Remember remember the fifth of November
The gunpowder treason and plot
I can think of no reason the Gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.
...
The gunpowder treason and plot
I can think of no reason the Gunpowder treason should ever be forgot.
...
V for Vendetta, a very powerful movie, a very powerful and relevant story. I suggest to anyone who hasn't seen it to go out and rent it immediately. It is a story of people, it is a story of times turning dark and amidst the fear and uncertainty that only tragedy can bring, the public, the people surrendering their power, their unalienable rights. And for what? For the veneer of safety covering the shackles of tyranny?
It's about the silence of consent of the people, and the reawakening of public. The rise of revolution.
It's about the silence of consent of the people, and the reawakening of public. The rise of revolution.
A little rebellion now and then...is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government.
- Thomas Jefferson
- Thomas Jefferson
Why am I bringing this up? Because the parallels are beyond coincident, we as a country are heading down a traveled trail to a government that is fundamentally against everything our forefathers stood for.
A tragedy struck, 9/11 shook the foundation of our society. It was unlike anything that had been experienced in lifetimes. It was something that I will never forget and impressed itself on the very fabric of my soul. Many people say this, and many people like myself go on to say that we shouldn't allow the fear of that day of that moment to rule our goodsense and rob us of that which we worked so hard for.
In response I have many a time been told, that I didn't understand. The rest of the country didn't get the real fear of the act. And perhaps that is true, but will say I understand better than most.
On the day of 9/11 my and my family were stationed on Camp Pendleton, the largest military base on the west coast and one of the largest military bases of the country. It's not a topic that I speak of often, but to better understand why I feel how I feel, this must be shared. Though we were across the country of the attacks I can say that it struck to the core of everyone stationed on that base. America was under attack, war would dictate that an attack on the largest military base of the country not out of the question. School was pandemonium, would we be allowed back on base, back to our families, never before had I.D. cards seemed so important. Jets flew overhead, usually an uneventful sight, now full of fear and wonder, "Are they friend or foe?"
It was one thing to live on a base, full of tanks and M.P.'s with M-16's and another to see them go from sedentary statues of symbolism to being moving machines of war. Being 16 and sitting on a school bus wringing our hands with worry, kicking yourself for living your I.D. card at home. Seeing those guards search the bus, search our bookbags, one by one, realizing for the first time that those M-16 were fully loaded. Rushing home to a mother half-hysterical with worry. Dad hadn't called, and there was no getting through the base was on lock down.
What did it mean?
Was this the beginning of War?
Dad had just put in his retirement papers, after 22 years of service time had been sneaking up on him. Would they be denied? Would I actually have to see my father go off to war? My brothers? Myself?
It was all too much, too surreal, and world shattering. I understand that.
I find what is happening now equally shattering, surreal, and disturbing.
Our economy is sinking deeper and deeper into a Depression state, banks are collapsing, unemployment is rising. We are still Dependant on oil in a way that is just unacceptable.
But more than that, in the last eight years our Constitution has suffered in ways that make the skin crawl. The Patriot Act, The Military Defense Act, The warrant less wire-tapping, are just a few of the transgressions which SHOULD have EVERY American in this country calling out for justice and change in government. But no. All this has passed in silence, we have allowed it and moved on with our lives, trusting the government to do "What's best"
And now we move further down the rabbit hole to fascism and world of V.
Now Military troops are deployed on U.S. soil. Our ancestors are crying out in RAGE and no one is listening!
A tragedy struck, 9/11 shook the foundation of our society. It was unlike anything that had been experienced in lifetimes. It was something that I will never forget and impressed itself on the very fabric of my soul. Many people say this, and many people like myself go on to say that we shouldn't allow the fear of that day of that moment to rule our goodsense and rob us of that which we worked so hard for.
In response I have many a time been told, that I didn't understand. The rest of the country didn't get the real fear of the act. And perhaps that is true, but will say I understand better than most.
