We hold these Truths to be self-evident...
Being American is a political distinction. As such, the documents that articulate what it means to be an American, our values and laws, are primarily the Declaration of Independence and the US Constitution.
Being a proud American means LIVING their values and laws. George Washington admonished Americans to defend our values and law from "the impostures of pretended patriotism." Abraham Lincoln, considered as one of the world's most eloquent and powerful writers urged Americans:
"Let every American pledge his life, his property, and his sacred honor;--let every man remember that to violate the law, is to trample on the blood of his father, and to tear the character of his own, and his children's liberty. Let reverence for the laws, be breathed by every American mother, to the lisping babe, that prattles on her lap--let it be taught in schools, in seminaries, and in colleges; let it be written in Primers, spelling books, and in Almanacs;--let it be preached from the pulpit, proclaimed in legislative halls, and enforced in courts of justice. And, in short, let it become the political religion of the nation; and let the old and the young, the rich and the poor, the grave and the gay, of all sexes and tongues, and colors and conditions, sacrifice unceasingly upon its altars."
Today, we consider the values of the Declaration of Independence and its application into law.
Some history: America was, and is, unique in political history for taking the HIGHEST values and incorporating them into government. The Founding Fathers considered the contributions of scholars from the Enlightenment period of history - breakthroughs in science and philosophical thought of the fundamental worth of ALL human beings rather than a oligarchy - and consolidated its philosophy and political freedom into the Declaration of Independence. This bold new stand announced to the world and our Creator who Americans are. It does so today for all Americans who stand with Lincoln to LIVE those principles and not succumb to, as Washington wrote, "cunning, ambitious and unprincipled men [who] subvert the Power of the People, & to usurp for themselves the reins of Government; destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion."
Let us consider the American values within the preamble:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
The values:
- All human beings are equal in value.
- God gave all human beings rights that no other person or group can remove.
- Inherent rights for all human beings include the right to not be killed, the right to political and civil freedom, and the right to do what one chooses as long as no harm is done to others.
- The purpose of government is to protect the above rights; no more than that.
- The only powers government has are those agreed upon by the people; no more than that. If government unlawfully kills, violates political and civil freedom, and/or acts outside the authority granted by the people, then the people are right to end such criminal acts and establish a new government.
I will discuss these values in separate articles. Let's briefly discuss the application of these values upon the laws of the US, to LIVE these morals rather than merely wearing a flag-pin in pretended patriotism. My previous articles document from our own government's reports and expert testimony that the political "leadership" of both parties are in violation of these principles of freedom, justice, and dignity. Both parties lied (and here) and lie our troops into illegal wars, they torture, they're Wars of Aggression have killed over a million human beings and cause unconscionable suffering for millions more, they lie for more war with Iran, they allow states to suffer under easily-dissolved debt, they throw TRILLIONS of our dollars at their oligarch partners while throwing Americans under needless trillions of debt, they deliver empty political rhetoric when the solution of employing Americans is obvious, give half the total value of tax-breaks to the richest 1% (if you don't make over $400,000/year that's not you) while refusing to honor signed documents to just give 0.7% of income to save a million children's lives from poverty every month (ending poverty slows population growth in EVERY historical instance) while the Congressional Research Service just reported that our US Government last year sold more than two-thirds of all global weapons. The central policies of this government reject human value, kill, injure under rhetoric of "liberation," and do so against the wishes of all Americans educated on the facts.
It is our right, and is the right action, to alter or abolish our current oligarch government. Both parties' "leaders" are so deep in corruption, there have been almost no criminal investigations or impeachment consideration. I am among colleagues who recommend Truth and Reconciliation as our most practical policy response. The facts are in transparently in front of everyone who cares to see, although seeing the obvious is a challenge when the facts are difficult to embrace.
The following 14-minute video is Morgan Freeman and many of our most-respected actors reading the Declaration of Independence to you. It's worth your attention to understand, and measure its words to our lives in the present. How should you respond?
As always, please share this article with all who consider themselves responsible citizens. If you appreciate my work, please subscribe by clicking under the article title (it's free). Thank you for all you do to hold government accountable for American principles and rule under the Constitution.
Comments
I'd rather Obama give his speech to the kids today a little more like this..."OK kids, here's what I want you to do. I want you to write an essay to me AFTER you go home and read the U.S. Constitution.(your parents can help). I want you to focus on the Bill of Rights. You might not be familiar with them...your parents should. I want you to list which ones you believe you still have and debate them in class. Then I want to do a google search on 'Hitler Youth' and discuss that also. Have fun"
Being a USer means being a murdering thieving scumbag.
