With all its Faults, the USA is still the Shining City on a Hill | Eastern North Carolina Now

    I have no doubt that there are many today who disagree about what America represents, but it was a country established on ideals which we have yet to fulfill.

    I am not particularly well traveled or well educated, but I have observed enough of history to believe that we are one of the only countries founded on the rights of the individual over the rule of an all-powerful government. We are in the midst today of a debate on all the flaws and blemishes of our country. That should be a healthy think

    I am also aware of the danger of blind patriotism which leads us to the belief that "my country right or wrong". Today we are in the process of determining how symbols affect and effect our way of life.

    I think I can safely say that I distrust any authority that seeks to force me into a belief that I have not freely accepted of my own free will. That includes religious zealots, conservative and liberal partisans, as well as shame mongers who try to tell us what everything means.

    It is a simple matter of human existence to understand that different symbols mean different things to different people. In any free society that should not be discouraged unless, it has been codified in law, which is the ultimate method of force.

    Many argue today that repentance is necessary as well as restitution. A person can only repent for acts or thoughts, which he or she is personally responsible.

    I am not sure I am on sound logical or factual ground when I say that it seems that most of our problems in history are the result of some form of government law or control. I will not go into a listing, as it would be incomplete and redundant.

    My concept of liberty is simple. The idea is that I am free to believe and act on anything so long as I do not infringe on others liberty to do the same. In order to insure that the strong do not abuse the weak, people establish governments to insure fair and equal treatment by law.

    No one has the right to not be offended nor do they have the right require others to not offend them. It seems that some of us are engaged in a battle to expand rights into a subset of rules (read laws) to control the beliefs of the rest of us. People establish laws to accomplish that which they cannot establish with persuasion.

    One of the fundamental tenants of law is that you cannot enforce any law, which the people believe to be wrong without the use of force. We have learned this repeatedly in our own 239 years of existence as a nation.

    I close with two quotes, no solutions, and one tribute to our country that founded on sound principles even if we have not reached the pinnacle of our ideals.

    This picture show was taken in June 1968. If you notice the flag is at half mast in respect for the murder of Robert Kennedy on June 6, 1968. It makes no political statement nor does it confer any sense of agreement or disagreement with his politics. It was taken on a desolate mountain far removed from cocoon of safety that existed in the USA at the time. At the time this 23 year old boy wondered what the hell was happening back in the world when we could not allow opinions to be expressed without resorting to violence. Today this 70 year old boy wonders the same thing.

    "When mores are sufficient, laws are unnecessary; when mores are insufficient, laws are unenforceable". Emile Durkeim

    "A system of morality which is based on relative emotional values is a mere illusion, a thoroughly vulgar conception which has nothing sound in it and nothing true." Socrates

    I'm Proud to be an American