Katrina and 9/11 - A Citizen’s Responsibility
We all realize after 9/11 that terrorists hold the citizens of the United States responsible for the hardships they claim to have endured at the hands of Americans. Most Americans can not point to Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran, Israel, or Pakistan on a map, let alone have any idea what is going on there that involves the U.S. So why target civilians? Why not just the pentagon? Answer: Those at the Pentagon are the direct result of the good ol’ fashioned election process. Political leaders are elected here in America and they represent us at a global level whether you vote or stand by and watch the carnage unfold, you, as a citizen of the United States and as an individual in the world, are responsible for the actions of the elected officials.
This goes way beyond red states and blue states, liberal and conservative… There is more to it than Roe v. Wade or homo v hetero. This is not about rich and poor, black and white, good and evil. It’s a deeper issue than just Bush and Clinton, or federal v. state and Iraq and 9/11.
This is about America. The melting pot of ideas, and beliefs and values. America is not just the land of the free, home of the brave, pie in the sky dream it is declared to be.
America is an idea that has never been proven. There have been moments of greatness, and there are also moments of truth. Katrina is a mirror into the soul of America. The part no one wants to see or deal with on a personal level.
There is a price to be paid for all of our “rights.” The price is that you must share those rights with those that do not believe the same things you do. The principles of freedom are not guaranteed to bring wealth or happiness.
Katrina has brought a face to the very complex and sometimes awful reality of America. The citizens are responsible for electing the people they think can protect the right to pursue happiness. The fact that over half of all eligible voters did not vote is part of the failure that the media is broadcasting far and wide.
The majority of America had no say in the leaders in the government. The majority of America will continue to sit by and watch the horrors unfold before them. Humans have always thought of themselves as compassionate by nature. How can compassion co-exist with lack of action?
Technorati tags: Katrina, September 11, voting, citizens, America, freedom, American Dream, Bush, Clinton
Add comment July 17th, 2006
