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Down The Middle - Mar 6, 2006 - Printable Version
- The Last Patriot
by Down The Middle
I have always considered myself a rebel’s rebel and have spent much of my life championing “lost causes”. If not for the single connotation of racism that has been bestowed upon the cross-barred battle flag of the Confederacy, I would probably have one flying in my front yard to represent the other half of the story…that being the non-elitist majority of southerners fighting for their state rights (at the time considered synonymous with individual rights) by fighting against a domineering, federalist bureaucracy. One of my paternal ancestors by the name of Christian fought with the North Carolina Militia, during the Revolutionary War and I have a couple of great, great uncles who fought on opposite sides of the American Civil War. On my mother’s side, my great, great, great grandfather was a close associate of Sam Houston and the other boys involved in the Texas war of independence from Mexico…and his brother was later imprisoned in Mexico City by Santa Anna, after his battlefield capture in New Mexico, while fighting for independence there.
My own revolutionary spirit came of age in the sixties, beginning with the usual rebellion against haircuts and dress codes and nearly ending my high school career with my totally unacceptable production of an “underground” newspaper that set our little, conservative town ablaze. (The teacher of My brother’s seventh grade, civics class actually told her students that we were communists out to take over the world, which I felt was just a bit overstated, as to what had really caused all the stir...my article complaining about the football team getting new uniforms every year while the band endlessly sold fruit cakes, year after year to pay for theirs, which incidentally, were expected to last well through the decade and beyond. I probably still have one of those fruitcakes around, if anyone’s interested.)
Actually, I always liked football, (even though it is a metaphor for thermo nuclear war) but having crossed the football team, I had blasphemed America! It was now obvious to everyone, what a true menace to society I really was. I remember, my principal made a point of telling me, “This would all go down on my permanent record”. “Gadzooks!!!
I still came out better than my number one partner in crime…the duly elected Student Council President. Within days, he became the unduly, unelected, un-president by vote of un-peachment. Although we appealed on solid, legal grounds that the Council hadn’t followed their own rules of procedure, Robert’s Rules of Order, legality was again tossed out the window, as the council simply took another quick vote, (without spending any time whatsoever discussing the petition) and threw him out on his ear…again. Democracy in action! No waiting.
The point of this story (if there actually is one) is that the assholes we all knew back in high school are now the assholes running our country from top to bottom. They care nothing of legality nor do they share the basic principal of “right, not might”. They care only about winning and will do anything…absolutely anything, to achieve their goal. To them, winning is everything.
Having found the truth about people and power at a relatively early age, I have carried a distrust of bureaucracies and the people that seek positions of power, all of my adult life. It seems to me that what is “best”, by definition…is what is best for the people empowered to make those decisions. What is best for the country is no longer in the equation, if it ever was.
A third of this nation doesn’t really care who did what. They want this war and you’ll have little success changing their minds. Another third of this nation remains totally ignorant of the situation and probably prefers to stay that way. All the while, the last third is trying to educate the second, mostly over the Internet…but the problem seems to be, the second third “don’t surf”.
The Internet bloggers and on-line news writers have done a magnificent job of exposing the truth, for what it is and I admire them for their many contributions. Unfortunately, there are some that will only tell you “what really happened”, so long as the story fits into the prejudicial leanings of their own agenda.
The real problem (as usual) is that the Left couldn’t organize a picnic. If a hundred of them ever got together for a weenie roast, they would show up with ninety-eight jars of mustard, two packages of buns and no hot dogs. Then, while enjoying their mustard, they will argue as to which trail will lead them safely, back home.
Will it be the stock market scandal? Will it be the environmental issues? Maybe it could actually be the crime of 9/11, itself (which I believe can be proven by science and money trails). Everyone’s got their own “area” and they’re all relevant. Unfortunately, this diversity in expertise and perspective (not to mention the old standbys, ego and selfishness) has probably worked against us. The common agenda is of course, to put out the fire and THEN decide how to rebuild…but while the house on the Left burns, it's inhabitants argue over whether they will use sand or water to put out the flames...and who gets to carry the bucket.
Every day exposes another terrific scandal and every day, we cry out to America, through the incessant pecking of our keyboards…but nothing ever changes. The country’s outrage lies dormant and though we try, the “blogging” last vestige of a free press in this country cannot wake the sleeping giant.
Much of the blame lies with the faux Democratic leadership, who long ago sold out their Party for thirty pieces of silver…but in the end, it’s really up to the people to do something about it. Call it apathy, call it fear. Call it something I can’t do by pressing a button, in the comfort of my own home…but that’s the way it is and I really don’t see it changing with enough momentum to overtake the bad guys.
The only hope for real change is in “truly” independent candidates and/or a third party, gathered from the moderate middle and reaching out to both sides…but even that suggestion is a long term solution to a short term problem. The country simply cannot afford to wait.
The only realistic hope remaining for the opposition is to “storm the Bastille”. Flood all the Senators and Representatives (not just your own) with letters, e-mail and telephone calls advising them of your extreme disappointment in their representation and your intent to actively seek and support an opponent.
Then get off your ass and really do something! Give up your Spring Break and join “The Ides of March-March on the Mall” in Washington. All it takes is the numbers…the press will follow.
The full moon begins March 14th.
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