Do you know much about the Constitution of the United States of America? Do you know anything about the founding of this country?
Do you know who your representatives and senators are? Do you know that there are different offices held by ELECTED SERVANTS OF THE PUBLIC for state and federal governments?
Do you know who your local, county and smaller, public servants are?
Do you know who your local school board members are?
In any of these cases, assuming that you know who these people are, do you know what they stand for and how they have voted, IF they have voted…not like in the case of certain officials who may simply vote “present” (as in “yeah, I am here but I don’t want to leave any evidence of what I am really all about”)…eh?
Do you know that you have not just the right but, as originally envisioned, the duty to make your own opinions and positions known? That you should work to change the things that you do not believe in and, at the very least, vote in all elections to let your small voice be added to the chorus?
I have known many of these things but have not acted often enough to prevent what I see as a drifting away from the things I hold most important to the lives of me and my family, of my friends and neighbors. I need to do more, much more. And I will.
Do you know your history? Do you know what has happened to people and countries when things went south? Do you think it could never happen here, to me, to you?
How much time do you spend watching mindless TV shows or playing video games or watching sports or drinking at the local watering hole? Would it be correct to guess that we all spend anywhere from 3-5 hours a day doing these things and others? That’s somewhere around 30 hours a week on average.
When did our need for personal entertainment surpass our responsibilities of being good citizens, of being sufficiently informed to make informed decisions on as much as we possibly can, of spending time helping or gently coercing our kids to learn, of being good neighbors (of even knowing our neighbors), or of pushing back on all the not-so-good things that are constantly being pressed upon us?
Is it all that hard to reserve a few of those 30 hours for such important things?
When did we shirk all of our personal responsibilities for our personal pleasures?
You know it’s true. If you disagree then just keep a simple log that tracks how you spend your time during a typical week. You would be amazed I think.
Do you know your governments? Do you really know the schools your kids attend and what they are being taught? Do you know enough math, science, language, reading, history to help your kids with their homework? Do you know enough about finances to make sure that you plan well and stay out of trouble? Do you know how to clean up your front yard, dress a little nicer when you go out, conduct yourself with class and composure, wash your car, comb your hair, perform proper personal hygiene, paint your house, vacuum your floor, clean your windows, display decent manners in public? Do you know how to be kind and gracious to a stranger, regardless of his or her color, ethnicity, religion, or apparent appearance? Do you know how to put down and ignore your phone when in a crowd, on a plane, in a restaurant, or driving your car? Can you learn to lay off your car horn just because you are in a hurry or in a bad mood? Do you know how to forget and forgive enough to make the future a potentially better place to be? Have you ever listened to (really) good music with a positive message or tried to play an instrument and express what is inside of you? Have you ever kept a diary that allows you to review your experiences and search your soul a little bit, looking perhaps for a way to be a better you? Have you done anything in the last 6 months to improve yourself? Have you recently made a personal sacrifice for a family member, a friend, or someone you don’t even know? Have you tried acting kind instead of tough, understanding instead of demanding, listening instead of talking, caring instead of being aloof, thinking just a little bit longer before acting, hugging instead of hitting, walking instead of sitting, getting away from your dependencies, loving your kids or your parents or even yourself just a little more?
Maybe you have but if you haven’t are you strong enough to at least try? We can’t change things alone as much as we can together and if we all move in a positive direction a little bit more each day we might be able to improve our lot and get back just a little bit closer to being real Americans as originally envisioned not just by our founders but also by a lot of good folks who have lived and died in search of the very same vision along the way. Perhaps here you have your own personal hero who you can emulate.
If you’re happy with where we are at and where we are going absent anything, or anyone, standing in the way, then I cannot reach you. But if not, then wise up, and rise up. Learn and be heard. Learn and take action. Learn and live better and be proud. Learn and help those around you to do the same. Learn. Learn. Learn.
Learn and maybe we can all stay free.