We sit on the precipice and are damned by the actions of those who would make profit with the blood of our sons and daughters, damned by our unwillingness to stand up and say not one more of them will die for the oil under the sands of foreign lands. We are damned by the greed of those who will not look the mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, wives, husbands and children in the eyes when their loved ones are returned maimed, broken or in a flag draped box. We are damned by false patriots who wear flags on lapels of suits costing more than a month’s pay of the soldier they have condemned to a foreign battlefield for their vision of Nation Building.
Since our inception as a nation we have been of two mindsets, one followed the ideal established centuries before of Manifest Destiny, the idea that we, that is the American People and our Institutions, are exceptional. This ‘feeling’ of extraordinary specialness has been a matter of bitter dissent throughout our history, leading to battles in the halls of Congress and ultimately a war between the factions within these United States over Slavery and States Rights. Make no mistake the core and underlying issue of the Civil War was whether human beings could be held in perpetual servitude by other human beings, propping up economy and life-styles that were rotten to their core.
Manifest Destiny led to the destruction of the original people of this land, to their deaths in unequal wars waged against them fought in the name of expansion ever westward. Manifest Destiny led to the colonization of Hawaii and Alaska and the destruction of the indigenous peoples and cultures of those lands. Manifest Destiny led to the colonization of several Caribbean islands including Puerto Rico, which is still under our dominion and though its citizens fight in our wars they do not enjoy the benefits of citizenship. Manifest Destiny led to slavery and the degradation of an entire people for centuries and included both those who were enslaved and those who believed they had the ‘right’ to own another human being and thus lost their souls.
Emanuel Leutze
Westward the Course of Empire
This brings us to today where Manifest Destiny continues to raise its ugly head, killing the heart of this nation. Manifest Destiny and Divine Province have always been tied together in the minds of many; our ‘Right’ to spread our institutions have always included both our form of government and religion. For some reason those who subscribe to the political philosophies of Manifest Destiny do not understand just how anathema it is to the true meaning of the following:
“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.” US Constitution, Signed 4 July 1776
We do not really believe these words. What we subscribe to is something different, something almost nefarious. What we believe is this:
- If you are of Angelo Saxon / European descent and male you have the right to exist as ‘equal’ and are endowed as a fully enfranchised member of society, unless you happen to be … poor. If you happen to be poor, they will call you when they need you, either to die in their wars or to act like fools and vote against your own best interests.
- Government exists by the consent of those wealthy enough to pay for it, though the rest of us are allowed to participate periodically, the truth is most Americans are uninformed and easily led by the nose, easily fooled by the next great white hope, the next lie, the next conspiracy. Americans have extremely short memories and are by nature afraid of ‘other’ what is not like them.
- Finally, that whole pursuit of happiness thing well yeah, no. If your pursuit of happiness happens to be in conflict with the ‘norm’ as defined by the those in the pulpit of the accepted God (Christian) rather than ‘Their Creator’ God which would mean whomsoever you might happen to believe bakes cookies in the sky, has a tail and creates tidal waves, dances naked in the grove or otherwise floats your boat; well, if you happen to purse your happiness differently you are in deep doo.
Why did I go down this path? It is important to the discussion of Manifest Destiny, you see large swaths of our own population have yet to recover from the first wave of Manifest Destiny and Divine Province. The African American community struggles with poverty, sub-par education systems, sub-par infrastructure, housing and a lack of opportunity both in and outside of their communities. These issues were not corrected by the Emancipation Proclamation, Civil Rights legislation or Voting Rights, let’s all admit racism is alive and well in the United States of America, we may have white washed the problem but it did not disappear.
The indigenous peoples of this nation lost everything, through theft of lands and broken treaty. Their culture and language has been largely decimated. The level of poverty within most reservations is abysmal, healthcare and education is sub-par where it exists at all. Yet the Nations and their needs are largely ignored, overlooked by most Administrations till now.