On the day of 9/11 my and my family were stationed on Camp Pendleton, the largest military base on the west coast and one of the largest military bases of the country. It's not a topic that I speak of often, but to better understand why I feel how I feel, this must be shared. Though we were across the country of the attacks I can say that it struck to the core of everyone stationed on that base. America was under attack, war would dictate that an attack on the largest military base of the country not out of the question. School was pandemonium, would we be allowed back on base, back to our families, never before had I.D. cards seemed so important. Jets flew overhead, usually an uneventful sight, now full of fear and wonder, "Are they friend or foe?"
It was one thing to live on a base, full of tanks and M.P.'s with M-16's and another to see them go from sedentary statues of symbolism to being moving machines of war. Being 16 and sitting on a school bus wringing our hands with worry, kicking yourself for living your I.D. card at home. Seeing those guards search the bus, search our bookbags, one by one, realizing for the first time that those M-16 were fully loaded. Rushing home to a mother half-hysterical with worry. Dad hadn't called, and there was no getting through the base was on lock down.
What did it mean?
Was this the beginning of War?
Dad had just put in his retirement papers, after 22 years of service time had been sneaking up on him. Would they be denied? Would I actually have to see my father go off to war? My brothers? Myself?
It was all too much, too surreal, and world shattering. I understand that.
I find what is happening now equally shattering, surreal, and disturbing.
Our economy is sinking deeper and deeper into a Depression state, banks are collapsing, unemployment is rising. We are still Dependant on oil in a way that is just unacceptable.
But more than that, in the last eight years our Constitution has suffered in ways that make the skin crawl. The Patriot Act, The Military Defense Act, The warrant less wire-tapping, are just a few of the transgressions which SHOULD have EVERY American in this country calling out for justice and change in government. But no. All this has passed in silence, we have allowed it and moved on with our lives, trusting the government to do "What's best"
And now we move further down the rabbit hole to fascism and world of V.
Now Military troops are deployed on U.S. soil. Our ancestors are crying out in RAGE and no one is listening!
How can we just stand here and let this happen? How can not a single national news station pick up this story, people should be nashing their teeth and massing at the door of their politicians with demands for reforms, with battle cries of revolt if things are not put to right.
I feel a deep need to DO something, so I'm going to write. As passive as that seems, it's all I can think of. I will write a letter for every week this atrocity to the American Ideal continues. I will write to everyone I can think of, starting with my CA representatives, all the way up to Mr. Bush himself. Maybe it will do nothing, maybe no one will read a single letter, but I can't let it go by without a word, without a cry.
I encourage everyone of my brother and sisters to do the same. I would hope that every American citizen would do the same.
There has been a lot of jib remarks of fleeing the country, of leaving these troubled waters behind us. And while I can see the wisdom in this...and indeed see the appeal of this in face of the storm clouds ahead. But I cannot imagine myself being able to abandon this country to the deviants that wish to pervert the integrity it once stood for. Some things are worth fighting for, and I believe America is one of them.
May the Gods Bless this Country,
Branwen
I feel a deep need to DO something, so I'm going to write. As passive as that seems, it's all I can think of. I will write a letter for every week this atrocity to the American Ideal continues. I will write to everyone I can think of, starting with my CA representatives, all the way up to Mr. Bush himself. Maybe it will do nothing, maybe no one will read a single letter, but I can't let it go by without a word, without a cry.
I encourage everyone of my brother and sisters to do the same. I would hope that every American citizen would do the same.
There has been a lot of jib remarks of fleeing the country, of leaving these troubled waters behind us. And while I can see the wisdom in this...and indeed see the appeal of this in face of the storm clouds ahead. But I cannot imagine myself being able to abandon this country to the deviants that wish to pervert the integrity it once stood for. Some things are worth fighting for, and I believe America is one of them.
May the Gods Bless this Country,
Branwen
1 comment:
The story about military troops in the US has been getting some discussion on Current:
http://current.com/items/89345009_
Not quite mainstream media, but there are some interesting points being made. (At least so far--I haven't read through all of it yet.) So, at least people are talking! Somewhere...
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