Freedom: U. S. Presidential Election's Top Priority
Posted: Saturday, July 26, 2008
by Jean Purcell
OpineBooks.com
In his book written with Ron Dermer---The Case for Democracy: The Power of Freedom to Overcome Tyranny & Terror---Natan Sharansky inserted quotes about how democracy could never work in the USSR.
We cannot doubt, as some said was true then, that Soviet citizens of the tyrannical Soviet regime understood the value of freedom.
Reader's Digest once printed an article by a U. S. citizen who had visited Russia. It was in the time of the Gulag, the harsh Soviet prison system where trial-less political dissidents suffered deeply along with convincted criminals. A Soviet citizen who knew some English approached him cautiously. He whispered: "You are American, right?"
They were strangers to each other, so the American said, "Yes, but how did you guess?"
The Soviet said: "You walk free."
We take it for granted over-much. That little story reminds that we should value what it means to "walk free." We need to remember that any freedom can be lost if not cared for and guarded.
Part of freedom inwardly is the freedom, which we can claim, to think, decide, and act for ourselves--and take responsibility for it.
We all have heroes of past and present. Nevertheless, they deserve evaluation in the spotlight. They need to have their weaknesses as well as their strengths known, as far as they relate to their positions of influence and power.
The best among them would expect and hope for no less from us.
I admire President Bush, with whom I disagree on a number of decisions, for never demeaning the American people, who have largely rejected and abused him.
He tends to stammer when he talks off the cuff. He has been ridiculed cruelly for that shortcoming. Yet, I have never heard or read of him giving back in return in a disrespectful way.
There is an effort to impeach him from office. I have heard no cruel or disrespectful comment on that, either. On the other hand, he has not lost his feistiness, and I admire him for that, too.
For those reasons, I am proud to commend President Bush's personal qualities and leadership example. His policies regarding Iraq will either be proven right or wrong eventually, maybe within a decade. Maybe longer. Both he and Congress will remain under a microscope 'til then.
Election day for a new president comes in about 100 days. We who vote need to pay attention to the words and demeanor of both candidates, the good and the bad of each. We need to be able to give good reasons for our final answer.
I am looking at who has the best record of fervor for freedom and democracy for this country. Both freedom and democracy are increasingly challenged concepts, even in America, a fact I never thought would be true. Now it is.
I was in Switzerland on 9/11. A few days later, I heard words from an American, passing through Geneva from the States. They were words that shocked, words I never dreamed, even in nightmare, to hear.
There was no sign of sadness or grief over the events of the previous days. There was only criticism of President Bush being elected that previous November.
That event and others like it awoke me to the fact that not all Americans love their country. Many American citizens enjoy material benefits and personal and professional opportunities that exist in abundance in the U. S. They enjoy their political opinions. They take all of that freedom. They "take it and run," as the saying goes.
This attitude exists among some in academia, government service, churches, public schools, and community and state leaders. This attitude is rare in "the American heartland."
The race, gender, background, education, and even the military service of a candidate are not the main criteria for me.
What matters most is who has a clear record of a desire to stand up for this country and for democracy, at home first, and a clear determination to continue to be faithful to them.
The United States of America has always aimed to share freedom's benefits, to help the rest of the world rise to freedom, through deliberate policies, strategies, and ways and in spite of agreement or disagreement between the White House and the Congress.
Power rests upon the citizens of this country, invested in them by the Constitution and effective in total for as long as this democracy stands.
We use that power first by our votes. We also use that power through how we think, speak, and believe for ourselves.
It is that vote, that democratic process, that affirms that we continue to "walk free."