Now we have the Hawks in Congress and out who drove us into more than a decade of war and wish to drive us into more. Hawks who beat the drums of war and destruction for no reason other than Nation Building, asset management, profiteering and the philosophical standard of Manifest Destiny and Divine Province. War Hawks who were wrong the first time a decade ago and feel no remorse for the sons and daughters who bled for their ‘ideals’ and refuse to accept or acknowledge their ‘mistake’, in fact defend their position and point fingers and this President for refusing to follow them into the same quagmire they created in the Middle East with their first two wars.
Which brings me back to where I started, why are we allowing this administration to be insulted, lied about, obstructed, threatened with lawsuits and even impeachment of its highest officials simply because those who lost the last two elections don’t want to play by the rules.
That is they lost the White House.
Why are we not standing up, marching in the streets, demanding action of our elected officials that they represent us, that’s right us their constituents not just the minority they like but all of us. Why aren’t we in their offices, in their mailboxes, in their Facebook accounts and in the news every single day with our demands for real change that represents the nation we want. Why do we continue to accept our place at the bottom of the food chain, beneath wealthy donors, big business and their lobby’s, religious (Christian) coalitions’ and the self-interests of congress members themselves; somewhere after all of these, we the people fall.
How far we have fallen, our own inertia has allowed us to send our sons and daughters to die in foreign wars to increase the wealth of the Beltway Bandits, to see our own opportunities diminish and the opportunities of our children shrink even further so theirs is the first generation that will not exceed that of their parents in wealth building, our rights those won by our foremothers and fathers have shrunk rather than expanded and with the election of this President what small steps forward we might have made in equality and the elimination of racism, well let’s just say those have been entirely obliterated by the sheer hatred, fear and fury demonstrated toward Barack Obama from the first day his election was called. Our children face a world that is more violent than ever before, where schools are places of bullets rather than learning, where date night at a theater is a risk that might not be worth taking, where 5 year olds play with live ammunition and still we do not one damned thing.
Our apathy is shameful, our inertia is decimating this nation.
We have one opportunity to change the direction of this nation before it is too late. I can only say this to all those who call themselves Democrat, Liberal, Progressive or whatever other label you slap on…..get out and get up and Vote come November. Do you job and do your duty.
VOTE
I leave you with this, this is what we have to look forward to if we do nothing. This is what we will continue if we allow the Hawks to take us down this path and do nothing but allow apathy and inertia to win.
QBG_Tilted Tiara 
Well stated! Those of us in Texas need to get out and vote in November. I am sure you have checked out the Texas GOP platform – simply amazing! And Hobby Lobby? Another sad decision!
Texas leads the nation in ignorance right now, but at least we know who and what they are. All I can say is if we don’t turn out to turn them out, shame on us.
I am thinking it’s not coincidence Val that you posted this one just a bit before Independence Day, reminding citizens of their power to change the direction of the nation they live in… Now come visit me in Canada!!
On another note … It Is What It Is” … paying it forward!! Hope you accept!!
http://hrexach.wordpress.com/2014/06/30/community-heart-award-for-bloggers-who-care/
Well said Valentine. What can I say, profits trump democracy, or even basic humanity. And not just in the US. I agree that the common man’s acceptance and inertia is to blame
Yes indeed, if we don’t all stand up and say no more, this is the end we are all doomed.
I totally agree with your words here Val.. I especially endorse these words —
“Why are we not standing up, marching in the streets, demanding action”.. I ask myself that all the time as we here in the UK used to be a nation of protest too… Now it seems we just sit back shake our heads and allow it to happen.. ..
But having said that I often wonder too Val as I look up above my head and what I know are not commercial planes flying, as I see the chemtrails belching goodness knows what concoction over us, Why are we so docile these days? .. What are we being dumbed down with??
I also endorse your paragraph where you said…. “The indigenous peoples of this nation lost everything, through theft of lands and broken treaty. Their culture and language has been largely decimated. The level of poverty within most reservations is abysmal, healthcare and education is sub-par where it exists at all. Yet the Nations and their needs are largely ignored, overlooked by most Administrations till now.”……..
Successive governments have treated these first nations people abominably.. And there words of prophecy are coming true.. Here is a link to a Hopi Prophecy.. He speaks of America dying from within..
Great Post Val
We are continually falling down, we are falling further. Thank you for the link Sue. I might well include it in a future post.
