Campfyre Stories

I used to love politics.  I used to love political debate and keeping informed as to what was going on in the world, politically.

Not anymore.

It seems like the vast majority of people have completely lost all rationality and common sense when it comes to what is going on in the world.  At least, I find that true of the outspoken and once-informed people.

I am unaffiliated, and always have been.  On some topics I lean left, on others I lean rights, but I’m always willing to listen to opinions that conflict with mine.  Usually, I try to find common ground, because I believe that even diametrically opposed people can usually find *something* that they agree on.  "United we stand, divided we fall".  There is little unison in the United States these days, and I fear for the future of our country.

There are far too many people who don’t seem to understand that the country is not the government, but the people.  The government is flexible and changes as regularly as the PEOPLE decide.  Sure, there are certain limits, such as the presidential elections occurring every 4 years, but there is opportunity for national change every 2 years - if we make the changes, as a country. 

The titles Liberal and Conservative (or, more often Neo-Con) have become dirty words, instead of the neutral words that they should be.  This has happened because of what people do under those titles.  The widespread hatred coming from both sides doesn’t do a damn bit of good in making the country better or safer or whatever it is we’re supposed to be doing, it simply serves to further widen the divide between the PEOPLE who make our country.

George Bush is not America.  Congress is not America.  We, as a nation, are defined by our people.  It is not the choices of our government that define us, but the choices of the people.  If we scream at each other, then we are a nation of screamers.  If we insult foreign nations, then we are a nation of insulters.  Bush is our president now, but the election results clearly indicate that he does not represent the interests or the choice of the entire country.  Rational people understand that, and accept that in another 2 years, a new choice will be made that will not reflect the interests or choices of the entire nation.  That new president will make decisions on how our country is run, but that person will not BE America.  America will still be me, and you, and every other citizen who believes in the ideals upon which this country was founded.

There may come a day when those with power decide to use it against the citizens of this country.  I don’t know when or who or how, but I do know that once those decisions are made and implemented, the people of the country will not allow it to continue.  There will come a time when the belief in the ideals of this country, or at the very least the comfort level in the lifestyles we have become accustomed to will outweigh any fear that is forced upon us, because WE are America, not those who may choose power over responsibility.

It doesn’t matter what you believe.  It doesn’t matter who you support.  It doesn’t matter whether you veer left or right in your political beliefs.  What matters is that our country is defined by the collective individuals.  It’s when people lose sight of that and try to define the US by the actions of the few, the actions of those with temporary power that they have lost sight of what this country is and what makes it great, even when we disagree with each other, with our elected leaders, with our role in the world.

Because the country is great.  It is great with potential, it is great with possibilities.  People say "love it or leave it", but if we each contribute to making the United States the nation that it is, all that we really need is a love and respect in ourselves.  Loving my country does not mean always agreeing with the actions undertaken in its name.  Loving my country does not mean supporting decisions that I disagree with.  Loving my country means doing my part to ensure that contract between the government - every election, every time - and the people (known as the Constitution) is honored.  Loving my country means paying attention and making sure that it is not taken away from me or from my child(ren), whether from an inside or outside source.  Loving my country means not allowing it to be torn to pieces because of the individuals who are too goddamned selfish to look past their own nose and see that their right to opinion is just as valid as the rights of those with opposing opinions.  You don’t have to agree, you don’t even have to respect it, but you MUST respect that right to it.  You MUST respect the validity of the counter-argument or you are no better than those you deride.

Fewer and fewer people seem to understand this.  Fewer and fewer people seem to accept that even a changing of the guard this year or in two years is not going to repair whatever perceived damage that has been done.  The real damage is that we, as a nation, are being ripped apart from within.  That too many people think that they are the only ones that are correct and that the rights and freedoms granted to all should only be reserved for those who are correctly aligned.  The real damage is being done to us BY us, and few can accept it because few, it seems these days, can see past the end of their noses.

United we stand.  Think about it.