Over the last two decades that I've paid attention I have heard many people describe what is wrong with our country.  Some of them I agree with, others I don't, but I believe all of them have missed the point.  I believe all of them to one extent or another have described symptoms of our problems and proposed solutions; some are reasonable and some are just plain strange, but I haven't heard of one that goes to the root of the problem.

So, do you want to know what I think the root of the problems of this country are?  It's pretty simple to see.  Find yourself a mirror, look yourself in the eye, and say "I am!"  No, you are not solely responsible, none of us individually are responsible, but let's face it, we haven't been doing our jobs.

This country was founded on two documents, the Declaration of Independence, which described our right to self government, and the Constitution of the United States of America, which outlined the responsibilities, structures, and most importantly, the limits of the federal government.  (Each state is also required to have a constitution describing the responsibilities, structures, and limitations of each of the states as well.)  This Constitution, the document that establishes and bounds our federal government, starts with three simple words.  While these words are simple, their importance is tremendous, so much so that they were printed largely and boldly to make it plainly obvious.  These words are "We The People".  These three words mean the people have established the Constitution, and through it, the federal government.  Yet we have abdicated our responsibilities and let the government take over tasks and responsibilities we are entitled to.  We have complained about those who represent us in congress or the presidency, yet we continue to re-elect them.  We complain about the federal judiciary, yet we don't hold those whose responsibility to oversee said judiciary (except for the Supreme Court), specifically Congress, accountable.  Why do we complain about judicial activism yet not complain about those in Congress who don't rein in those judges, which is their responsibility under the Constitution they have sworn an oath to uphold and defend?  Why are outrageous actions by Supreme Court Justices not reviewed for impeachment?  (I don't mean decisions we may disagree with, but those which blatantly violate the Constitution.)  Why do we complain about the actions of the President, yet keep electing those Presidents and members of Congress who violate their oath of office. They not only do things that are unconstitutional, but admit in public that most of what they do it not constitutional.

Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless, and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness, and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave, and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature.

President James A. Garfield

Centennial of the Declaration of Independence

President Garfield was right, we the people are responsible for the character of our Congress.  If you want to know why it is ignorant of what the Constitution says, reckless with domestic, foreign, and fiscal policy, and generally corrupt, it is because we tolerate it.

The bad news is we each need to look at ourselves and realize that we are the root of the problem.  The good news is that we can fix it, but as with so many personal failures, we first need to admit we are part of the problem, and are in fact ultimately responsible.  If we want to fix our country we need to find people of intelligence, especially about what the Constitution actually says, the bravery to do what is right even if it is not politically expedient, and pure enough to do what is right and honorable, even to their own detriment.  We need to look for those properties in all our elected officials: federal, state, and local.

Are you ready to start taking responsibility for those who you elect to represent you?

On Thursday, June 16, 2011, I'm going to be in my first puppet show! Praise Puppets is doing our "Creation Investigation" show followed by several blacklight songs including "Until the Whole World Hears", "Awesome God", and "Come On In"! We will be doing it under a big tent on Thursday and in a church on Saturday in Cambridge, N.Y. Having missed the first show of the year while in Texas (see Mom's blog: Pamela's Progress), I'm so excited to be able to participate in this one! Also, our team shirts will be ready on Thursday. They are supposed to be black with gray tie-die and green lettering on the back that reads "Praise Puppets." They may also have our names on them, but I'm not sure.

I'd like to thank Mrs. Kelm for the helpful advice and constructive critcism, Naomi and Robin for getting me into this in the first place, Mrs. Knox for driving me to practice, Toby for helping me with being a human puppet for "Until the Whole World hears (and being just plain strange, like me! (; ), James for stealing all my lines (*laughs*), and Josh for being, well, Josh. OK, that's everyone.

Thanks for reading!

That's what I feel about the reporting of the Arizona tragedy.  The shooting is bad enough, but the blatant self-serving self-promotion of many politicians, pundits and "reporters" is enough to make a vulture vomit!

It's bad enough that we've come to expect our political class to twist and spin any event to advance their agenda, but watching the media do the same is beyond the pale.  And people wonder why Congress receives such low opinion ratings and the major media outlets are losing viewers and readers faster then rats from a sinking ship.  Lets face it, we can't trust a thing either of them say.  "Damn the facts, full speed ahead" has become their standard modus-operandi and it makes me sick.  Whether it's left-wingers saying it's the right-wing rhetoric that "caused" this tragedy (even after admitting there is no evidence to support that statement), Republicans blaming Democrats for over-reacting, or both sides using this tragedy to promote gun-control, special privileges for members of congress, or just raising money, the current state of political and media affairs in this country can only be described in one word.