You are welcome… xox
Reblogged this on Spirit In Action and commented:
Thank you for writing this. I hope everyone will click through and read this powerful piece of prose about what it means to ve an American. Even though the creation and history of our nation are steeped in horrors (genocide and slavery) and with the state of endless war now, it appears that horrors and suffering are intrinsic to our national character; it doesn’t have to be this way.
We defied our history and current racism and oligarchy to elect Barack Obama twice-we know we have the power to direct our government if we get up and use it.
Now is the best time to begin taking back our government from the oligarchs and their pawns. There is now a proposed amendment to our Constitution banning corporations from participation in politics. Another removing the influence of money on elections is needed.
Yes-we really can!
Excellent post. Our hubris will lead to our downfall as a nation.
All too true.
Yes, you are absolutely right. But here’s the thing, when you think about how many people in this country, 300 million, isn’t it? Only a small percentage follow the news, follow politics. And an even small percentage of those take action. Everyone else is distracted/engaged/caught up in their everyday lives, pop culture, movies, vacations. They aren’t paying attention. That’s the thing about our free society. They don’t have to. Should all our freedom, our rights be taken away, then they’d look up. Until then, the jerks in Congress can get away with it. As long as their communities keep voting them in, which they will because frankly, Republicans love our do-nothing Congress. It’s the only way they can stick it to our President, who they despise. It bugs the crap out of them, that we have an African American president and they still want to see him fail. I was actually shocked when I heard Boehner filed a lawsuit against him. They’d love to impeach him, I’m sure. And when are they going to get over Benghazi? They treat it as if it’s this decades 9/11. Losing 5 people there, to them it’s much worse than losing the 75 plus who have died as a result of school shootings. It’s very depressing. And for the record, of all the photos you posted here, I HATE Ann Coulter and the Dick, Cheney, the most.
I suspect you are right, Monica on all counts. However, it isn’t because they aren’t paying attention it is because the machine that spews garbage is better at it on the right than what we have on the left. We simply are not as adept at getting the message out. Were we to organize and follow the same protocol we would see a change.
Would love to see you write a post about today’s Hobby Lobby decision. One step forward for religion. Twenty steps back for womankind. The government can’t intervene in a corporation’s right to religion, but a corporation sure can intervene in a woman’s rights to her uterus.
I am preparing it as I read this. I an stunned by the decision and having a difficult time formulating coherent thought.
If a person was as convinced of his greatness as many of in this country are in the USA being #1, this person would get psychiatric treatment for delusion of grandeur. Because there are a few areas where the US is #1, and many of them aren’t the good ones. like the cost of health care and military spending. It’s especially a telling sign that many of those people never actually left their country once, and never actually had a chance to see where the US is better and where it worse. It’s like being sure that beer is the best drink in the world, without trying any other, and basing your opinion on TV telling you that wine is sour, vodka gives you hangovers, and scotch is expensive.
You are so right X. I tell people this constantly, they stare at me and call me bad names, then tell me I am unpatriotic, unAmerican. I accept I do not follow blindly.
Unfortunately, those people will be stuck in denial for a very long time.
Splendid commentary, couldn’t agree more!
Thank you, my OpEd’s are simply my humble opinion. Easier to write than my history / research pieces.
I think they are the humble opinion of many individuals in this country. Perhaps if we had a constitutional amendment that, every time we go to war there will be a 10 percent tax increase (no exemptions) to pay for the war plus reinstate the draft. Do you think that is a solution?
Reblogged this on It Is What It Is and commented:
These are very important words. This post addresses so much of what ails this country! Is there the need for the older generations to march again instead of younger generation? Protest songs? Let’s hit the streets, social media. Let’s us our “olds” tools. Something Ned’s to be done! Agree …. start by voting, then demand!!
Excellent post; it’s a shame the greed monkey rides our back. Great video.
Thank you Jackie, it is indeed a shame. We have I think only one opportunity to drive change and that opportunity is this year. If we blow it we will have only ourselves to blame.
I love that video, it is beautiful.
Love this post, this post photo of you is also my favorite. Good work.
Thank you, for both nice compliments. That is my professional head shot. I am glad you liked the post as well.
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
Thank you for the reblog. I will come thank you.