Eye candy and democracy

[itsallovernow]

Ok, way too transfixed by the lovely GIP clothed and unlcothed John Crichton posts. Gimmee a break. It's been a slow week in education:)

Because despite my whining, I have a shred of patriotism, a brief post on the Declaration of Independence. It's just such an amazing concept, that idea that the 18th century fostered this great sense of independence, of individuality and individual rights and that the status quo could be overthrown. Yes, I realize that slavery was in full force, that the Founding Fathers made a deliberated decision to keep it in order to gather the colonies together. I'm equally aware that women couldn't own property, had no rights, and that universal male suffrage wasn't even realized at this point. The political leaders of the time were highly educated elitists and the government that first emerged after the War for Independence was a joke.

However, I'm a big history geek, I know, but I really find the Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen, and the Declaration of Independence beautiful documents of human rights and ideals. I wish we were better at living up to those to steal a cliched phrase, "better angels of our nature." (And thank you Mr. Lincoln. You gave a hell of a speech). I'm swayed by words, by passion and ideals, and there are just a few such things out there that swell me up with pride.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. --

That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -

That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the 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, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

It's just a rush to read these words, sometimes. Especially because our current government, political allegiances notwithstanding, is so bloated and corrupt and ineffective. We have the right, we have the responsibility to play an active role in governing ourselves, and I firmly hold the position of if you don't vote, don't bitch about it. We have universal suffrage for those over 18, and while I think that there are ways of expanding it and making it more accesible and I firmly stand behind those ideas, it is still a personal responsibility for ever citizen.

Go here to read The Declaration of the Rights of Man and the Citizen. It's an equally inspiring document.

I believe more than anything in right to live free and peacefully, to do no harm to others, and to fight for what you believe is right, to speak your mind in a public forum and to be active and responsible and to not accept dictates that go against what you believe is right and fair and true.

There, I've said my piece. I'm gonna go look at some more nearly naked Crichton now:)

Comments

[rubberneck.livejournal.com]

We have the right, we have the responsibility to play an active role in governing ourselves, and I firmly hold the position of if you don't vote, don't bitch about it.

Yes, exactly. The rights come intertwined with the responsibility to exercise them and to protect them. Not because they are priveledges granted that can be taken away at any time. They are an inalienable part of being a human with intelligence and free will--and they are also damned inconvenient for those who'd like to reduce their fellows to a position of subservience.

All the democracies of the world form a society inching (forward and back, but usually more forward than back) toward freedom. It's our duty to make self-rule work, because we know that all the alternatives collapse into suffering.

Man, I'm blathering, but yeah, as much I foam and fume with cynacism and outrage, I'm still incredibly thankful that I was born right here, right now.

Re:

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

Absolutely. Freedom comes with responsibility (whoa that sounds like a bad movie quote, but it's true). You have to be active, you have to work to sustain your rights otherwise they are worth nothing. It's all about choice. Everyone is granted this right, but you better be damn sure you're willing to uphold your end of the bargain and be involved in what happens around you.

[fbf.livejournal.com]

We have the right, we have the responsibility to play an active role in governing ourselves, and I firmly hold the position of if you don't vote, don't bitch about it.

Thank you. I'm glad that I am not the only one who feels this way.

And on a completly silly side note, as I read the excerpt you posted all I could hear in my head was the SchoolHouse Rock version of the Preamble to the Constitution. How sad it is that for a lot of us growing up in the seventies SchoolHouse Rock is the way we learned and remembered American government and history. Not to mention math, science and english. *g*

Re:

[thassalia.livejournal.com]

That's how I know the preamble. I still can sing along. Of course, this also applies to Roman brickwork - even though there was no SHR special. Our professor sang us the brick work to the Barber of Seville - Opus Quadratum, Opus Quadratum, Opus Mixtum, Opus Vermiculum, Etc.

[life-on-queen.livejournal.com]

"Liberty equals responsibility which is why men dread it."
~ George Bernard Shaw