Re:Happy Birthday America!!!!!
Wow…..I did not expect to get this reaction from my well wishes…..
Point 1. Actually addressed before most of the newer posters on that “other board”. America and it’s constitution are modern and the rights fairly absolute. The UK and Canada; for example, do not have absolute individual rights and freedoms.
The United States Of America by it’s rights and freedoms and the media (also a form of foreign propaganda) show the world the rights and freedoms some have – and in this way…..slow the erosion of those rights and freedoms in countries that do not have absolute rights and freedoms. As governments naturally seek to erode these rights and freedoms in the States, you will see a corresponding reduction in rights and freedoms in countries that do not have the enshrined rights and freedoms in their constitution. A more practical example is the States bringing some sweeping powers of investigation or “eaves-dropping” and later Canada adopting these measures (though we have no terrorist threat). in fact we have CIA /FBI “working” with the RCMP (in Canada in conflict with our rights to our own jurisdiction) against possible terrorist threat. Under new rules established in Canada as a direct result of American influence – we now have people being charged and tried without disclosure to the defense (I don’t even know if the person in question has access to his lawyer); and as an aside – our Privacy Commissioner was been discredited and forced to resign (i.e. he criticized the government’s new “eaves-dropping” powers). I just wanted to show the connection between American freedom and rights and their influence in the rest of the world. I feel that it was American mass media displaying it’s culture that helped bring down Communism; China is addressing this problem by trying to close off its’ culture from the world – but probably will not be too successful.
Point 2. Freedom is a state of mind and not the physical removal of some impediment. You have to feel free to speak, act, and move about without self-censure….. As long as a people “feels” truly free; they will always win over any oppressive government. Governments are masters at “crowd control” as they use the media and other methods to instill fear in the populous and thus erode the freedoms of the population as a whole. Since America has freedoms and rights enshrined in it’s constitution; the government can only keep the populous “quiet” as it does whatever possibly unpopular things it wishes by creating a crises where dissention is frowned upon and unacceptable (as was the case with the war ). Just look at the problems noteworthy Americans received when they questioned American policy; many who would speak out remained silent….. Bottom line is that freedom can be taken away in a “free” society – but Americans are in the best position to fight back because their constitution gives them the means to.
I am replying “off-the-cuff” and not my usual motivated self (so my arguments are vulnerable) as the freedom issue is getting old with me and I would like to pass the torch to the younger folk (I am waiting…..). Talk to me about new ways of thinking 😆 – that is where my mind is at now…..
Maurice