Essays: My Country ... One Nation

My Country … One Nation

by Dave “Doc” Rogers

© 20090214

 

In the light of the modern era rhetoric I see division. Faction polarized against faction. It is much like US politics of 1830s and 1840s which led to the crises of 1860s. In reading what I read of this candidate or that, of this political party or that, this agenda or that, my heart grows heavy. It has been only 140 years since a famous man made a short speech in Pennsylvania after a horrific battle. In that battle too many good people perished for political ideals that were not their own. Honor, pride, love of family, love of country motivated them ... to their deaths. President Lincoln attempted to put perspective to the political hate mongering of his times.

 

"Four score and seven years ago our fathers brought forth on this continent, a new nation, conceived in Liberty, and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal.

 

Now we are engaged in a great civil war, testing whether that nation or any nation so conceived and so dedicated, can long endure. We are met on a great battle-field of that war. We have come to dedicate a portion of that field, as a final resting place for those who here gave their lives that that nation might live. It is altogether fitting and proper that we should do this.

 

But, in a larger sense, we can not dedicate -- we can not consecrate -- we can not hallow -- this ground. The brave men, living and dead, who struggled here, have consecrated it, far above our poor power to add or detract. The world will little note, nor long remember what we say here, but it can never forget what they did here. It is for us the living, rather, to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus far so nobly advanced. It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth." A. Lincoln, November 19, 1863

 

Did you read that slow enough to ‘get it?’

 

In the 1750s of Colonial America there grew an ideal, a concept, that parliamentarian England could further grow into a more complete concept of self rule without the titular head being royalty. This ideal was lethal to those who spoke it openly and lethal to the empire at whom it was directed. This ideal began to permeate all facets of colonial American life. This ideal that a people group should have a voice of their own irrespective of the voices of another part of the world, ruled by a Parliament that did not seem to hear them; that a people should have fair representation in a government that had rule over them. The concept changed to that of a people should have a self-determined rule and choose a government after their own design that meets the need of hearing their voices equally. In the 1770s this ideal and concept became so strong that 13 British Colonies seceded from the Empire without permission of the Empire and at great personal cost established a ‘more perfect union.’

 

The errs of Parliament and royalty did not fully bear themselves out until their dealings with Canada upon her attaining sovereignty. So well were the events amicably handled that Canada remains within the Commonwealth of the UK and not fully sovereign as the US. Lessons learned. The few held too tightly to what they thought was justly theirs forgetting that an intelligent people, as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob designed them to be, would realize they did not have to follow the dictates of a very few and could exercise self determination and a government of their own.

 

In France of the 1790s and early 1800s, they discovered that France was more than just kings, queens, princes, princesses, and noblesse. No, France was a heavily populated nation of disaffected people who were placed in the sad position of servitude to an effete elite. That changed violently. Chaos reigned until a new master of the people arose then there was terror of a different sort because a Corsican military braggart who could back up his claims did not accept dissension within his ranks. The ruled became the rulers who became the ruled who paid an exceedingly great price. 600,000 of the pride of France went east to conquer in the name of France. Fewer than 60,000 returned.

 

In Russia of the 1910s and 1920s, we see a radical change in political outlook. The imperials and nobility along with the middle classes failed to remember Russia was everybody in Russia and not just the ruling elite or the economically advantaged. The courtiers and sycophants found themselves at the mercy of their educated detractors and the populous. The scarring to Russia’s psyche was devastating. Millions and millions suffered at the hands of their ‘saviors.’ It was impolitic to detract from the proletariat. Freedom was for the free, not for the masses. Russia is setting a new course and struggling with its new identity and place within the world. It is not a second or third rate people. They need to accept that and forget the opinions of others.

 

In China of the 1930s and 1940s, the People’s Army arose from the masses of an oppressed people. Democratic voices were not loud enough, imperial and noble voices held on to old ways of right by birth, and external forces derided, murdered, and enslaved. The rule of the noble houses gave way to the rule of the Confucianists, rule of the administrators; those that knew and studied order and the putting of things in their place and the removal of all things that are not needed or distracters or detractors. The masses traded one master for another. Only now, in recent times, do we see a loosening of the grip as the originators of the New China Doctrines are passing away. China grows into a new nation of people as the world changes around it. The Ming Doctrine of closed borders will no longer work.

