September 19, 2010

  • I've been hearing a lot lately that, apparently, a lot of people (I'm assuming this is referring to people in America) find the constitution outdated and the ideas of the founding fathers to be irrelevant or wrong (made by people who are talking about others than themselves, notably).

    I was pretty sure that just about everyone agreed that the concepts of freedom of religion, speech, press, and ability to assembly are inherent human rights, that all Men are created equal, and that a government should allow for representation of the people and that a government which has ceased to serve the people in a complete and utter way should be overthrown. Also, that there should remain a set of checks and balances in the government to avoid any idea or thought to not be questioned (an example being the three separate branches of government - executive, legislative, and judicial).

    For the more historically adept and who are familiar with the Federalist Papers, they believe that we are under a Representative Democracy (aka a Republic) because it allows representation for the people while enabling a voice for the minority voices in the greater society and avoids the mob mentality that would easily, and unrestrained, emerge under a Democracy.

     

     

    I mean, really, even if people have utterly different understandings of what the founding fathers stood for, I thought the one thing we all agreed on was that they, for the most part (like, really the most part), had the right idea. Right?

Comments (1)

  • One might hope so. 

    It might be a case of people who forget their past are doomed to repeat it. We’re used to a largely unbroken sequence of prosperity since the Great Depression--outside of the recent housing bubble burst

    I mull it over. And I come to this conclusion. For many people, the American Dream means big cars, big homes, disposable income, and libido fulfillment--or at least seeing it portrayed in movies and shows. Freedom of speech means trash talk in song lyrics.

    Pursuit of happiness means getting it. I think Queen’s song (your next post) says it all. “I Want It All And I Want It Now.” It’s like Sam Walton busting his balls to become wildly successful and finding not a one of his descendents worth bequeathing the family fortune to. (At least that’s what I’ve heard)

    Gad. You and your posts. You’re making me think. I’m remembering JFK’s inaugural speech. Did some looking.

    Let the word go forth from this time and place. . .to friend and foe alike. . that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans. . . born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage. . .and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of those human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today. . .

    Contrast that thought with Queen’s song, and tell me how many our citizenry, babyboomers, Gen X, or whatever, are committed to Conspicuous Consumerism or the Founding Principles--or could even articulate the Founding Principles?

    Tell me if I’m being cynical.

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