1776.. Letting it slip away.
July 4, 1776. You all know the date; the stated time of the Declaration of Independence when the United States issued a document that would notify England that it no longer wanted to live under English Rule.
It was a time of tumult. War was raging.
A few years later, in 1789, the United States Constitution was issued as well as the Bill of Rights that followed.
Again, war, battles, conflict was taking place.
These two common events in US history sheds light on current events, and the problems we have right now.
You see, in those days, when National Security was in question, when conflicts were common and war was going on, the solution put forth by smart people was to spread the rights of people around, and thin that of government. Tyranny was being guarded against and freedom hung in the balance. Perfect it was not. Some people such as slaves and women did not have the rights afforded to others, but it was a step in that direction. Away from the imperial rule of England and it’s system where a monarch could redirect justice as they saw fit. Punish their enemies and reward their friends.
231 years later, we face some of these same problems. How we go about solving them will tell future generations about us, much in the same way as we view history from 1776 and 1789.
Our current government has turned away from the promise of 1776 and more importantly 1789 by removing the rights of citizens. And, sadly, many believe that is necessary. While we proclaim to live under a banner of freedom, be careful whom you associate with, as government might consider you a threat and send you to Gitmo. Careful what you say on your phone, government might be listening in as the once villainous USSR was famous for doing – and they were much maligned in the US for doing it.
What does the future of this country hold?
That depends on us, and what we want. Will we hold to what was promised us in 1776, or let it all slip away?
It was a time of tumult. War was raging.
A few years later, in 1789, the United States Constitution was issued as well as the Bill of Rights that followed.
Again, war, battles, conflict was taking place.
These two common events in US history sheds light on current events, and the problems we have right now.
You see, in those days, when National Security was in question, when conflicts were common and war was going on, the solution put forth by smart people was to spread the rights of people around, and thin that of government. Tyranny was being guarded against and freedom hung in the balance. Perfect it was not. Some people such as slaves and women did not have the rights afforded to others, but it was a step in that direction. Away from the imperial rule of England and it’s system where a monarch could redirect justice as they saw fit. Punish their enemies and reward their friends.
231 years later, we face some of these same problems. How we go about solving them will tell future generations about us, much in the same way as we view history from 1776 and 1789.
Our current government has turned away from the promise of 1776 and more importantly 1789 by removing the rights of citizens. And, sadly, many believe that is necessary. While we proclaim to live under a banner of freedom, be careful whom you associate with, as government might consider you a threat and send you to Gitmo. Careful what you say on your phone, government might be listening in as the once villainous USSR was famous for doing – and they were much maligned in the US for doing it.
What does the future of this country hold?
That depends on us, and what we want. Will we hold to what was promised us in 1776, or let it all slip away?
posted by Both Sides of My Brain at 6:17 PM