 

McCarthy-ism of the 1950s was as close as the USA ever came to actually becoming a socialist-fascist-neo-communist overstate. The rampant loosening of constitutional protections to aid in the search of ‘communist sympathizers,’ the ostracization of citizens through unofficial ‘blacklists,’ the illegal search and seizure of property and unconstitutional arrests … all of these things in the name of ‘protecting American interests’ when in actuality it was … and ever has been … the few using devices at hand to protect the interests of the few at the expense of everyone else. The ease with which this is fomented is phenomenally easy.

 

Too many times in human history have the hands of the few acted against the masses in manipulation of knowledge and emotion to fashion results that are desirable to them alone. Naysayers and detractors are quickly quashed, hopefully silently silenced, if needs be publically debunked. Truth in any sense is not considered unless it is the ‘truth’ of the moment that those with pretentions to power espouse. The courtiers and sycophants of yesteryear have arisen anew in the vacillating faces and voices of those who egos require the ever attending masses upon their voices or likenesses. The requirements of popularity and the adulation of praise whether justly deserved or not, are addictions fed by those who would manipulate people and thus gain for themselves power to wield over other humans. Courtiers and sycophants of another age have reappeared under another guise.

 

Everyone wants to be seen with the king. To have the king’s favor is a must. To be lauded with praise worthy comments that flutters the heart and tickles the ear. King Solomon, the wise king of Israel, warned of such things as dangers to life. He is unheard today. The manipulators would not have you listen to wisdom and wise counsel that redirects the masses from attending to them and self-thought rather than the pabulum that destroys. Their words and entreaties taste sweet and are as an aphrodisiac feeding the senses but adding nothing of worth or substance. It is ‘fast food’ that momentarily satisfies but adding nothing healthful or lasting goodness.

 

This is my country and all that it stands for. To the uneducated, it is not just home. It is not just the place of your birth. It is not just the ‘land of opportunity.’ It is not just cinquente estrellas. It is the grand experiment where individual citizens have individual sovereignty and forego some of those inalienable rights for a common self rule under a government “…of the people, by the people, for the people …”

 

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

- US Constitution, Preamble

 

Proud words. Famous words. Hopeful words. Hated words because they are all of that and against those who would have rule over another people having a form of government that discounts and negates divine right rule or oppressive rule or rule of the few over the masses for whatever other reason other than a free people put them their to serve the free people and can amicably remove them when they no longer serve the people.

 

How ignorant we are in 2009 and short remembered as a people here in the USA. An oppressive royalty and nobility were replaced by great letter and a parliament was formed. A small ship lands at Plymouth Rock and a compact is formed. Out of a Philadelphia hall comes a letter that changes forever an accepted form of rule. Out of countless courtrooms, churches, and meeting halls comes the ratification of a unique document in world history, a constitution delineating in exacting language the governing of a free and independent people joined together for one purpose; the execution of justice, insurance of domestic tranquility, provide common defense, promote general welfare, and secure liberty and its blessings for themselves and for those that follow after them. This free and independent people that reached out with open arms to its relatives around the world would be tested again and again in blood and in resolve to maintain its form of government.

 

Have we so forgotten the price paid for 50 stars on a blue field suborned to 7 red stripes with 6 white? Not just in agriculture, munitions, ink, industrial resources, or blood. The price has been paid by every generation since ratification to hold true that which was signed. High is the calling. High is the demand to be righteous to that which cost so many lives to maintain. Shall we now in the ‘next’ crisis commence with the dismantling of 230 plus years of maintaining the same? Or shall we find common cause to solute our difficulties?

 

The State is not the panacea. The People are. Those of you who have accepted that greed is king have suffered under the kindness of kings. Those of you who are oppressed, have you blindly accepted your oppressors? Have you blindly acquiesced to their ministrations, accepting them as norm? Those of you who look for government to be your king; to feed and cloth you; to provide your comfort; you will suffer under the kindness of your king. Do not look to kings or governments to save you. They will not. Recent history has borne that true in our world.

