We didn't revolt in 1776 because everyone had been Victimized

personally.

whaaa?

In response to the ubiquitous questions about "Well what rights have YOU lost" etc.

In our history almost NO significant movements (read revolts against government policy) have been because the billetting of troops, the nighttime breakins, the assaults, even the more general violations of privacy etc...were happening to EVERYONE. When the first King George was taxing the hell out of the Americas, and British troops were pushing the founding fathers around, MOST Americans were living pretty normal lives (normal for them). They got up, baked bread, went to church, etc. Many didn't see a problem with the way things were. Moreover, many saw great threat in the idea of CHANGE.

The Civil war was also a terrible time. But did most people own slaves? nope.

The McCarthy Era again...the vast majority of Americans were NOT on his imaginary list.

Vietnam? Lots of people lived on a block where NO ONE came home in a body bag.

And yet we DID think they were important enough issues to act upon because we Americans all live in ONE country. United we Stand? Well that has to mean something doesn't it? Maybe it needs to mean something the Christians can relate to like "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." Matt 25:40.

We are a society which, like EVERY society has a radical thought underlying it, namely "SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY". The responsibility to watch out for each other at at least a very basic level. And to understand that what happens to others can and does effect us. Moreover, to understand that our actions affect others in turn.

And so we are wary of petty crimes, injustices, and victimizations of OTHERS, even when it does not directly affect us, because their treatment directly speaks to the integrity of our compact with each other as a socieity.

We realize that Edmund Burke was right when he said ""All that is required for evil to prevail is for good men to do nothing."

And we try to realize that all of this is presented and preserved for us and our culture in the Constitution. Nothing there, nothing in the "judeo-christian" heritage of our country, nothing in spirit of our people has ever spoke otherwise. We have certainly failed to do justice to this ideal. But I do not, before now, ever felt that so many of us were in danger of actually abandoning this ideal. The basic idea that for me to be free, all of my country must be free.

And this is the answer to the freeps and apathetic who say "Has it harmed you yet?"

When has that ever been our standard for protecting rights in this country?

and that's what they have been trying to do with the politics of envy--split neighbors and communities apart with nonsense about attacks on Xmas, nuclear Muslims, and welfare queens. This clashes with their One World Philosophy for those who crowd into their tent, seeking salvation and government favors. How can they live with the dissonance? They always think it won't happen to them. Until it does.


I think you mean Revolt, not Revolve; unless you are conflating revolution and evolution.

fixed now. but I'm thinking the utterly absurd attack on science is a good issue to fold in. It may not be your kids...but it's the future generation which will certainly impact your kids.

H listened to 2 "Christian" guests on Hardball (I think) yesterday with Andrea Mitchel. One was a Dem associated with some Christian Church group, and the other clained to be an Independent Christian with a Church group on the other side.

The Dem used the same argument that you did, and the RW guy agreen with the quote from Matthew, but kept repeating "Where in the law or the Constitution that our Gov't should support the poor? That's for the Churches to do!!!!

No amount of logic registers with these people!

It's like global warming. Wait for the rising waters, and it's too late.

We have to be aware and vigilant and willing to keep up the fight.


edit- And you touched a very important point. To care about something that is not affecting ourselves. Iraq is over there. Global warming isn't going to be a problem because I don't live on an island, or a glacier. Starving people are somewhere else. I can't see them or hear them. No problem. But what we cannot see does affect us. And that is where the reckless have made a big mistake.

a global view beyond our country because I do think people are more attached (and probably should be in some ways) to their own society. Realizing that we have defining traits in America that are worth defending as Americans (that whole freedom thing) is important to our identity.

However...as we have increasingly abandoned this I am afraid that the there will be a revolt against this administration and against the corrpution in our culture...but it may not come from within.

As dictators and despots have arose who's actions threaten not only their own people but also others around the globe, a crisis point is reached where the outside world must band together for THEIR preservation (all of them have their own societies with their own sense of patriotism, cultural identity etc). And they will act to stop the threat from abroad.

Just have we have done in the past.

Except this time, we may be the threat.