Hi Jane,I enjoyed this article. I agree with you that the power of the people is in their vote, but I'm dismayed by the fact that many will use that power not having the slightest idea what their candidate stands for. They just know that he looks good and speaks well.Bob
Bob, I agree with you. We need to have reasonable and true arguments and speak up. If we have only a few strong, true, and provable things to say about the person of our choice and keep repeating those true facts, then maybe, maybe some stone walls will crack and break. Both sides use ad phrases. We need to do more than parrot those. I'm looking for what helps this country's strength at the core. I'm looking for what tells young people not to hang their heads; not to believe they have no future. The issues change, come and go. The basic principles we need to guard never change. Next, for me, is experience. Then, character. I find few candidates of the past with whom I agreed on all of the main issues that are dear to me. We need to present arguments for our choice person that can bear up and also that relate to this country's democratic principles, in my view. That's my two-cents worth.Thanks for the comments!
hi jane,i love these United(?) States, and wouldn't want to be anywhere else.i am fearful, however, of the economy that is strangling any one but the rich and wealthy, and now our young adults who are beginning their lives in the "real world" one hour's worth of work at minimum wage, cannot buy 2 gallons of gas, or 2 gallons of milk. that seems preposterous to me. i hope there will be positive changes made. thanks for sharing,best regards,sueHi, Sue, I'm not saying it's perfect. But I grew up with parents whose parents would have lived in poverty were it not for supportive rural communities, churches, and families. My parents knew they could work hard, understanding what their parents had faced and why it was especially difficult in their parents' time - and one had raised five children alone, working in a hat shop. I'm coming from a perspective where I never had a car until I was 22, and it was my husband's. We shared it. Today's a different time, yet I think young people, including some in our family not finding summer jobs, need to know they will make a way if they keep trying and we'll not turn our backs either.
Thanks for writing and commenting with your views. I appreciate the dialog!
I'm having trouble staying logged in. Don't know the problem, but will leave for now.
~Jane
Jane I respect your opinion and writing yet I must state in my opinion what you admire are personal characteristics rather then leadership? They are of little good when what you do fails. What can we admire in this man or any of them as to effective leadership that is good for this nation and its people. I separate none from this. Republican or Democrat the same brew. What must one say? What can one say that has not been said over and over and over in the pain and suffering of millions? This is all about their deeds, what they do or fail to do. If the deeds of those currently in power do not reflect what is in my opinion blatant sin then what does? How far have we fallen that usury, breaking of law, treaties that are against our nations interests, exploitation, dismantling of our indistry, the selling of our national assets, the loss of jobs, homes and host after host after host of abuse is made acceptable, condoned? Then we might ask ourselves just what does that say?The man or any of them personally not the issue. How they look, not the issue. How well they speak, not the issue. Race or war hero, not the issue. Enough said, how sad it is all confused with leadership.Hi, Robert, to go to your question, how can we know what a leader will do or fail to do? That's my concern, too.
Cuba, USSR, Italy, Germany, other countries in S. America and Africa...where people thought they were getting a good leader, by revolution or by vote, ended up under the boot of a dictator or a succession of them. There were economic needs or crises involved in each case. It's always something that leads to drastic action.
I don't like whipped up or pretty talk but prefer talk backed up by long records that show good, not perfect, leadership. I look for believability/credibility and good decision-making abilities. It's hard for an ego-driven profession like politics to come up with people with such records. We need to keep and use our freedom to hold Executive and Legislative branches together accountable to hold the other in check. We loan a lot of power on election day.
Thanks for commenting!You are right on Jane. I do believe in my heart we are at the crossroads. We can either pick up the challenge and make real change or accept the inevitable. Best wishes!!!! Robert.Robert, you are kind, especially in view that I "talked" too much probably in my response - and I'm not a pro at all of this. All the best! ~Jane
Very well-written and expressed point of view, Jane. I admire your patriotism, respect for our liberties and love of your country. Thank you for a great article!Hi, Avis. Thanks for taking the time to read and make this comment, and give encouragement!
Hi Jane, Good article and thank you for the respect and love of our country and our citizens. God bless you.Hi Michelle, than you for reading. I appreciate your comment. Take care! --Jane