It's time for a change.
I've been thinking about this after the nomination and subsequent election of President Barack Obama, and his call for revolution within the legislative branches of our government. For the past year, the media has been inundated with Tea Baggers, Sarah Palin's publicity stunts, Michael Steele's prejudice, and various reports featuring elected officials caught in compromising positions. Add in abuses of power, including Mayor Dan Sullivan's role as trustee of an illegal fund set up in his father's name, and the legislature's decision to overturn the bill forcing lobbyists to report amounts greater than $15, and once can see why the majority of Americans have lost their passion for politics. I believe this apathy began in the days following the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr., and other prominent leaders who spearheaded some of the greatest movements and government reforms in American history since the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The Baby Boomer generation saw the end of some of the oldest institutions of this country, including segregation, and the oppression of women. It was almost a golden age, imperfect as man tends to be, but pretty close since it was also a time when the youth of this nation was actively involved in determining the future of the United States.
Nowadays, my own generation is more concerned with materialistic gains, sexual exploits, and social behaviors that are systematically undermining everything our parents worked for. The Golden Age of America has thoroughly come to an end, but in times of great need and darkness, movements begin, and in time become unstoppable forces for overturning powers and principalities that work to suppress rather than elevate. I feel that time is coming again, especially with the tensions that are growing between the Progressives and Conservatives of our country. As Abraham Lincoln, one of the last true Republicans once said, "a house divided cannot stand", and we are most certainly divided. I fear for the future of this nation because of the threats, actions, and behaviors that have been launched against our government by those who are prisoners of fear and ignorance, and feel the only way they can do anything of merit is through the harm and intimidation of others.
This is a two-fold issue, one where the people have ceased to work towards their own education and self-improvement, indulging in false senses of entitlement, and embracing ideologies that perpetuate the delusion of victimization. A good example of this is the situation in Fairview, where the citizens have become complacent in the criminal activities of their neighbors, the presence of the gangs, the vandalism, and comfort themselves with the belief that they do not have a choice in the conduct of those who live in their zip code. They also comfort themselves with the false notion that their situation is the result of "the man", or members of their ethnicity who are "acting white", rather than making the effort to first question why their environment is so depressed, and begin realizing that they do have a choice. That their situation can only be rectified through their own efforts, so long as they cease believing their condition is the result of the actions of others. My family fought against segregation in this country, the use of substandard educational materials for teaching ethnic children, and the Jim Crow laws that made intermarrying between blacks and whites a punishable offense. Both sides were in the fight, and some of them lost their lives, but in the end their determination and perseverance ended a dark chapter in this nation's history. There is no reason why the people in areas like Muldoon, Fairview, Mt. View, and Spenard cannot do the same. There is no reason why others in similar circumstances in this country cannot engage in the same manner as their predecessors.
The other part of this situation comes from our leadership. Some of the people who are in office have been in power since our parents were twenty-somethings, and have become accustomed to their positions. To the point that they are unwilling to relinquish them, unless filled by someone who will continue the same outmoded ideas and philosophies that they themselves possess. This is not in the best interest of the United States, and it is why the tensions we are seeing on the news exist. That which refuses to change, dies, and our country is dying at the hands of those who would rather continue the status quo than allow their heirs to ascend to their rightful place as the next generation of leaders for this nation. Unfortunately, their greed for power is denying us, our children, and their children the bright and sustainable future that we desire.
Looking around Alaska, especially Anchorage, there are constant reminders of the old families who once settled, and then governed this state starting when it was still a territory. Eagan, Sullivan, O'Malley, Begich, Stevens, Rasmussen - the list goes on. Typically, this is a good thing, some of the descendants of the families I have mentioned have taken this state a lot further than their forefathers, but there are others who are merely a continuation of their parent's outmoded ideals and beliefs. They are the ones who need to step down, and step aside. Our futures as Americans and Alaskans is at stake. Therefore, it is time we the children return, and take back what is rightfully ours.
It is time mine and the younger generations step up so these ancient bastions of the Good Ol' Boys Clubs, the Status Quo, and so forth have no choice but to step aside. It is time for the youth to become involved again, this time beyond the level our parents entertained in the late fifties and sixties. It is time we no longer think, act, or speak as children. It is time we put away our childish things, and assume our inalienable right as the next generation to lead and govern our communities. Apathy did not work for our parents or grandparents, generations who saw this country through it's darkest chapters, and it will damn us if we do not oppose those who would covet power in the name of personal gain.
Therefore, go and become a part of your local community council, take an active role in programs sponsoring social justice, educate yourself about the political issues impacting your state or country, run for office, but most of all -
GET INVOLVED.
