I hate what this day has done to the US - I'm disturbed by the attitude of my country and my classmates, and I wonder what life would have been like if things were different.
The world has plunged into madness. I hope that it will someday be righted.
Freedom - Amos Lee
For What It's Worth - Buffalo Springfield
There Were Roses - Cara Dillon
16 Military Wives - The Decemberists
Knockin' on Heaven's Door - Eric Clapton
Wake Me Up When September Ends - Green Day
3 comments:
Remember? How about remembering that the US faced off against the Nazis in the 1940's and won without ever sacrificing the civil liberties that are central to the very definition of the nation. Why on earth should we give up these essential liberties in the face of a few measly terrorists who are literally 100 times less of a threat than pneumonia (according the world health organization's statistics, pneumonia kills about 100 times more Americans every year than terrorists).
Instead of passively whining about how the times are crazy, how about you get up off the couch and do something about it? Do your research and debate the local repugnican candidate. Print up a pamphlet documenting the lies of the Bush administration and why they should be impeached and go out and talk to people. Call your local Senator / Congress(wo)man and ask them why they aren't following through on their oath to defend the constitution. Get involved with the electoral process. Become a poll worker and make sure that votes are counted.
This is still a democracy, until you give it away through apathy.
Andrew, please read a history book before you start comparing the state of civil liberties during WWII to that of today. Find out what happened to Japanese-Americans.
That's not to say that you don't have valid concerns, but what has happened in the last 7 years is small potatoes by historical standards. And I would suggest that the drug war has produced far more abuses for much less gain that anything done yet in the war on terror.
Andrew:
Okay, let me address a couple things here.
Numerous civil liberties were placed aside during the second world war. Martial law was declared in 1942 in Hawaii through 1944, which is a big one, not to mention the detention of Japanese-Americans in California, not to mention limitations (although generally self-imposed) on the press.
I'm not saying for a moment that World War II was unecessary, and I'm not entirely sure why you're bringing it up here - I made no mention of these things, or even that I'm sure that the current conflicts in Afghanistan and Iraq are unnecessary - There are elements that I support and elements that I don't.
Mainly, I'm frustrated with the current attitude between the left and the right in this country.
I'm also hardly whining here, believe me. I vote in elections, I write to my representatives and follow the news closely and am generally up to date with those things. Mainly, I don't believe that the Bush administration is completely at fault here, (and I have to say, thank you for helping to prove my point) - both sides of the aisle are at fault for succuming to desperation. Should the President be impeached? No. He's not the best person in the office, but any impeachment proceedings at this point would be a waste of time and effort on a congress that already has a hard enough time getting things through the doors.
As for getting involved, what you suggest doesn't change things. Polling, gathering information, it's not going to change attitudes - the places where that'll happen is in the classroom, through education, which is one reason why I'm studying to become a teacher, someday. I hate extremism, on the left and the right because people become too fixated on a single point and off the big picture.
So, how about we get off our soapbox and open your mind a little bit?
Robby:
I agree - we're living in fairly good times. Compare the past 10 years to the formative years of the country and whoo - what a change. The nation isn't perfect, we're always going to have problems with civil liberties, but in this day and age, they're pretty open and subject to public approval, which is always a good thing.
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