July 4th Reflections: A Tattered Dream

"We hold these truths to be self evident that all men are created equal (except Muslims, Arabs and Mexican immigrants), that they are endowed by their creator with certain inalienable rights (certainly not the right to vote in Florida or Ohio), that among these are life (unless you are in a flood zone when the levees break), liberty (except in a time of war and we are always in a time of war) and the pursuit of happiness (even the destitute can dream)."

It is that time of year when we are compelled as Americans to remember who we are and what we stand for as a nation.

We were not the first republic and ours was anything but a perfect representation of democratic ideals, yet we were the graveyard of despotism and the beginning of the end of the age of royal monarchs.

When we founded a government on the sovereignty of the people and the universal rights of humankind, we were the pride and hope of common people everywhere.

America was more than a nation; it was a dream. It was a place that welcomed all and promised every man, woman and family a decent life. It was a place where a man could work hard and rise to the highest levels of achievement. It was a place where the only limits were ability and resolve.

It does not matter that our founders did not live up to their ideals. The better of them understood that our government was a work in progress, a grand experiment that would require constant vigilance and revise. They understood that the American aristocracy (most of whom sided with the British in the Revolutionary War) would be relentless in their assault on the principles and practice of democracy and that the defenders of democracy would have to compensate for what they lacked in resources with resolve and courage.

The first two hundred years of American history were a constant struggle in which the forces of democracy advanced only by the blood of conflict and protest: The end of slavery, the rights of labor, social security, universal education, public health care and assistance, the enfranchisement of women, civil rights, voting rights and the end of military conscription.

The last several decades have witnessed a reversal of fortune: An erosion of voting rights, systematic election fraud, the decline of labor, monopolization of media, erosion of civil liberties, privatization of the social contract, economic stratification and a glass ceiling on educational opportunity.

In an era that should have seen the abolition of the Electoral College, advancement of voting rights, passage of the Equal Rights Amendment, recognition of the right to higher education, universal health care, the right to a living wage, media independence and countless other advances, we have instead witnessed a retreat on all fronts while our government engages in fear mongering, scurrilous propaganda, wars and military actions, illegal internal espionage, corporate pandering and privatization of public properties and functions.

We watch our government officials sold to the highest bidders and turn our backs to compelling evidence that the last two presidential elections were decided by fraud, while our Senators and Representatives debate hot button issues like flag burning, building a wall on the southern border and the right of The Times to practice journalism.

On this Fourth of July we are engaged in an unnecessary, immoral war, two foreign occupations, and the greatest deceit of all is that we are acting in the name of democracy.

If we cared about democracy in Iraq or Afghanistan, we would do infinitely more to secure and enhance democracy at home.

Jazz.

JACK RANDOM IS THE AUTHOR OF THE JAZZMAN CHRONICLES (CROW DOG PRESS) AND GHOST DANCE INSURRECTION (DRY BONES PRESS). THE CHRONICLES HAVE APPEARED ON DISSIDENT VOICE, THE ALBION MONITOR, BUZZLE, PEACE-EARTH-JUSTICE AND COUNTERPUNCH. Contact: jackrandom@earthlink.net.