Mr. Herman,
Your article is interesting, if seemingly too 'patriotic'. You claim, "... America was, and is, unique in political history for taking the HIGHEST values and incorporating them into government. " I would ask: Which other nations' constitutions have you studied? Have you ever lived abroad, so you could compare and contrast? The US of A is a rogue state, illegally invading, occupying and brutalizing other nations which we happen to disagree with at that point in time. Washington, D.C. - London - Tel Aviv comprise the *true* "Axis of Evil", and the world would be a far better place if Washington, D.C. simply sank into a hole in the ground.
I recommend reading "A People's History of the United States", by Howard Zinn. It's long, since it covers over 500 years of history, but it may very well cause you to re-think what you think you know about George Washington and other former leaders.
Also, "Killing Hope" (by W. Blum) is worthwhile, if dark.
StrivingForJustice@ya
Sam Bolivar says:
My email got cut off. It's StrivingForJustice@yahoo.com .
Peace,
SB
Sam, did you stop reading after the first part? I'm contrasting the strongest design for government I know of (I understand the basic structure of some other governments) from the illegal acts the US is doing under the cover of patriotic rhetoric. Browse my other articles from the links.
Dear Mr. Herman,
Thank you for your prompt reply. (^^) No, I didn't stop reading partway through, but I can understand why it might have appeared I did. I was concerned about hitting my characters limit, and trying to post before heading out the door. Sorry about that. In fact, my "The US of A is a rogue state, ..." comments were intended to add to what you wrote. (And I definitely agree with many of your points made - note my 'D.C. sinking into a hole in the ground' statement.)
One correction:
"Actually, they're Wars of Aggression have ..."
--->
"Actually, their wars of aggression have ..." (unless of course you're purposely capitalizing the two words).
Also, a question:
"... they throw TRILLIONS of our dollars at their oligarch partners while throwing Americans under needless trillions of debt"
---> Who are "their oligarch partners" that you're referring to?
StrivingForJustice@yahoo.com
Mr. Herman,
Lastly, you wrote, "I am among colleagues who recommend Truth and Reconciliation as our most practical policy response." Although I am also for both T & R, let's be honest - We are not the ones who have been so terribly wronged by the Bushite (and now Obaman?) war criminals. The people who 'Tricky Dick' Cheney, Dubya Bush, Rumsfeld, Wolfowitz, and all their ilk need to beg forgiveness from are:
the survivors of the Americans murdered on 9/11; the hundreds of thousands of wounded and/or bereaved in Afghanistan, Iraq, et al; the military personnel hurt in those two illegal, immoral invasions; all tax-paying Americans; and everyone else affected.
But I'd bet that a lot of Iraqis & Afghanis wouldn't be so forgiving of the human scum who sacked their nations. They'd likely see justice as letting able-bodied citizens of their countries, on int'l TV, do whatever they wanted to those (chained down, and sans bodyguards) US leaders. Brutal, certainly - but perhaps 'just'?
America's core values!!!!
You would think in a post 911 world that America would have already made "change" in the way they do buisness in the world, unfortunately the handleing of ballast water in the US is a good example how this administration has just played musical chairs and continues the blending of America's "free market society with communist China's controlled economy. Americans are out of work from lack of manufacturing consumer goods, some politicians are calling for tariffs, that will create a trade war, but keeping our environment protected could also raise the cost of imports and create jobs. This administration only can suggest tying our country to more economic Globalization, by increasing debt borrowing money to create temporary jobs until foreign manufacturing can again carry us on their coat tails with more store clerk jobs. Green is now a dirty word in America again.
Going green with national legislation for ballast water would help the American manufacturing industry compete, by eliminating a pass to a foreign economic industry, which allows them to pollute freely, both our waters and air, while delivering their goods. We need national comprehensive enforcement of shipping pollution laws.
