And all around me a voice was sounding
In case you might otherwise have missed it, hop on over to TomPaine.com and read Bill Moyers' America 101.
To whet your appetite, a quotation:
The isolation of our schools, the crumbling of our infrastructure and the reckless disregard of our fiscal affairs signal a retreat from the social compact that made America unique among nations. Our culture of democracy derived from the rooted experience of shared values, common dreams, and mutual aspirations that are proclaimed in the most disregarded section in the Constitution - the prologue - which announces a moral contract among “We, the People of the United States.” Yes, I know: When those words were written "We, the People" didn't include slaves, or women, or exploited workers, or unwelcome immigrants. To our everlasting shame America nurtured slavery in the cradle of liberty. But, oh, the very idea of it, the vision of it, the potential power of "We, the People" let loose in that brief astonishing span of history was to change the consciousness of the world. How radical it was - the notion that "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is every human being's birthright - that all of us are equal in the scheme of Providence - that every citizen shares equally in the consent required for self-government in the grand adventure of independence.
Now, while you all are off reading Moyers, I've got to see if I can find where I've put my copy of the Federalist Papers. I distinctly remember owing a nice paperback copy. Where it is now....good question.
To whet your appetite, a quotation:
The isolation of our schools, the crumbling of our infrastructure and the reckless disregard of our fiscal affairs signal a retreat from the social compact that made America unique among nations. Our culture of democracy derived from the rooted experience of shared values, common dreams, and mutual aspirations that are proclaimed in the most disregarded section in the Constitution - the prologue - which announces a moral contract among “We, the People of the United States.” Yes, I know: When those words were written "We, the People" didn't include slaves, or women, or exploited workers, or unwelcome immigrants. To our everlasting shame America nurtured slavery in the cradle of liberty. But, oh, the very idea of it, the vision of it, the potential power of "We, the People" let loose in that brief astonishing span of history was to change the consciousness of the world. How radical it was - the notion that "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" is every human being's birthright - that all of us are equal in the scheme of Providence - that every citizen shares equally in the consent required for self-government in the grand adventure of independence.
Now, while you all are off reading Moyers, I've got to see if I can find where I've put my copy of the Federalist Papers. I distinctly remember owing a nice paperback copy. Where it is now....good question.