Disgusting!

Like many Americans, I find our National Anthem a powerful and moving song, even if it's lyrics are often a stumbling block to the singer. Most of all, I am captivated by the last two lines of the first stanza:

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

When Francis Scott Key penned those lines he was looking at Fort McHenry, which had been pounded by British ship-borne artillery the previous evening.  Upon seeing the flag, the star-spangled banner, still waving over the fort symbolizing the victory and the spirit of America, he was moved to write the song we now sing.  After watching the bombardment from a ship several miles away, Mr. Key was understandably wondering if that mighty banner still waved over this great land of free and brave souls.  While these words ask if the banner still waves, I look at this country today and ask the same: Does that banner still wave over the land of the free and home of the brave?

Land of  the free

Compared to most of the world, this is a land of unimaginable freedom.  Maybe that is why so many from around the world wish to come here and enjoy what they had previously only dreamed about.  But while those abroad wish for the freedoms we take for granted, it appears we Americans are willing to give up those freedoms more and more each day.  Our freedom of speech is curtailed because someone may be offended.  We have speech codes in public universities limiting free expression to small areas at limited times.  Rather than prohibiting the free exercise of religion, the legislatures and courts of federal and state governments are determining what is an allowable expression of religion in public, be it prayer in school, nativity scenes in public places, or zoning ordinances that control where people can worship.

More and more we seem happy to relinquish our freedoms for some vague promises of safety or security.  Do we hold our liberties in such low regard, as to sell them, like Esau, for a bowl of stew?  Well, maybe not for stew, but we seem more than willing to sell it for the promise that the government will take care of us.  Is that really a better deal?  I think not!

"Those who will sacrifice freedom for security deserve neither."

Attributed to Benjamin Franklin

Home of the brave

As in any land, there are many brave men and women who live here.  People in the military take up arms to protect the freedoms we so willingly turn over to others.  Some sacrifice time and security to be in the National Guard, knowing that it may mean being shipped off to battle.  And others, like policemen, firemen, and medical technicians rush into dangerous places when everyone else is rushing out.  Overseas this bravery is epitomized by our young men and women fighting in Afghanistan and Iraq, along with those stationed in a dangerous place like Korea.  At home this bravery is memorialized by those who ran into the World Trade Center while thousands ran out, and who paid for that bravery with their lives.

As a country though, I believe we've lost much of our bravery.  We sit, and cower, and wring our hands about what will happen, rather than dealing with the tough questions of our day.  We sit and and complain about the state of Social Security, Medicare, and the national debt, but are afraid to make the tough decisions necessary to deal with the problem.  Instead, we find a short-term fix so that we get ours now, and let someone down the road deal with the much bigger problem later.  When seeing an opportunity, do we take the risk to create a solution, invent the coming thing, or start a business that nobody thinks will work, but we're sure will? No, more often we wait for someone else to come up with an answer.  When we see a problem, like a neighbor in need, we don't help or search for a solution, but demand the government do something about it.  We don't even look into our future, making plans for our retirement and medical needs, but wait until we are in need and demand that others pay for it.  We look at those who have made something of themselves and demand that they turn large chunks of it over to us as "our fair share".  And when things go wrong, we don't learn from our mistakes and like the phoenix rise from the ashes.  Again, we look for someone to bail us out of the mess we created, just as long as it doesn't cost us too much personally.

We have lost that spark of adventure, the drive to find answers, and the will--no, the need--to provide for ourselves.  Are there still people who live bravely?  Risking everything, and willing to accept the consequences whether good or bad?  Yes, actually there are, and whenever possible we punish them for their successby taking the fruits of their labor by taxes, fees, and regulations.  Are there still people willing to look into the teeth of our national problems and propose grand solutions, with ideas that will require bravery but regain our lost freedoms?  Yes, and they are mocked, ridiculed, and vilified in public.  Are they mocked because their ideas have no facts behind them?  Are they ridiculed because there is no history or precedent for what they are proposing?  Are they vilified because their ideas are unconstitutional?  Nope, they are derided because their plans would require bravery to live in liberty, and as a nation we're just unwilling to endure any suffering, no matter how noble the cause.

Yes, we are blessed with many freedoms and many brave individuals.  However, I think we are not nearly as free nor as brave as when Francis Scott Key penned that immortal question.  Which leads me to ask:

O say does that star-spangled banner still wave
O’er a land that is free and a home for the brave?