Tin soldiers and Nixon's comin'
We're finally on our
own
This summer I hear the
drummin'
Four dead in Ohio
Those of us of a certain age might know these lyrics to the
song "Ohio "
by Crosby , Stills, Nash and Young written in
1970. It was a very emotional time for
some of us, myself included. Why? This was the first time, at least in our view
of current history, that American soldiers actually killed innocent, peaceful
protesters who were American citizens on American soil. A shocking revelation about the potential of
our government that has only sharpened as we have aged.
Now our country is polarized and paralyzed by the debate of
the ownership of guns. But this great
viciousness is focusing on the minutia and not the true, honest reason. We argue freedom of ownership versus safety
of children. We argue banning everything
versus arming everyone.
All of that is smoke.
We are not being honest - with each other if not ourselves. The issue is the need to keep guns in our
homes to protect us from our own government.
Not sport or protection from burglars, for compromise could be found to
protect those issues. The anger and
vitriol is a true guttural fear of the exact people who are supposed to protect
us. If we do not address this issue, we
will constantly live in the smoky diversion that the gun argument has become.
I get the question!
Sadly, I believe it is true! Four
dead in Ohio
Or go ahead and doubt it, but know that there is a large
segment of our population that won't voice the words in favor of the smoke
mentioned above. They don't want to be
called "wingnuts", knowing the derision that creates. Look at the poll percentages and try to tell
me it is a small segment of our population that is suspicious.
Of course, the other side of the barricade isn't without
self-deception either. Is looking at the
trees of specific shootings, regardless of motive, ignoring the forest of
legitimate fear of a police state?
Here I am, the anti-gun pacifist. It is idiotic to have all the guns flying
around for random, opportunistic, troubled people. But there are a lot of people on the other
side. A LOT . Let's get past the smoke, and address the
real issue. Are they right? I fear, yes.
Personally, I cannot see myself taking to the streets in camouflage with
gun to protest the latest crazy addition to the Patriot Act. That crazy addition hasn't been enacted yet,
but I can see it from here.
Where do we go from here?
Both sides are right. Neither
side is wrong. Both sides appear
incompatible with the other. Us or
them.
Where do we go from here?
All I can think of is to fix the distrust of the
government. All of it: legislative,
executive, judicial; except that the third would certainly take some time. And the changes would require a
mini-revolution in itself against the "Powers That Were".
1. No re-election for any office holders and no pay for
service. For example, one 4-year term
for the House, 8 years for Senate, and 6 for the President. It is an honor to SERVE our country and then
go back home. So each term many have to
learn the system for the first time.
Good. Then they can fix
traditions that don't work.
2. No appointed
positions, such as Treasury, may be filled by people from the industry being
policed, and once out of office, may not enter that industry for 5 years.
3. Here's a novel
thought: no political parties. Have
national and state office-holders simply be people from the community,
consciously representing their constituents.
Just the way cities make it work now.
4. Break up the giant
corporations ,who have too much power, and who actively state that their goal
is not the betterment of society, but the accumulation of profits. They are not people; they are not
accountable. No new corporation may be
created unless it can justify its existence is for the betterment of society.
Yup, all of these are pipe dreams, which leads me to the
only thing I personally can do: visualize the world I want. Back in the 1930's, Napoleon Hill wrote a
book called Think and Grow Rich. His advice was to visualize the business
or job that you want and it will come about if you do it right. Currently, there are many, many other, modern
books in the business section of bookstores that give the same philosophy, so
it must be working.
In the metaphysical/spiritual world, this is called the Law
of Attraction. "That which is like unto itself is
drawn". What you think about, you
will experience.
You can even find adult education
classes which teach the principles of this.
Everything in the Universe is energy and a thought is merely focused
energy. Sufficient focused energy
actually results in physical changes in the world.
I believe this works. It has for me, when I don't sabotage myself
with negative or contrary thoughts. When we learn to focus, we change the
Universe. Sometimes it is only our own
lives that change, but common thought affects all of society. Common thought of fighting against the other
side of the gun argument will only bring more fighting to you.
I hereby quit that battle. Pollyanna-fruitcake that I am, I will
visualize the peaceful, cooperative world that I want with governance we can
trust, right next to the world you want for yourself, for we don't have to have
the same thing. I wish you joy and
happiness, if that is what you want. I
choose joy.
