fear is a natural and understandable response. It is OK to be afraid. It is not OK to let that fear take from you what generations of people in this country worked for, lived for and died for. It is not OK for fear to lead you to believe that violence is the only cure. It not OK to let liberty go from you without raising your voice, not your fists, to simply so "no".
The founding fathers believed in "reasoned discourse". Let me urge anyone unfortunate enough to read my diatribe to talk, and listen, to opinions you might not agree with, dig in and find the reasons behind those opposing opinions. Listen to what your fellow Americans have to say. You don't have to agree, but engage in reasoned discourse. Tell them your opinions and why you hold them. They don't have to agree with you, but if you'll truly listen, you'll learn what your fellows believe and feel about their lives in America. And their lives are no less a part of this society than yours. So hear them out, ask them to return the favor. Reason with each other. Agreement is not a necessity.
And bear in mind that we are all immigrant to this country, unless you are Native American (all Latin have aboriginal roots in the Americas, by the way.) They are not "other" simply because English isn't their primary language, their skin color may not be sunburn prone, or any other absolutely meaningless distinction. People are people everywhere. They want pretty much the same things no matter their backgrounds. What is that? Easy- Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness.
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