Personal Thoughts on Independance Day

[SecretScribe]

I wish a happy fourth of July to everyone in the US (whether physically or mentally). To those who are not (a part of the US), I send out my deepest wishes for the health and well-being of yourself, your family, your clan, your nation.

Today, while I will celebrate the independence and personal rights that the citizens of the US gained, I will be spending more time considering what responsibilities I have as a citizen of this country, responsibilities that I believe I have been shirking.

When I was 18, I voted for the first time. I went to the polling place with my father and mother and I knew who I was voting for and why I had chosen them. I knew all the 'what' questions as well (a levy for capital improvements for the school system, the proposed removal of "archaic" language in the city charter).

For three months before the election, my father had conducted a lesson in civics for my brother and I. We explored the issues that seemed important for the election. He compared how we were handling the election issues and process against how similar situations were resolved under other civic systems. He talked most about how civic systems failed, both temporarily and total destruction. (though I didn't really get those points until the night before the polls opened).

That night, he made me promise that I would exercise the rights that our constitution granted to our citizens. He made me promise that I would bear and live up to the responsibilities of being a U.S. citizen: That I would always vote. That I would know every person who was running for an office and what their stated beliefs and platform were. That I would stand up and voice my opinion when I thought things were going the wrong way. That I would listen to those not in agreement with me and attempt to see the problem or issue as they did so that I truly did make an educated choice.

I can not speak for any other person. However, it is my belief that my father would not be proud of my performance the last 15 years or so. I have been lazy. I have been irresponsible. I did something 2 and a half years ago that I'm sure had him turning in his grave. I voted a party line ticket, top to bottom. He would have told me: The only way a person could vote a straight party line ticket, is by abdicating all responsibility to think.

It's time for me to put my nose back to the grindstone, to uphold my responsibilities ... and reclaim my rights.

 

[InLust]

Well said SS.

It is easy to get caught up in the day to day living stuff, and even though we have all this great technology now, most of us fail to understand who and why we put the people in office that we do. I live in a sleepy little hamlet on the edge of nowhere so you'd think voting would be pretty easy. Our last ballot was 8 pages long, filled with stuff worded in such a way that nobody had a clue as to what the issues were. What little you did understand usually had other issues piggy backing them. Not only must we be more diligent in knowing who we are putting in office, we also need to demand clear and simple language on the issues.

 

[Stryderthorongil]

I wish a happy fourth of July to everyone in the US (whether physically or mentally). To those who are not (a part of the US), I send out my deepest wishes for the health and well-being of yourself, your family, your clan, your nation.

Today, while I will celebrate the independence and personal rights that the citizens of the US gained, I will be spending more time considering what responsibilities I have as a citizen of this country, responsibilities that I believe I have been shirking.

When I was 18, I voted for the first time. I went to the polling place with my father and mother and I knew who I was voting for and why I had chosen them. I knew all the 'what' questions as well (a levy for capital improvements for the school system, the proposed removal of "archaic" language in the city charter).

For three months before the election, my father had conducted a lesson in civics for my brother and I. We explored the issues that seemed important for the election. He compared how we were handling the election issues and process against how similar situations were resolved under other civic systems. He talked most about how civic systems failed, both temporarily and total destruction. (though I didn't really get those points until the night before the polls opened).

That night, he made me promise that I would exercise the rights that our constitution granted to our citizens. He made me promise that I would bear and live up to the responsibilities of being a U.S. citizen: That I would always vote. That I would know every person who was running for an office and what their stated beliefs and platform were. That I would stand up and voice my opinion when I thought things were going the wrong way. That I would listen to those not in agreement with me and attempt to see the problem or issue as they did so that I truly did make an educated choice.

I can not speak for any other person. However, it is my belief that my father would not be proud of my performance the last 15 years or so. I have been lazy. I have been irresponsible. I did something 2 and a half years ago that I'm sure had him turning in his grave. I voted a party line ticket, top to bottom. He would have told me: The only way a person could vote a straight party line ticket, is by abdicating all responsibility to think.

It's time for me to put my nose back to the grindstone, to uphold my responsibilities ... and reclaim my rights.

Well said...many of us should take the time to think about what you have said. It is our country and we must participate to keep it ours.

 

[koalabear]

Look around this country is for big business now and they do not give a fuck about people. Can't blame the Government though, you have to blame the lazy ass people that vote for the best ad campaign and not the individual. Lobbyist run the USA now, not the people......thank you and now back to your regular programing.