Are We Ever Truely Free?

The people of the "United" States of America are dedicating their lives to this country due to what it stands for. Which raises the question, just what do we stand for? The Constitution of the United States is the legal document describing what we stand for. I have to ask does the average U. S citizen know their legal rights under this constitution? Is the U.S. Government upholding our constitutional rights? Is the government really run "by the people and for the people?" Is the United States Government actually aiding in the demise of it's own constitution?

If this is so, is it up to "the people" to restore the Constitution of the United States? The reasons to ask such questions are to acquire a better understanding of our countries major issues. Is our economy in fact at serious risk of collapsing as LaRouche claims? Are our basic principles of freedom at risk?

Our government's constitution is based on these principles of freedom. Throughout our nation's history, these freedoms are what have kept us united as a nation. Presidents' have made grand speeches addressing such Freedoms. Lincoln made a heartfelt speech in Gettysburg on Nov 19,1863, addressing the birth of freedom and those who died for it's cause will not have died in vain. He also stated that government of the people, by the people, and for the people, shall not perish from the Earth.
President Roosevelt addressed postwar principles for "universal rights," as declared on Jan 6, 1941 in his "message to congress." The freedoms he mentioned on that day are, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom from want, freedom from fear.

Can we truly say that as a nation we are free from wants and fears? Don't we want a healthy economy? Don't we want social security? Don't we want health care? Aren't we afraid of loosing these things? Aren't we afraid of our economy collapsing? Aren't we afraid of terrorists? Who is it that informs us about terrorists? Can it be said, that the people of the United States are terrorized on a regular basis, by the media and their own government? Is the government truly by the people and for the people?" Or does our government thrive on those very wants and fears to remain in our lives, in order to receive payment of taxes and of people's lives on a regular basis?

The conclusion is that our government needs reformation. Rather than allowing ourselves and our children to be used in wars aimed as a big business, we need to re-examine exactly what our government stands for as a nation. The last election aided in showing just how un-united this country really is. Politically and spiritually we go our separate ways. However, we continue to pay with our taxes and pay with our lives to uphold our freedoms. So is it the want of having such "freedoms," and the "fear" of loosing them, what actually keeps us united? Have we already lost some of our freedoms? The American people need some answers!

So many of us know of our constitutional rights. However, does anyone know of our obligation laws? Living as a "free citizen" under our constitution. We are all obligated to live up to these laws. Did you know one of these obligations is to protest unjust laws and rules? We are under obligation to human kind, society and government, the environment, and to ourselves. The list is long and detailed, so do we know the list, do we do our part, are we worthy of our rights? Is the government worthy of our hard earned money and lives? I have to say that one could choose a few different paths here. One could do nothing, and simply complain or make excuses as to why we can't do anything. One could move to another country. Or we can make the choice to do whatever we can under our power, to make our homeland a better place to live.

I believe it was Einstein who said, "Any intelligent fool can make things bigger, more complex, and more violent. It takes a touch of genius, and a lot of courage, to move in the opposite direction." So in that light, does power always have to be in the form of brute strength and expensive weapons?

I'd like to focus now on an individual, whom I value as a free loving citizen, his name is Norman Rockwell. During WWII Norman's enlistment request to the navy was denied for being 8 pounds underweight. In his determination to serve his country he went and gorged himself on bananas and donuts to gain the weight to be enlisted. He was mustered in and employed as a "Military Artist" not a fighter. Rockwell recognized the important role he had with a pen or brush, rather then with a sword or rifle. After working day and night for seven months and loosing 15 pounds, the magazine he worked for "Post" published his monumental Four Freedoms series. These paintings were based on President Roosevelt's postwar principles for universal rights speech, declared on Jan 6, 1941 in his message to congress.

The public's reaction to The Four Freedoms Series (the freedoms being, freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of want and freedom of fear) touched upon important values to free people everywhere. The government reproduced the works as posters that reinvigorated populace aid in the war effort. The Treasury Department toured the original Four Freedom series to sixteen cities. Millions of war strapped people appreciated them in person. The $130,000,000 + of bonds raised subsequent to these paintings was instrumental in shortening WWII.

In 1977 Norman Rockwell received America's highest civilian honor, the "Presidential Medal of Freedom" for "vivid and affectionate portraits of our country." He passed away peacefully in 1978, at the age of 84. After looking at Rockwell's example, I have to conclude with a fact. We as "the people" need to not only re-examine our country and the condition that it is in, we also have the obligation to re-examine ourselves. Are we living up to our own obligations as a free citizen of the United States? If the government is really run "by the people and for the people", then isn't it up to us "the people," to take control and to legally make the changes needed to uphold our constitutional rights here in the United States? I honestly think we could use a touch of genius right about now.