***
I've been thinking about this after the nomination and subsequent election of President Barack Obama, and his call for revolution within the legislative branches of our government. For the past year, the media has been inundated with Tea Baggers, Sarah Palin's publicity stunts, Michael Steele's prejudice, and various reports featuring elected officials caught in compromising positions. Add in abuses of power, including Mayor Dan Sullivan's role as trustee of an illegal fund set up in his father's name, and the legislature's decision to overturn the bill forcing lobbyists to report amounts greater than $15, and once can see why the majority of Americans have lost their passion for politics. I believe this apathy began in the days following the assassinations of John F. Kennedy, Robert Kennedy, Malcom X, Martin Luther King Jr., and other prominent leaders who spearheaded some of the greatest movements and government reforms in American history since the Revolutionary and Civil Wars. The Baby Boomer generation saw the end of some of the oldest institutions of this country, including segregation, and the oppression of women. It was almost a golden age, imperfect as man tends to be, but pretty close since it was also a time when the youth of this nation was actively involved in determining the future of the United States.
Nowadays, my own generation is more concerned with materialistic gains, sexual exploits, and social behaviors that are systematically undermining everything our parents worked for. The Golden Age of America has thoroughly come to an end, but in times of great need and darkness, movements begin, and in time become unstoppable forces for overturning powers and principalities that work to suppress rather than elevate. I feel that time is coming again, especially with the tensions that are growing between the Progressives and Conservatives of our country. As Abraham Lincoln, one of the last true Republicans once said, "a house divided cannot stand", and we are most certainly divided. I fear for the future of this nation because of the threats, actions, and behaviors that have been launched against our government by those who are prisoners of fear and ignorance, and feel the only way they can do anything of merit is through the harm and intimidation of others.
This is a two-fold issue, one where the people have ceased to work towards their own education and self-improvement, indulging in false senses of entitlement, and embracing ideologies that perpetuate the delusion of victimization. A good example of this is the situation in Fairview, where the citizens have become complacent in the criminal activities of their neighbors, the presence of the gangs, the vandalism, and comfort themselves with the belief that they do not have a choice in the conduct of those who live in their zip code. They also comfort themselves with the false notion that their situation is the result of "the man", or members of their ethnicity who are "acting white", rather than making the effort to first question why their environment is so depressed, and begin realizing that they do have a choice. That their situation can only be rectified through their own efforts, so long as they cease believing their condition is the result of the actions of others. My family fought against segregation in this country, the use of substandard educational materials for teaching ethnic children, and the Jim Crow laws that made intermarrying between blacks and whites a punishable offense. Both sides were in the fight, and some of them lost their lives, but in the end their determination and perseverance ended a dark chapter in this nation's history. There is no reason why the people in areas like Muldoon, Fairview, Mt. View, and Spenard cannot do the same. There is no reason why others in similar circumstances in this country cannot engage in the same manner as their predecessors.
The other part of this situation comes from our leadership. Some of the people who are in office have been in power since our parents were twenty-somethings, and have become accustomed to their positions. To the point that they are unwilling to relinquish them, unless filled by someone who will continue the same outmoded ideas and philosophies that they themselves possess. This is not in the best interest of the United States, and it is why the tensions we are seeing on the news exist. That which refuses to change, dies, and our country is dying at the hands of those who would rather continue the status quo than allow their heirs to ascend to their rightful place as the next generation of leaders for this nation. Unfortunately, their greed for power is denying us, our children, and their children the bright and sustainable future that we desire.
Looking around Alaska, especially Anchorage, there are constant reminders of the old families who once settled, and then governed this state starting when it was still a territory. Eagan, Sullivan, O'Malley, Begich, Stevens, Rasmussen - the list goes on. Typically, this is a good thing, some of the descendants of the families I have mentioned have taken this state a lot further than their forefathers, but there are others who are merely a continuation of their parent's outmoded ideals and beliefs. They are the ones who need to step down, and step aside. Our futures as Americans and Alaskans is at stake. Therefore, it is time we the children return, and take back what is rightfully ours.
It is time mine and the younger generations step up so these ancient bastions of the Good Ol' Boys Clubs, the Status Quo, and so forth have no choice but to step aside. It is time for the youth to become involved again, this time beyond the level our parents entertained in the late fifties and sixties. It is time we no longer think, act, or speak as children. It is time we put away our childish things, and assume our inalienable right as the next generation to lead and govern our communities. Apathy did not work for our parents or grandparents, generations who saw this country through it's darkest chapters, and it will damn us if we do not oppose those who would covet power in the name of personal gain.
Therefore, go and become a part of your local community council, take an active role in programs sponsoring social justice, educate yourself about the political issues impacting your state or country, run for office, but most of all -
GET INVOLVED.
***