On USA Politics
Civics was taught in my public school. The word is related to ‘civil’ and ‘civilization’, and in class, that included the workings of our American government. Above all, we learned that our government was “by the people and for the people.” This was a new way of thinking in the world and as you may know, our founders had to fight for it. Yes, widespread inclusion (for women, black and brown people, indigenous people) didn’t happen until their rights were fought for too, later in our history. But the basic structure was ingenious, even brilliant, and aimed to protect our freedom from destruction. The Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the balance, of power (i.e. Congress, Judicial, Executive), the Rule of Law, all were new arrangements in the world. Together with the right to vote, it has been a powerful and healthy way for people to live, indeed to prosper, in the world. Until now.
Our guardrails depended on the moral integrity of our leaders, and now we find ourselves overtaken by people without any integrity whatsoever. Relevant examples are evident in the horrific murders of our citizens and the treatment of people imprisoned by ICE. ICE is empowered by our current president. I am grieving for our country, but particularly for the loss of the basic rights we have enjoyed for over two hundred years. If you think those rights are just for your side, or your religion, or your ethnicity, the whole structure can collapse.
Even the media has become corrupted by partisanship and greed. We are uniquely privileged to have a local newspaper that speaks truth about this loss. Forget right or left, conservative or liberal, folks. If you aren’t indigenous, you’re an immigrant, maybe once or twice removed from that Greatgrandparent who came here from Ireland, Italy, Mexico, Germany, Russia, or any other country in the world to find a chance to live free and prosper. Not just immigrants are attacked these days; anyone the current government doesn’t like is attacked.
I hope finally the overreach has gone far enough that we (The People) will remedy this situation. I believe it begins with knowing the basic structure of our government and how it should be restored. I urge you of whatever age or disposition, to study our precious documents, teach their contents to the children, and act to protect them when you vote. It should be “America the Beautiful, from sea to shining sea, crowned with brotherhood”. Remember?