America Needs Your Help

In the last incarnation of Ceci's News and Views, I made it a point (that since I always talk about politics anyway) that I would write something on July the 4th. For the older readers of my blog, they probably have read the first piece that I had written for this holiday. However, for the newer readers (and the Blogger ones, of course), this would be the first official piece of this blog for this day. And I thought about what I might say in order to not only pay homage to this day, but to offer something to think about as we go to barbecues, attend fireworks shows and of course be with our friends and family.

So here goes: America needs your help.

Right now, we're deep within a crisis in terms of leadership and issues in this country. We have members of the Executive branch who have lied to us, cajoled us and used fear as a way to keep us docile. We have witnessed scandal after scandal in which double-speak serves as an explaination and propaganda reflects the truth. The worst of it is that we are in the midst of an overseas conflict in which the UN had called off one of the only reasons why it was started. What is even more mind-boggling is that we have a problematic situation in which there are some citizens who are more loyal to their party than to the basic values that which make the United States great.

Let this holiday be a turning point. Like the momentum that was generated from the November 2006 elections, we need to find within our hearts the righteous indignation to continue to perservere in fighting for what is right in today's America. It's not only up to our politicians to make the current Administration accountable for their endeavors; it is our responsibility as citizens to do this too. For the Constitution does not only serve the "have-mores" as their way of pushing an agenda. We must go back to these hallowed pages and revisit them in order to give inspiration towards wanting to make our nation better in the face of some contentious issues that our put on the plate next to the potato salad, cole slaw and barbecue shish-ka-bobs.

The beautiful thing about being a citizen of America is the fact that when she needs us, we as a collective body of people pitch in to help her. Her tears motivate us to do the best in our character in order to make her great again especially when she is hurting over the slights to her character as well as the machinations that have dampened her luster in the name of justice, accountability and integrity.

And we must, as we celebrate today with our loved ones, remember what justice, accountability and integrity is like. In the memory of these three ideas, we must find the inspiration to voice our discontent when there are things that tarnish our country. Furthermore, we must also find the courage to speak to our representatives and various other dignitaries when there are matters that cripple the country's reputation overseas as well as within the borders. There are times in which the moment is of the essence. Our hand is tipped. We must do something in order to restore a sense of decorum back within the highest offices in the land.

How do we do that?

By not giving into the threat of fear. After September eleventh, it seems that every policy made in the current Administration has been made on these terms via the media. As citizens, we cannot allow our politicians to use emotional blackmail in order to subdue our right to speak. What is more, it is high time to chagrin such things as the terror threat level. That should not stop us from writing our representatives, talking with our friends, family and neighbors about the issues as well as staying abreast of policy changes that have been bandied about in terms of curbing our civil liberties and instigating a sense of repression. We must not let the words of politicians cow us into believing that our lives are solely theirs to play with in terms of making changes to the American system in order to keep us at bay--especially when they seem to threaten the very Bill of Rights that we hold dear.

Let's face it. Fear is a great motivator. It had motivated us to stick together after the fall of the Twin Towers. It had also brought out the worst in all citizens when we were easily persuaded by the current Administration and the media to ostracize those who contributed dissenting opinons about the state of the country. In this vein, we must cast off those shackles and take matters into our own hands in order to establish new path that America must follow so that our credibility as a country is raised on the world stage. Most of all, we must be skeptical and critical of what is handed us by the government. We must use our civil liberties to question and challenge what has been presented to us. For if we don't, it is as good as having a tyranny in office instead of believing that our tax dollars and votes putting our leaders in Washington to work for our benefit.

It's easy to wave a flag and sing, "God Bless America". It is much harder to work with those principles and constantly strive to make social change in order for our lives to be better. After all, it should be an easy choice when someone asks whether one stands up for their party above their membership. On this day, let it be a rededication of being Americans first above all else. As simply being Americans, we give the vow that we care about our nation above all else instead of letting partisan bickering taint our view of how the system works and doesn't.

So, do little things everyday to prove that you're an American first, and not a slave to your political party. Read the paper. Talk with friends. Write letters to your politicians. Help each other. Don't believe the double speak that has been handed to us as an easy answer. Read the Constitution. Know your history. And work with others in causes that contribute something worthwhile to the health of not only the people of the country, but as the nation as a whole.

When it comes down to it, politicians can say whatever it takes to easily sway us because there is a tradition that we look up to them to help us govern the country. However, in the end, when the politicians can or will not serve the people and look out for their own best interests, it is high time to start gearing toward a new direction in which our needs will be catered to instead of being ignored by the establishment.

So yes, America needs your help badly. This is not a time to rest on the laurels of the past. Nor, is it time to helplessly watch as the politicians decide our future for us. It is high time, we take the fate of the country into our own hands in order to make meaningful and life-affirming changes that will aid us in the future.

Just a little thought on this July 4th. :)