We are now being ravaged in the news with stories of protestors in the streets carrying weapons and demanding their voices be heard. This is currently regarding health care but it wasn't that long ago it was the war we were protesting and immigration as well. After September 11th, we banded together as a nation and were stronger than ever in our unity. That has over last 8 years started to fall apart. It is now at a point that we are as divided, if not more so, than we ever have been before. Right wingers have expressed extreme fear in Obama and the course our country is taking; left wingers are worried that the right wingers will not allow the necessary changes to occur. Another divide has now occurred that is slightly different. There are those that feel that are scared by all the fear and anger beginning to rise. They worry that something bad will happen if people become too worked up. They point out some valid reasons why we should not bring weapons into the streets during a protest. On the other side are the protestors, those that are becoming more and more angry and scared every day. They have reached a level that borders on demanding revolution and they don't understand the apathy of the silent. Who is right in this situation? What are their best points? How can we be the best citizens we can be and at the same time the best friends and neighbors?
Those that are against the fearful bring up some very valid points. First of all, the structure of the government is set up with Checks and Balances. We've all leaned about them since we were in grade school, but this process helps ensure that no part of the government becomes any more powerful than the others. In addition, the will of the people is represented 3 times in our votes for the house, our votes for the congress and our votes for the President. The majority of us have decided that those in the position of power best represent our beliefs and they will do their best to make sure that we get what we want. Secondly, and to further demonstrate the powers of these checks and balances, not much has changed in the United States in decades. We have been through several Presidents, each rocked with their own scandals, wars, and fears and somehow we still seem to be on top of the world, with the majority of us enjoying the rights of life, liberty and happiness. Lastly, a religious argument is brought up, for those who believe, and that is one of confidence. We are told that God has a plan for us and that we should not fear walking through the valley of the shadow of death. We are told to put our faith in God and that in the end everything will be okay.
The second group brings up some excellent points on why we should fear apathy the most. The checks and balances system is bruised at the moment. The party of the President now controls all of Congress. The only other branch of government isn't elected by the people but nominated by the President and confirmed by the congress. In this situation, if played correctly changes can be made to the country in an amazingly easy fashion. The most horrifying descriptions would be to say that a blitzkrieg of legislations can be brought down on us, whether or not it is the best decision. Secondly, we are not given all the facts. The major media outlets are our only window to the world as a whole and what they say we have to take as Gospel. Unfortunately, they do not give us all the facts and they work in a world that pays them more for exacerbating problems and fear mongering. How are we to have our voices heard, when they are most often the ones representing us to our peers? Lastly, in Pope Benedict's encyclical on Love he points out that if we truly love God, and want to be the best we can for him, then no longer is His will some alien will imposed on us, but it is actually our will. We can not sit by apathetically and hope God will take care of us; we need to first think hard about the choices in front of us, secondly, pray that the choice we make is the one he would also want us to make, and then we need to act. God says to love and forgive, not be apathetic. If the Apostles were apathetic we would not know about Christ.
So where does this leave us. First of all, it is important that all parties keep an open mind. Listening and gathering more information is NEVER the wrong step. Secondly, if we do decide to act it is important we do so in a Christian manner, without weapons. Imagine the students at Tiananmen Square kneeling in front of tanks. They were not violent and their voices became louder through that sacrifice. Thirdly, we should not believe everything we hear. We need to do our own research, if CBS or Fox News or the Daily Show tell us their opinion about a major piece of legislature we should note it but come up with out own decisions. Hopefully we are not making up our minds before we get all the facts. Lastly is a word of warning. Our government has proven since Nixon that it can lie to us. It can manipulate the world behind our backs and systematically take away our freedoms. Historically in times like these where the powers that be feel that the people have become divided and are beginning to lose power, they will create a false flag terror attack. A false flag terror attack is "covert operation conducted by governments, corporations, or other organizations, which [is] designed to deceive the public in such a way that the operations appear as though they are being carried out by other entities." (Wikipedia, False Flag) These were performed most notably by the German's before WWII to rally the people against Poland and surrounding countries. Personally I fear that the government might perform one these attacks, and blame those that are the least apathetic, like the members of the Campaign for Liberty. We are coming to a crossroads. I do not know where will go as a country, but whatever happens, I hope that we remember the quote by Thomas Jefferson, "When the people fear their government, there is tyranny; when the government fears the people, there is liberty."
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