Liberals look at the future with the same fear in their hearts, but we do not permit that fear to command our lives. This is because we have faith that even if tomorrow is not better, then the next day will be.
We believe in the dignity of all individuals, not just ourselves. We know that the best way to achieve that end is by operating in a manner similar to the mammalian pack, or as I call it community; which is neither an insectoid hive collective dedicated to the survival of a party or supreme leader, or reptilian brain self-interest, where the needs of the individual always take precedence. The community weighs the needs of the individual against those of the other members of the community--both singly and collectively--and does its best to ensure the fairest possible outcome for all involved.
Community, like democracy and republics, falls apart at the instant that any sizable inequality in power--whether political, economic, or social--makes its appearance. Once any form of pseudo-aristocracy forms, with special privileges that have no checks or responsibilities of law or custom, then that is the instant it has become an oligarchy in fact, if not in law.
It is time that America turns off the fear mongering of the right wing pundits, and faces our future with the hope and courage of our forefathers. It is time to put aside our fears of religious zealots of every flavor, whether they are Muslims like Osama bin Ladin or Christians like Eric Rudolph or Timothy McVeigh. Religious zealots win if we simply demonstrate our fear and concomitant hatred of them, as we are seeing now in the case of the "Ground Zero Mosque."
Americans are not a "center-right" nation: we believe in change and real social justice. The right has simply been lying so long about the cause of the average American's financial difficulties, blaming affirmative action, illegal immigrants, unions, etc.; rather than the real problem: the greed of the richest Americans, who have been growing ever richer sending our jobs first to other parts of the country, and then to other parts of the world.
Nazi Propaganda Minister Joseph Goebbels spoke of the "big lie," which, when repeated often enough, became accepted as the truth. We have to promulgate the "Big Truth," to bring us back to the reality of America as it should be, and can be again. We just have to not fear the evil of the "big lie."
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
4
3
2
