When I was a young teenager I experienced a world that had gone for awhile crazy enough to filter into my politically neutral life. I was going to say "my normal life," but my life wasn't normal. It was however separate from the strife in the streets of the 60's.
But then my dad went to Viet Nam, and subsequently quit the Reserves after his stint there. My parents started befriending Hippies. Our family went skinny dipping. My folks enjoyed weed on occasion (as did I with a more voracious appitite a few years later). And discussions of society pervaded our lives.
I cried out to be an adult then. It wasn't the pot (not especially anyway). It was the sense of belonging to something bigger than me. Or maybe it was simply something big in its own right. But the war was over before I got out of high school - and I missed the draft by mere months - and the counter culture lost its meaning overnight.
And I missed the boat.
But I think a new boat is a-sailing. I think we are finally reviving the life blood that moves slow and deep in our American veins. Since growing up during Viet Nam and its aftermath and consequences, I have harbored the ambivalence toward our country that many liberals do. Not so anymore. I have found what it is about America that I am fiercely proud of, and what it is I most fear we are going to lose forever. My ambivalence about the concept of patriotism has finally been resolved. And those who lie about their patriotism in order to rape our citizens and the citizens of the world are largely responsible for helping me understand that.
I am a small part of something that is big. It's big because it must be. It's big because the dream of America (no, not to be rich - that's a lie perpetrated by the right; but to be FREE) is the best possible future for humankind. And if humans can evolve so that at least the most enlightened of us can understand, perhaps we can evolve enough to embrace FREEDOM as a species.
Be very careful though; FREEDOM is probably the most masqueraded attribute in the world. Don't let Ron Paul fool you into thinking that freedom from all government regulation for corporations is FREEDOM. The freedom to work (or not) is touted by the anti-unionists. That is not FREEDOM. I guarantee you that thousands of Americans and Iraqi's did not die, and do not continue to die, for FREEDOM's sake.
Freedom is a child living from birth to death without fear of its government or those who have a natural advantage over it due to size, might or power. Freedom is the ability to engage honestly with the world and with our neighbors.
And freedom is my right to ramble. And it's a bad habit. But I am willing to die for my right to ramble. Or for yours.
Wednesday, October 10, 2007
There is a Point.
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6 comments:
This was a great post.
Thank you Mindy. We just got home after a weekend in Colorado (riding the Durango & Silverton Railroad) with Brandy - it was part of her birthday present from us. And it was nice to see your sweet comment.
I think it will take years to undo the damage caused by Bush, but I still have great hope for this country, too.
I wasn't very political until Bush came into office. His actions forced me--like you--to define what we're proud of in this country and to fight for it.
Very well stated. You sound 'hopeful' - like you think the masses are going to 'rise up' against the government. I'm not that hopeful. American's I think are by and large consumed with their stuff and aren't paying close attention to whats been happening since the 80's. By the time they wake up - it will be too late I fear. We are not living in the same America that was when I was a youngster....and that makes me very sad. The last time I went to D.C. for a march I was saddened becuase MILLIONS of people weren't there. If they were - the news wouldn't be able t ignore it.
Elizabeth: Funny, I would have thought that you were more hopeful than me by what I see in your blog. I've been a pessamist for so long I forget what it's like to be hopeful. I'm not sure I would characterize myself as hopeful now. I guess what I really was after in my post was how much I miss the commraderie of the 60's that I got to taste, but never to really participate in. That's not hopeful. It's just human.
But I worry because 1 in 4 people think Bush is a god. And that's as small as the number is going to get. "We" may be in the majority now, but the "other side" is nuts. Falwell and Rush have seen to that.
I AM hopeful in my own life - you wouldn't believe the huge changes I've made in that regard. I grew up with such lost souls for parents. I endured so much and negativity was like my own personal sign because I didn't know better. I've learned better and it makes a huge difference!!!! I just don't have much hope for the direction the country is going. You wouldn't know our side was in the majority by the way the Dems in washington are behaving.
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