Where is the father of my country?
I think the only good measure of a Democracy is the iniative that citizens take upon themselves. At times, this is only facilitated by a leader--and Presidents are really good barometers as to the level of political action.
A few days ago, I went to a protest here in McAllen--they were protesting the stimulus package and general political economic initiatives that are occuring currently. I went because I wanted to protest against them. The general argument was "No Taxation Without Representation," and I thought that was aboslutely ridiculous. Firstly, although I understand why they are using it as a flagstaff for their cause, I think their argument is unsound. Even though they are getting taxed, they are still represented. And I find it personally discouraging when people don't really sit down to analyze their argument.
I went out because if there is no taxation without representation, I feel that I'm part of that group. Not because I'm party to a tax bracket that is having to pay more, and let me say that I do agree that no one should be expected to pay for for other people's poor judgement or for their lazy lifestyle, but because I'm part of a group that is bound by social limitations. If I were to come out--and it's painfully obvious that I'm gay, so it really doesn't matter in my opinion--I could possibly loose my job (in either of my two jobs), and I cannot get married.
At the protest, I was approached by an individual that kept asking me about why I was holding the sign I was holding--"No Taxation Without Representation," (Representation was in rainbow letters). I said that I felt underrepresented, and he simply said, "You can get married, you just need to go to a state that lets you get married." I thought that was ridiculous, and I asked him why I needed to leave my home so I can enjoy the same rights he does. He said it really didn't matter because I could enjoy that right somewhere else. It wasn't an argument I was willing to have on the streets of McAllen, facing a crowd of 700+ with just Marcus and myself.
But this whole experience has got me thinking. Where is my President? Not Barack Obama. I'm talking about President George W. Bush. For the past eight years--from the age of 13 to 21 (which I feel are my most formative years)--I was under his flagstaff. I may not have agreed with anything he said, but he was still my President, and there's a certain level of respect that must be given to him. That might sound ridiculous coming from a flaming Liberal, but I say that because, if I expect respect for my CURRENT President, then I need to really give respect to my previous one. But where is he? The last that I heard from him, he was moving to Dallas. I look around and I see bailouts, protests, and news anchors inciting outrage, and I look around for guidance. There is only so much Obama can do to subside the fears of Today. I just wish, someone that protected me for eight years, could come out and do it again. Not because I felt especially secure under his administration, but because, when you have a political spectrum as divided as ours, I just wish the other side would do its part too instead of criticize.
I want to know, during a time of great stress and fear, where is the father of my country? Because, I think that if I saw my country failing, I would give every ounce of effort, even my life, to protect it.
A few days ago, I went to a protest here in McAllen--they were protesting the stimulus package and general political economic initiatives that are occuring currently. I went because I wanted to protest against them. The general argument was "No Taxation Without Representation," and I thought that was aboslutely ridiculous. Firstly, although I understand why they are using it as a flagstaff for their cause, I think their argument is unsound. Even though they are getting taxed, they are still represented. And I find it personally discouraging when people don't really sit down to analyze their argument.
I went out because if there is no taxation without representation, I feel that I'm part of that group. Not because I'm party to a tax bracket that is having to pay more, and let me say that I do agree that no one should be expected to pay for for other people's poor judgement or for their lazy lifestyle, but because I'm part of a group that is bound by social limitations. If I were to come out--and it's painfully obvious that I'm gay, so it really doesn't matter in my opinion--I could possibly loose my job (in either of my two jobs), and I cannot get married.
At the protest, I was approached by an individual that kept asking me about why I was holding the sign I was holding--"No Taxation Without Representation," (Representation was in rainbow letters). I said that I felt underrepresented, and he simply said, "You can get married, you just need to go to a state that lets you get married." I thought that was ridiculous, and I asked him why I needed to leave my home so I can enjoy the same rights he does. He said it really didn't matter because I could enjoy that right somewhere else. It wasn't an argument I was willing to have on the streets of McAllen, facing a crowd of 700+ with just Marcus and myself.
But this whole experience has got me thinking. Where is my President? Not Barack Obama. I'm talking about President George W. Bush. For the past eight years--from the age of 13 to 21 (which I feel are my most formative years)--I was under his flagstaff. I may not have agreed with anything he said, but he was still my President, and there's a certain level of respect that must be given to him. That might sound ridiculous coming from a flaming Liberal, but I say that because, if I expect respect for my CURRENT President, then I need to really give respect to my previous one. But where is he? The last that I heard from him, he was moving to Dallas. I look around and I see bailouts, protests, and news anchors inciting outrage, and I look around for guidance. There is only so much Obama can do to subside the fears of Today. I just wish, someone that protected me for eight years, could come out and do it again. Not because I felt especially secure under his administration, but because, when you have a political spectrum as divided as ours, I just wish the other side would do its part too instead of criticize.
I want to know, during a time of great stress and fear, where is the father of my country? Because, I think that if I saw my country failing, I would give every ounce of effort, even my life, to protect it.