The Burning of Our Independence?

"The strength of the Constitution lies entirely in the determination of each citizen to defend it." --Albert Einstein

On the eve before celebrating our Nation's independence, while I'm planning the menu tomorrow for our backyard cookout, I've been thinking about the ideals we were founded on. Watching the news, it often is difficult to believe how far we've stepped away from the things written in one of the greatest documents ever created--The U.S. Constitution. So many of those ideals seem to be corrupted and bastardized by people and a system that is without question broken! Here are some examples of things that make me shake my head:

*We pay our taxes, and yet local, state, and federal governments are not only broke, but also outrageously in debt with a laundry list of excuses as to why that is while they use our money to do God knows what.

*We speak out about things that are unfair or inequitable, but our voices are drowned out by elitist rhetoric and a media controlled by greed-mongers!

*Less than half of us vote, and an even smaller number of us run for various political offices, so our "majority" is represented by people who are out of touch with that majority and serving their own best interest, following their own agenda.

*We are forced to spend money we don't have, on things we don't need, because big business, legislators, and a host of other "players" hold us financially hostage, while they are left completely unaccountable.

*And perhaps the one that infuriates me the most is we've succumbed to a broken education system that actually only serves a very select few, while the rest is "dumbed down" to "look good and make those in charge look good", as any hope for real education for many of our youth is crushed beneath self-serving political boots. It is not an accident that more than 77% of our prison population contains high school dropouts!

Many times over the years, I've told my students that ignorance and lack of education gives the MOST power to those who wish to manipulate and control others. It seems to me that's exactly what's happened here and in other places around the world. My father says that most of the time he doesn't vote because one voice doesn't make a difference. One thing that is the cornerstone of America, is that here one voice ought to be able to make a difference! I write the articles on this blog, in part, with the hope that he is wrong. I believe in doing and saying what is RIGHT, even when that's not popular. I believe in liberty and freedom, and I'm not afraid to fight for them--shout about them from every rooftop I can climb! I am ONE VOICE, hopefully touching others with a voice who will help me to become a "collective voice", and make a difference!

*Image from crazywebsite.com.

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