Guilty for copping out of a blog post post

My conscience got the better of me- here's a post that's honest to blog.

Each year, the conservatives of America gather at the Conservative Political Action Committee conference in D.C. to sing love songs to low taxes, limited government, restricting abortion and prohibiting gay rights. As conservatives, they identify with the Republican party, which has failed them this year when it comes to upholding socially conservative values.  This year, a gay Republican group known as GOProud is a sponsor of the event.  Far-right groups were not very happy.

The Heritage Foundation, Concerned Women for America, The Family Research Council and the National Organization for America, as well as other far-right groups pulled out almost immediately following the announcement of GOProud's involvement.  Political conservatives such as Senator Jim DeMint of South Carolina refused to attend as well.

There will come a time where equality will be universal and those who stood against it will be on the wrong side of history.  I can't wait for that time to come.

Democracy/Copping out of doing a blog post.

“Democracy means simply the bludgeoning of the people by the people for the people.” -Oscar Wilde.  A quote that, in many respects, paints a highly accurate picture of government of the United States, especially in its current form.  Harkening back to the days of the Athenians, democracy has changed the way that is implemented over the years but has not lost the ideals.  These ideals acknowledge the rights of people, the inherent God given rights that everyone person has and which no government can take away or manipulate.  A democracy is a government in which the ruled are essentially the rulers.  Far from perfection, but, in the view of the majority of the world, the only viable form of government.  Democracy is an intrinsic American value.  Some would go as far to say democracy is American (they would be wrong, of course).  Though Americans may be democracies biggest cheerleaders amongst the citizens of the world, the concept does not belong to them alone.  

The most obvious form of democracy in America occurs whenever voting takes place.  People go to the polls and vote for the person they think will best represent their views in some facet of the government whether it be local, state, or federal.  However, elections are winner-take-all, and invariably some person’s rights to have their preferred candidate will represent them will be taken away.  As stated by Thomas Jefferson “ A democracy is nothing more than mob rule, where fifty-one percent of the people may take away the rights of the other forty-nine.” This is how democracy works.  There are no doubt flaws, but every system has them.  It is then the responsibility of the representative to remember not only those who elected him or her to office, but also those who did not, for these people are still his or her constituents and need to be heard.  Unfortunately, America has changed democracy from representing the people to representing a party, but that is a discussion for another time.

Democracy is as it’s ugliest when mob rule occurs.  There are those who believe that the majority is always in the right; this is not the truth.  Mob rules is a sever flaw of democracy, because in true democracies a majority is all that counts.  The American government is crafted in a way where majorities hold all the power.  Minorities are virtually powerless.  Another unfortunate aspect of true democracy is the power granted to the people.  Winston Churchill once stated “The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter.”  Harsh, but, in many cases, true.  The sheer lack of knowledge held by some voters is astonishing, and to imagine the power they have can be intimidating.  It has become popular these days to ask for a leader like the common man.  I could not disagree more.  I want someone to represent me in office who is more intelligent, more ethical, and just all around better than I am.  I want someone who can make decisions even when the majority is against him or her because he or she knows an alternative is the best solution.  Democracy can be ugly (it usually is) but there are silver linings.

This form of government acknowledges the rights of human beings better than any other.  It not only acknowledges these rights, but protects, upholds, and cultivates them.  Democracy does not allow power to be consolidated to a few but rather all who are governed.  It keeps our representatives honest (at least to some extent), as they have to answer to us when their seat is up in an election cycle.  Our government is that of a democratic republic, where our representatives are democratically elected to their positions, in that we, the people, cast votes in order to elect them.  The ability to vote is the best aspect of democracy.

Democracy is showcased every day in America.  It comes in the simple form of sharing an opinion that might contradict the government.  It could be a letter to one’s representative urging them to vote according to one’s view on a piece of legislation.  It is the accessibility to our government that is overlooked every day.  Our representatives that we elected are shaping the path the government is going down and putting our views and desires into action.    

America has been a showcase for democracy since the country’s creation.  It has been democracy’s champion, as its citizens are passionate about the concept and the ideals that are idolized through the practice.  Democracy has its flaws, but it is the only viable government that recognize the rights and liberty that all people possess.

We: The Average "American"

Sometimes, I don't like being referred to as an average "American".  The average "American" cannot name many (if any) of the Supreme Court Justices.  The average "American" doesn't know what the Electoral College does, nor does the average "American" know the Speaker of the House.  I don't particularly like being grouped in with them.

