“The price of liberty is eternal
vigilance.” This quote, often contentiously attributed to Thomas Jefferson (who
may have not said it at all and really may have been said by American
Abolitionist and liberal activist Wendell
Phillips on January
28, 1852, who may have cribbed it from other prior sources[1]) is
still the truest statement regarding the nature of our Republic and our
impression of Democracy.
It has always been our duty as
citizens to question the intentions and desires of our electorate in order to
preserve the freedoms our forebearers fought for. It is an absolute in our
Republic that anyone in a position of power should be questioned about their
character, morality and judgment. It is in the better interest of our free
society to drill into the marrow of a person poised for power. It is our duty
to delve into their hearts, their minds and if possible, their souls to verify
they are the type of person that best reflects the character of our Country.
We must always be vigilant
against the tides of despotism, of an unbalanced government, of rampant
corruption and electoral apathy. We are historically bound to make this
country, for all it’s faults, a better place to live. Not just for ourselves
but to future generations that will call this country their home. We have a
duty to make sure future Americans will feel pride when they think about the
efforts their ancestors made in creating a place where their personal liberties
are not infringed upon by an out of control government.
We must question the nature of
intention when any individual decides they want to be a part of a self-run
system of government. A government of the people, by the people and for the
people. It is imperative we shake the trees of a person’s history, their
thought processes, their desire and capability in order to provide equal
representation under the law. We must always ask, and ask again if the answer
is not satisfactory. We should ask again when that answer is still not satisfactory.
It is a burden we as citizens must
bear as well as the burden of any elected official to answer. It is not easy to
be vigilant. It is difficult to maintain a watchful eye on the complexities of
politics. The political tensions and tribalism regarding any particular ideal
or person can be extremely daunting. Yet, we still must question it. We are
honor bound by the sacrifices of so many to ask whether this idea or this
person is right and good for all the people. It is correct to question the
nature of what is good and right. It is incredibly challenging to break through
the clutter, shadows and double-talk our political system seems to overflow
with. Yet we must.
We must take what we learn about
any idea or person and weigh it against our interior morality. We must turn the
idea or personality in odd ways, see it from every angle if we can and confirm
whether it is indeed something decent and beneficial for progress. Progress
toward a free and equal society benefiting and reflecting the morality of the
present and forward thinking enough to benefit the future.
Liberty is rare in society; to
be able to think and believe and do whatever it is I think is best without a
jack-booted thug kicking in my door and threatening me to follow or die is a
precious right. We as Americans are imbued with a desire to be free, to not be trod
upon, by any dictator, king or despot. It is our liberty, this rare gift of an Age
of Enlightenment, that we must protect.
That precious Liberty we hold so
dear is incumbent upon us and those we elect to represent us to ask questions,
to ponder the ramifications of any act, plan or political machinations. It is
in the asking that the truest form of liberty can shine through. It is in the
vigilant questioning we preserve liberty, justice, and equality. We are the
makers of our own liberties. We are the shoulders that bare the weight of
liberty. We cannot shrug this duty off onto others or pretend through inaction
it will somehow take care of itself. We must always be the beacon of liberty to
the underrepresented, the downtrodden and the forgotten.
Liberty is not a function of the
government, it is a function of We the People attempting to form a more perfect
Union. In that forming of liberty and freedom we are saddled with incredible
responsibilities. Responsibilities that should never be tossed aside, dismissed
or thought to be unpopular. We must vigilantly and vigorously question those in
power, power we gave them, to insure our liberties are being protected. It is
eternal.
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