John McCain takes a stand against changing the filibuster - Page 2 - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Yakk · 04-17-2005, 06:37 PM

The Constitution of the United States of America is still merely a piece of paper.

Faith in a piece of paper is misplaced.

Faith in those who believe in the ideals written on it, faith in those who will defend it to the death, faith in the idea of a government for the people, of the people, and by the people, with freedom and liberty for all -- those I could see being defended.

But people who hold up a document and claim it will hold fast against all assaults are foolish -- you cannot safely claim "the government can't do that, it's against the constitution". The government shouldn't do that, but the paper, the writing itself, stops nothing. It takes people to stop people.

If both your government and your people let freedom whither, you will fall into a police state, military dictatorship, or a fundamentalist tyranny. The collapse of freedom has happened in the past to nations nearly as great as your own. Destruction has come both from the inside, and from outside aggressors.

Possibly the myth of the all-powerful constitution is useful: this is a battle of ideas after all. But just as you should not confuse money and wealth -- money is just paper or numbers in a computer, while wealth is much more -- you should not confuse the the symbol of your freedom, and what keeps your nation free.

When I see people say "It doesn't matter if a politician says he'll do X, he can't, it's against the rules, so I can ignore him when he says that", I shiver. I don't care what nation it is. The rules are exactly what you, the people, will let him do. If you vote for someone who says "I want X", you are supporting the destruction of whatever stands in the way of X. Because what matters is the will of the people to say 'no' to tyranny, not the documents where they write down the details their refusal.

As for your dismissal -- I am not speaking to be heard, or writing to be read. If all eyes are closed and all men are deaf, there is still some worth in the speaking of truth and in writing of freedom. My opinion may not matter to you -- I do not live in your little corner of this vast world -- but I will not be silenced by your apathy.

Good day.

04-17-2005, 06:37 PM	#41 (permalink)
Yakk Wehret Den Anfängen! Location: Ontario, Canada	The Constitution of the United States of America is still merely a piece of paper. Faith in a piece of paper is misplaced. Faith in those who believe in the ideals written on it, faith in those who will defend it to the death, faith in the idea of a government for the people, of the people, and by the people, with freedom and liberty for all -- those I could see being defended. But people who hold up a document and claim it will hold fast against all assaults are foolish -- you cannot safely claim "the government can't do that, it's against the constitution". The government shouldn't do that, but the paper, the writing itself, stops nothing. It takes people to stop people. If both your government and your people let freedom whither, you will fall into a police state, military dictatorship, or a fundamentalist tyranny. The collapse of freedom has happened in the past to nations nearly as great as your own. Destruction has come both from the inside, and from outside aggressors. Possibly the myth of the all-powerful constitution is useful: this is a battle of ideas after all. But just as you should not confuse money and wealth -- money is just paper or numbers in a computer, while wealth is much more -- you should not confuse the the symbol of your freedom, and what keeps your nation free. When I see people say "It doesn't matter if a politician says he'll do X, he can't, it's against the rules, so I can ignore him when he says that", I shiver. I don't care what nation it is. The rules are exactly what you, the people, will let him do. If you vote for someone who says "I want X", you are supporting the destruction of whatever stands in the way of X. Because what matters is the will of the people to say 'no' to tyranny, not the documents where they write down the details their refusal. As for your dismissal -- I am not speaking to be heard, or writing to be read. If all eyes are closed and all men are deaf, there is still some worth in the speaking of truth and in writing of freedom. My opinion may not matter to you -- I do not live in your little corner of this vast world -- but I will not be silenced by your apathy. Good day. __________________ Last edited by JHVH : 10-29-4004 BC at 09:00 PM. Reason: Time for a rest.