Surprisingly, the civic literacy of college students isn't much better.  You would think that with the average "American" now having a college degree (or getting there, at least) that civic literacy would be higher.  Nope.

In my opinion, the average "American" isn't too interested in how government works.  He or she is more concerned with the voting, which is an extremely important civic duty.  However, perhaps the votes would count more if one was aware of the process through which government governs, and the actions it executes while in power.

 If you think you're a bit more literate than the average "American" when it comes to civics, check out this Civic Literacy Quiz and prove it!  You might be surprised at how much (or little) you know.

The Declaration of Independence: Historic or Whiny?

There's substantial argument that the Declaration of Independence is the most repeated document to ever bless the United States.  Classrooms across the country are filled with grade schoolers memorizing the thing, and to what end?  To understand our independent streak?  To fill them with patriotism that the Founding Fathers stood up for this fledgling country?  To instill within them all the pride of knowing the most "American" document?  Well, I tend to disagree.

I don't see the Declaration of Independence as a document that defines "Americans".  It was written by rich, white men.  If you were to take a look at our country and our government, you would find that that "America" no longer exists (though there is definitely room for an argument saying it does). 

I look at the document as yeah, laying out some great things.  Every man is created equal (how are we doing on that?), that we are all endowed with certain unalienable rights (which are what, because going back to the whole "equal" thing I think there would be some discrepancies), and that we're all allowed to pursue our happiness and whatnot, and that any government that impedes that MUST be overthrown.

Well.  I don't know about you, but it looks like I have a government to overthrow.

I could mention a number of things.  I could mention the fact I'm not allowed to adopt in some states, marry in most, and not pursue a career in the military.  "Americans" years upon years before me were slighted by this Declaration, this most "American" document.  

Why do I feel like despite the patriotism I should feel from this document, I feel nothing but a sense that this is really nothing more than self-serving bitch-fest for men who were well-off and didn't like seeing their money taken away (despite being ever so graciously being defended by the British in a little tussle known as the French-Indian War).  

If this document truly held relevance to the present, I think there would be more people referencing it as a reason things need to get done around here. 

But I won't hold my breath.

Inventory

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Wear purple: Support a great cause and look good at the same time!

I am wearing purple today.  It's not really a fashion statement (though in all fairness it's a fantastic color and should be worn more.  Come on boys, get out of you comfort zone!) but at the same time, it is.  I'm trying to make a statement about our country, about our society, about how we view others and how we treat them.

The past month and a half has been full of tragedy.  Six GLBT youth have committed suicide due to homophobic bullying, and anyone who doesn't recognize this as a problem is sorely mistaken.  Things need to change, and quickly.  Studies show that GLBT youth are more than three times as likely to commit suicide (Suicide and the GLBT Community) as their straight peers.

What is this due to?  In my opinion, lack of interference into anti-gay bullying and the lack of education students are getting about homosexuality.  Too much of people's knowledge comes from biased sources and bigoted organizations and people.

For a country founded upon acceptance and freedom, we fair poorly when it comes to accepting homosexuality into our community.  The arguments against those of us who identify as GLBT are insensitive and incorrect. That is why the GLBT community and its allies need to stand up and set the record straight (so to speak).

I urge you all to wear purple.  If not for yourself, for the many members of the GLBT community, especially the youth, who face discrimination every day.  Policies and politics are changing, and things are looking better.  Let's do all we can to push for the rights and acceptance we all deserve.

Someone has to do it, and why not you?

Pocahontas: Europeanized for Her Own Good?

While looking through paintings and portraits of Pocahontas today in class, I tried to put myself in her position.  Why, I don't know.  I can't say most teenage boys would try and put themselves in the situation of a teenage Native American princess, but then again I'm not most teenage boys.  Anyways, what I discovered after doing was that, well, it sucked.

Can you imagine being taken from everything and everyone you know and being forced to marry some old, bearded man and then go to his country where a culture and language so different than your own dominates?  It would be frightening and difficult.  I cannot imagine doing it all.

The different ways she was portrayed speaks volumes about how people used her image to get across their own views of her.  In her portrait, her only portrait, the common idea of her as a young, beautiful princess is completely trashed.  She looks almost scary in her classic English garb, and definitely a bit older than a teenager.  That English air certainly wasn't doing her any favors.