The Administration v The People!

Submitted by E. Visconti (France), Sep 14, 2010 at 09:05

We should try to remember that future governments of countries, newly formed from/by the people which, in many cases do not meet with successful outcomes, were considered terrorist at the time. Had the British put down the American war of independence those involved would have suffered their just, most-times unjust, but needless-to-say, devastating consequences for their actions. The same can be said reference the French revolution the Easter uprising and the campaign by Gandhi in India.

So what was the difference with the American war of independence and its outcome? and,

Furthermore, why is the above comment germane to the claims that the U.S. "Deserved what it got" ???

Firstly when a majority of a country's population/electorate tells its government that it is unhappy with certain decisions or policy/taxes, et.c the Government of the day has a duty, at best, to attempt to comply with the peoples' wishes. No such possibility was available to the French, Gandhi or indeed the Americans and it took 2 devastating world wars against the Germans to bring home the importance of the democratic principles so enjoyed by the British at home, nevertheless, not reflected in their foreign policy. The net outcome of the American war of independence was the creation of a truly unique democratic system, a system which, not without flaws over the years, with race issues and elitism heading up the agenda, has developed into a truly superb political system, uniting the common goals of the people within the member states. One such goal is, in extremis, the belief that all peoples of all nations deserve the chance, as an inalienable right, to the freedom/liberty to live their lives in an atmosphere of conviviality. That is not to say that there are not fanatics and/or extremists who do not agree, as in all countries, we are able to see these elements of society, they exist, however, in most other countries, not for long if the Government of the day in those countries can get its hands on them. In the U.S. and to the contrary, although many such extremists/fanatics, are monitored they are permitted by the constitution to exist and disagree. Clearly if said entities pose a threat to the safety and the rights of other citizens to enjoy the freedoms guaranteed to all, then they will have made themselves a pretty uncomfortable bed to sleep in, and rightly so.
The American dream to live with these rights and to try to assist others in this aim makes the American people/s an extremely important ally because as a united people, 'they are prepared to put their money where their mouth is'. The American people, but sometimes not the Government, will always rally round if the cause contains any/all injustices to the beliefs held by the unique values created by their constitution and truly believed by the vast majority of its people/s. It is said that great wealth carries the cost of, even greater responsibility. This does not solely belong to the wealth linked to cash but also to the wealth linked to beliefs and the right to live a full and free life as a human being. Although there are many contradictions, as in all societies, the contradictions belong to Governments and not the people. Mistakes are made and the freedom to make said mistakes are omnipresent in the U.S. as indeed in most of the world's Governments. Accordingly Governments and presidents fall in the face of mistakes with which the people have disagreed. The consequences of poor actions/mistakes and dreadful foreign policy cannot reflect upon a people who are always present in those areas where peoples are down-trodden/oppressed et.c. No nation, in the history of the civilized world, has lost so many soldiers in its attempt to support those countries who would have otherwise been dominated by totalitarianism or the like. The U.S. citizens and not always the U.S. Governments have rallied around in many overseas operations whether against its own Government's advice, its foreign policy or attempts to block them. They turned up in their thousands in Spain and hundreds of thousands of decent U.S. citizens can be found helping peoples all over the world, living in the worst possible conditions and in the line of fire.

What's the point?

Simply with the millions of Americans who have given their lives over the past 100 years to promote the rights of the nations for which it has fought courageously and at great loss, in order that they too might enjoy those very same freedoms, with or without the U.S. Government's consent, such bravery and pure altruism by the U.S. citizen does not warrant the, clearly racist comment, to which this refers.

The world is clearly suffering with 'selective memory loss syndrome', until the next time, of course.

I cannot remember a time when any other country, with the exception of Britain, has, in the words of Churchill, " Never in the history of mankind, et.c."

Let us be as magnanimous as those who have made the greatest of sacrifices of all and which has resulted in a period of freedom and prosperity unequalled in 2 thousand years of history and if a President or Government needs to be pilloried and poorly treated, let's try to focus those negative thought processes in the proper and right direction. Do not shoot the messengers. Sorry, no time to check spelling or grammar, hope it is clear.

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