 

This government of the USA is of the people. It governs at the pleasure of its populous. It is the grand experiment in that each person of reasonable age that has citizenship has a voice in who will provide governance, be a voice for them. The governing do not have autonomous rule over the governed in the USA. That nuance is for other governments in the world and for other people groups. We who have the pleasure of citizenship in the USA are a free, autonomous, self-governing, sovereign people. If you do not have that you are not free.

 

This is my country, one nation of sovereign individuals with autonomous, self-rule, co-existing in common government for the good of all. This is my country where “We the People…” means more than just words penned a long time ago. This is my country where those who serve in government would do well to remember they are not an autocracy, oligarchy, nor aristocracy. They are freely elected servant representatives of the citizenry and therefore owe due diligence and allegiance to the same. They are not the temporal overseers who decide what is ‘right’ for the masses and expect the masses to accept it. That is for other governments in other places throughout the globe.

 

In that same understanding, in the USA it is not right that one people group – a minority of voices – should hold sway and dictate as immutable requirements upon the balance of the masses. History has shown that same dictation of immutability found solvency in the will of the masses being other than the dictates of the minority voices. Those that would control a nation through rhetoric and ‘spin’ doctrine should well recall history and the occurrences that their antecedents received at the displeasure of the masses, no longer willing to be led by such.

 

Anyone who would foment control of or dissolution of these USA should first re-read the founding documents, the histories surrounding them, and reflect upon the history since their inception and the men and women who caused that history. The USA was founded on the principle of a resolve to be free. Those that were born to it have it as part of their character. Those that have since migrated to it succor it has highly prized. Only those who are selfish in their desire to control it or tear it a part attempt to discredit that resolve and that belief that the ideals of the founding people of these USA could self rule and self rule well.

 

There should not be a continual push for separations. Some say Christian whatever cannot be in or on or apart of government. Some say because of their skin they are due or owed for past mistakes. Some say they are owed, that the rest should take care of them. Some say there is no need for self governance or government. Some pursue anarchy or dissolution as their goal, as their god. Some seek to control it all because they think they are right or they think they can. Some sit idly by watching it all occur, not saying anything, hoping it might stop. All are pulling or pushing or doing nothing at all to the fabric that is the USA. How long will it bear the strain?

 

This is my country, one nation. We are better than publicized. We are more intelligent and thoughtful than given credit for being. We are ignorant of the inner workings and manipulations of the supposed elite players of power because we choose to be. They are missing the point anyway is a common thought. What happened to being America, home of the free, land of the brave? The free remain free and have choices. The brave are willing to do what others are not or cannot. Stand up! Your ancestors [or you!] … came out of adverse lands and governments to be a part of something greater. Be greater! Be one voice. Be one nation. Why do you let the few tell you what to think? What to do? What to say?

 

This is my country, one nation.

Author's Note

Enjoy.

Reviews

[TL Boehm]

I know, I know, sometimes perhaps you wonder if the polite kudos indicate respect and assent or just the fact that the person a. doesn't know what to say b. didn't really read c. didn't get the message d. all of the above.
This piece is a verbal shaking - a wake up call - strongly written, articulate, unapolagetic but without that freakish pseudoChristian 'the sky is falling' timbre some of my charismatic bretheren and sisteren pass off as 'truth' and you know I appreciate it.
another site for you: www.examiner.com - If you are nosing about on CN - I have a widget up for my page there. It is not a replacement of WC or CN but for you...it might be worth a perusal. Please pm me if you want a bit more information. (this isn't an ad - just a thought)

[Gathering_Stars]

I agree with a lot that you're saying here, such as the fact that those who run our government should be well-versed in the principles that our nation was founded upon, and I agree that there needs to be diversity (as there is).

But I also think that within that diversity people are going to be morally bound to disagree. You really can't say that all people have the right to practice their own beliefs without saying that to both the stereo-typical white supremecist (sp) and the stereo-typical African-American gospel choir lead soprano.

