“America isn't
easy. America is advanced citizenship. You've gotta want it bad, 'cause it's
gonna put up a fight. It's gonna say, 'You want free speech? Let's see you
acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, who's standing center stage
and advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime
opposing at the top of yours.' You want to claim this land as the land of the
free? Then the symbol of your country cannot just be a flag. The symbol also
has to be one of its citizens exercising his right to burn that flag in
protest. Now show me that, defend that, celebrate that in your classrooms.
Then, you can stand up and sing about the land of the free.” Michael
Douglas as President Andrew Shepherd in the movie An American President
This is one of
my favorite movie quotes. Which may
surprise those that know me well, considering it comes from what I consider a
movie with a pretty liberal slant.
However, this exact sentiment is what I learned from my father, who was
as conservative and patriotic as they come.
It says exactly what it means to be an American. You have to stand up for what you believe in
while respecting the views of those who believe what you abhor. It’s tough.
Especially in the political climate we live in. But instead of ranting and raving about that
which you are opposed. Use what you
already have at your disposal. Use
wisely your voting power.
America is advanced citizenship.
Such a powerful
statement and something we are sorely lacking in America today. People don’t think for themselves
anymore. We live in a nation of
lemmings. People who listen to a 10
second sound bite, via some type of social media, and make decisions based solely
on that. We have people who vote for a
person based only on the color of their skin or the political party they
represent. Both are wrong.
We don’t value
our voting privilege. Because that is
what it is in my mind. A privilege. A privilege that was bought and paid for by
young men and women from the inception of this country to the present day. They fought, bled and died for our privilege
to vote. Don’t you think that makes us
responsible to use the privilege wisely ?
I think it is incumbent
upon us to be responsible care takers of this great nation. We should cherish it as much as we cherish
the lives that were lost defending and keeping it free. We should vote responsibly. Do the research. Read about the candidates. Research their back round, their values, and
their vision for the country. Voting is
the most important tool we have as Americans, and as a group, we use it
poorly. It’s the most powerful tool we
have to create change.
So while you
are enjoying the food, drink and fireworks this Independence Day, remember what
the day is all about. Remember that we
are a free nation of free people with the right to choose their own leaders and
live in that country without oppression.
And remember the price that was paid for the privilege to call yourself
an American.
I'll leave you with this quote as a little Independence Day food for thought:
"The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy is not so dangerous to the public welfare as the apathy of a citizen in a democracy." ~Charles de Montesquieu~
Happy Independence Day my friends!
Let Freedom Ring!!
