I heard this phrase from a few people discussing the events unfolding in the Middle East/ North Africa. I heard this phrase from my sister who uttered it in reference to her children – how she’s been telling them how lucky they are to live in a country like ours and they don’t have to go through this violent revolution for democracy. I heard the phrase from others regarding how us Americans aren’t being murdered in the streets for our attempts at a free democracy.
My response (two actually) was: Yeah, we didn’t have to live through our own revolution, and Our country is so great that under 50% of our eligible voting population participates in this awesome democracy.
Don’t you see the irony of this statement? Yes our country is awesome because we have a government for the people by (the oligarchy) the people but most of us don’t appreciate it. Most don’t vote. Many who do vote don’t take the time to educate themselves, and as such they shouldn’t vote; when they do vote we get disastrous results usually.
Yes, we live in a great country but the ignorant masses continue to prove its limitations. I constantly marvel at peoples’ ability to vote against their own self interest – I always ask them to explain their positions (on the street, in Boston) and they can’t. It’s always a feeling they have, from their gut. Their gut, not their brain.
I also marvel at the disconnect between what’s happening now half a world away to what brought us our independence. We went through this too. Our founding fathers (not the ones who get cited all the time though) got fucked up and died for this first republic. What’s happening over there happened here but with primitive weapons and without internet and cable tv.
I marvel more at the people who got the same education as me and know what the USA went through to gain their independence – did you forget that?
Yes it’s a great country, but it’s only as great as we make it
