What is going on in our country? That question is reverberating throughout the United States. Let’s view the chaos through the lens of common sense civics and citizenship. Since we don’t do the blame and shame routine here (we stick to principles, not personalities), I have been reticent to comment on such posts. I eliminate those that I deem to be profane or disrespectful. The time has come to have a conversation. We have a country behaving badly.
Let’s be clear. Our country is being evermore divided: Democrats vs. Republicans; Communist vs. a Constitutional Republic; Leftists vs. Conservatives; blue states vs. red states; evil vs. good; young vs. old; anarchists vs. patriots; youth vs. law enforcement; lawmakers vs. other lawmakers; lawmakers vs. citizens; children vs. parents. Abraham Lincoln wisely used a truth from scripture when he reminded us that “A house divided against itself cannot stand.” We will not stand if the current divisiveness continues. People on both sides of our national issues are asking, “What should we do?”
If your leaders are leading you to violence, walk away from them. Our First Amendment gives us the right to PEACEABLY assemble and to PETITION the government for a redress of grievances. We do not have the right to destroy people or property as a path to victory. The means do not justify the ends. If elected officials (or formerly elected officials) tell you it’s ok to get up in people’s faces or to be uncivil, or anything of the kind, they need to find another job after the next election. You need to walk away in droves from leaders who encourage lawlessness. Revolution is routine all over the world but it’s not how we work it here in the United States. Some say, “Well, this IS a revolution! Our forefathers fought a revolutionary war!” No. They did not revolt to overthrow England. Our forefathers fought a War for Independence. That was their objective and that is the correct name of the war they fought. Mark that one down and remember it. They fought and won their independence from the rule of the King of England. If you want another country, you’ll need to establish one from the ground up, not change our nation to be like all the failed systems of governance that came before it. It’s common sense to know our civics and treasure our citizenship.
Where are parents and teachers showing the American way to our youth? Where are children learning patriotism? What about discipline? BTW, do your teens know the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution or the First Amendment? Do they know what is in the Bill of Rights? Can they name their rights to you? Before teenagers get car keys, they need to know their rights. They will have more respect for law enforcement if they know their rights and understand the role of law enforcement. It’s common sense to ensure that our children are educated in traditional Americanism.
Stop consuming news that profits from a constant barrage of negativity. If you stop watching it, they’ll stop selling it. News outlets sell you what you want to consume. Find a balance of news based on fact, not on emotional hype. Does your family hear a constant flow of emotional, opinionated news in your home? Or do they hear and read a fact-based news that requires them to form their own opinion? It’s common sense to give yourself a diet of fact-based news and information, not just a constant stream of editorialized and emotionalized views.
What about groupthink? Skip it. Pass on any philosophy that regards you as a part of the collective where you are just one of a group and not an individual. If you cannot have your own opinion and still belong to the group, let the group go. Be an individual.
This isn’t just a Democrat problem. It’s a national problem. When our teens are throwing national tantrums in the streets, we have a problem. The protesting youth of the 1960’s rejected all traditional Americanism-except, of course, the liberties granted by our Constitution that you won’t find anywhere else on the planet. These 1960’s radicals are now seeing the seeds of their protests grow into anarchy by their posterity. Let’s learn from a bad example and not repeat it. We need to begin being patriots ourselves by living out traditional American beliefs and peacefully but resolutely rejecting un-American, unconstitutional laws and actions. Support traditional American values. Stand up for the country you know, want, and love. And vote. That’s Common Sense Civics and Citizenship at work.