I think that a large majority of Americans, while opinionated enough at home, don't have the temerity or the will to say what needs to be said to our politicians to effect real change.

"We hold these truths to be self-evident (everyone knows this part).

In order to pursue these rights, governments have been instituted by THE PEOPLE that should any form of government become destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying down such principles, and organizing its' power in such form that as to them shall seem most likely to affect their Safety and Happiness.

...Accordingly, all experience hath shewn that Mankind are far more apt to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing to forms to which they are accustomed.

But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute despotism, it is their Right, it is their duty to throw off such Government..."

People won't change the foundations of our government (although a lot needs to be changed) because 1. they believe it un-American and 2. they're too scared/lazy. The founding fathers knew that hundreds of years from when they created this country that there would be the need for many changes, that perhaps the only thing that WOULD remain the same is that this country would not be ruled by a dictator, but by the people. Americans don't want to have to think for themselves these days, they prefer to hide behind long dead shadows of greatness.

[Kathryn Star, Shine!]

I've read that our constitution is being changed little by little... in the slightest but most devistating ways. Such as our "inaliable rights" has been changed to "unaliable rights" That makes it under law, not our rights as humans... good read. ks

[Starsong]

Oh I love this! It is well written, and I agree with it completely. Sometimes I wish that the patriotism that the people of our country showed during World War 2 would come back. Even more so, the patriotism shown during and after the Revolutionary War. We have strayed so far from what our founding fathers intended this country to be...so many citizens are apathetic, and leave the government to do as it pleases.
And if the politicians and members of the government would remember that they are the servants of the people, what a difference that would make!
Thanks for this piece, it is great!

[Lena M. P.]

Very well written. But in some I disagree. We have survived over the centuries because there are a few brave willing to say enough. They are the few that shout beware of the Trojan horse. Every day I see reasons to worry and be fretful of the decline of individuals rights. The squeaky wheel gets the grease is too true these days. If you yell loud enough, if you threaten hard enough, if you wave enough money you too can own a part of our government. The sad part is that the younger generation are so into the now that they can't see the damage these decisions are making in their futures. No one owes us a living. No one owes you a life of privilege. Our forefathers built this country on hard work, sweat and blood, asking only that they got to keep what they earned. Wake up. Your rights are going away for "the good of the people". This is a popular phrase used by dictators to lull the masses into the believing that they are only thinking of the greater good. Stop being a lamb; or don't complain when you are lead to slaughter. I love America and it hurts to see books banned, decisions about what I can eat, smoke or wear, forced to hire minorities rather than who is the most qualified, how I can live in my own home. whether I can fly my flag in my own yard or park my car out front because it doesn't represent the subdivision correctly, or am I politically correct when I celebrate a holiday or if my child chooses to pray or dance or be too creative. Each right given up to the squeaky wheels of this world are just one more right you are now denied.

[Rain]

God, I loved this piece. I respect Donald, but I disagree with "My America is gone." My America will survie this crises, as it has many times before. To even try to replace a system of Government that has lead to the richest, most powerful, freest, most compassionate, system that has made America the greatest Country in the History of mankind, will NEVER happen. They may try, but Demoracy and Capitalism, will survive. No ther form of Government has ever proven itself to truely work. There may be some who want the government to take care of them, but to prove America's greatness...in the worst economic times in recent history, Americans gave a record amount to charities. I am 64, with terminal cancer, but I would rise up and fight anyone who tries to truely disregard our Founding Father's dream of freedom from goverment intervention. God Bless America!! Rain..

[Donald Meikle]

It is impossible to be a poet and to sit back and watch this violently falling decay in America.
Few realize we owe a national debt of Huge Proportions to other countries, like China, and that we have just decided to "BORROW" trillions more. My America is gone! It has been spent! Unlike most people I am a survivor.Able to find and use food and shelter under extreme conditions. My immediate clan is armed and ready for the coming disaster. What about the rest? The blind followers, the borrowers? Can poets eyes and poets' sighs make them see?