Ballast water can not be properly addressed as the national security issue it is, as long as our country pursues a course of economic globalization moving foreign manufactured goods into our country with a dirty water trail , carbon footprint in transportation and hidden carbon in manufacturing. If our country created comprehensive national ballast water legislation calling for mandatory equipment under a mission of enforcement ,directed by the Coast Guard, rather than the current incentives offered foreign ships that decide to take the step, it would have a ripple affect in saving human life around the world, as IMO sea captains may be more inclined to use technology if it were on board, while in counties without any way to enforce the ineffective,dangerous,costly ocean flush. Waterborne disease in third world countries that rely on the sea for their food, could be curtailed, charity money for vaccines and medicine would have greater impact as needless illness could be prevented. As these would be primarily foreign ships to incur the cost, (mentioned below in a report prepared for congress in 2009 about ballast water),— one year after the largest elected legislative voice of the people,—after much study,— voted historically 395-7), it will be quite interesting to see how a study prepared by “Advisors to the Nation on Science, Engineering and Medicine” feel in their “new” study for “change” and the Coast Guard. Hopefully they will weigh the effects hurting our country and the world health, more than those that hurt foreign ships and the economic interest of foreign imports. To use the phrase economic globalization is giving the concept of producing and moving goods around the world for global economic development of 3rd world countries, more a place of respect as a concept than it is. Globalization of ideas, culture, education are great to help eliminate misunderstandings and exchange of knowledge. The plan that boosting foreign economies, helping them develop strong exporting manufacturing economies, while thinking that industry is not, using low environmental standards, hiding emission, paying workers pennies, at the expense of jobs for our country and environment is no more than two decades of political dynasty’s using the concept of globalization as a way to create revenue for their political origins and their agendas. Unfortunately as the current Vice President has eluded, this administrations policy is no more than we have had before, While these three, previous Senators decided which job they would take if elected, they allowed one Senator from their party to kill historic legislation passed 395-7 to create national ballast water legislation. Now over two years later we still have nothing. This policy continues today, while putting the foundations of our countries core values and economy in peril, by interlacement of our free economic beliefs with a communist countries controlled economic policy. They control the size of their middle class work force, to manipulate their position and currency value in the economic world, for the benefit of a privileged few. To be dependent on a country to support our currency so our politicians can offer entitlements for votes and agendas, when the country we depend on, dose not have an ideology that supports any of our values, is allowing them to have a say in our political process. (We can never be considered a free country as long as another country holds our purse strings) In other words the impact on peoples life through a policy of ECONOMIC globalization is about greed, rather than understanding. Our country with it diverse population, is already an experiment of cultural Globalization, that currently can not supply enough jobs for its own people. We need national ballast water to be considered as the law of the land, not, a non-transparent military plan pursued by the current commander and chief subject to change, or as the International Law of the Sea.
The following is from a report prepared for congress in DEC 2009
“Although estimates of the costs of ballast treatment may be imprecise and vary from vessel to
vessel, there is some general agreement on average costs.14 For example, it may cost an estimated
$400,000 per vessel for modification of container/bulk vessels to use onshore ballast water
treatment facilities at California ports. More generally, the cost of retrofitting vessels to treat
ballast water has been estimated at between $200,000 and $310,000 per vessel for mechanical
treatment and around $300,000 for chemical treatment.15 Most of this expense will be borne by
foreign shipping companies, as the U.S. flag fleet is a small percentage of the global fleet,16 and
likely passed along to consumers of products imported on these ships.”
Perhaps if this Globalization were reversed, spill over consumer products, not produced here saying, hencho en Mexico would not create such an American backlash, considering violence grows on our borders from lack of jobs, and immagration problems may not be such a hot button issue as Americans would not need to worry about jobs and competition. Environmental clean up this way may be America’s last chance to ever provide quality manufacturing jobs again on a clean level economic playing field. Regardless of political affiliation all Americans should support politicians who will speak openly in front of media on these issues, and we can leave the discussion to historians as to “who” was least guilty.
Is it ethically or morally right for a country that considers itself a free market democratic country, to be dependent on a communist country to decide how they want to value their currency to be able to continue a course of economic globalization?
The economic situation is another "Big Lie" that I explain in detail in "Open proposal to US higher education."
"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal," I'm afraid this is not really true. Acknowledging this would go a long way to helping us figure out how we deal with those who are actually "less equal". Believing that everyone is born equal places the burden of failure exclusively with each and every person, and though it might simplify our opinions and attitudes it is simply not correct. Bigotry, racism, different intellectual or physical skills, all play a role in what paths people take as they go through their lives. Our societal challenge is how we deal with these differences.
HarveyN: you miss the point. The "equality" of human beings is a paradox: all are equally valued and all have unique, beautiful and powerful self-expressions. As an educator, I agree that a missing element is for our young people to understand the cards they've been dealt and thereby maximize their opportunity to play their differend hands with intelligence and grace, as they best find it.
Carl,
I basically skimmed the article but couldn't help notice one glaring part....
The values:
• All human beings are equal in value.
We are "created" equal....we are NOT equal for life. We are created equal to become as unequal as we possibly can throughout our lifetime. There is a drastic difference between the two. Therein lies the major distinction between being American and everything else. We have the freedom to become as unequal as we possibly can....that freedom doesn't exist in any other country.
It's regretful that the current regime is trying to drastically curtail our freedoms despite their desperate and continuous efforts to convince us otherwise.
Todd: your argument is in semantics. All people need to do is study and think what "unalienable rights" mean. Just as all of your children are equally valuable is its meaning. And yes, each has unique, powerful, and beautiful diversity in self-expression.
The people US "leadership" kill in wars are equally valuable human beings. The US Constitution promises rights to "persons" and not just citizens.
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