I made a comment at the end of my last post that Gayle indicated should be a post in and of itself; I thought: why not? The cat’s been interfering with my posting recently (as well as Blogger itself — anyone else finding Blogger “twitchy” this past week?), so I cut and pasted quickly before Mose sent me to an entirely different website. Here goes:
Folks: thank you ALL for commenting, and thank you all for the kind words! Thank you for linking this post to your blogs and, thank you Revka, for your comment about the importance of the post and its ability or our abilities to change hearts and minds.
I had no idea things would go this way when I began blogging. First it was simply kinda fun. Then it got bigger and bigger and I realized, likely as does AJ, that along with being an escape valve when necessary, it can also help me to understand what I’m thinking — and has helped to solidify and, more importantly, CLARIFY my beliefs and views.
I started out “big” on the GOP when I began to blog; now I’m more cognizant of my conservative bent and my allegiance to the overall values of “conservatism” than to a party itself — and, to a degree, how libertarianism sneaks into my wrinkled brain.
AJ makes an excellent point about blame and about solutions. And at this point, that is the greatest difference between Conservatives and Liberals, GOP and Dems. The liberals and Dems are so quick to point, peck and burn. But where are THEIR solutions? THEIR in-depth plans? It is always, ALWAYS so much easier to follow than to lead.
The Japanese have a saying we should embrace: “Fix the problem, not the blame.”
This Republic is not perfect nor will it ever be. But in terms of a Great Experiment it is a functioning wonder; we cannot ever give up on the values that created this nation — why else is she so loved and hated?
Why else would people risk their lives to come here?
Why else would people try to bring down her achievements?
People hate what they fear and, vapid and empty, at night, alone with their own sordid thoughts, it is always easier to tear down than to build, to destroy rather than create, to let the fears overtake common sense.
We face enemies on many fronts today.
Our nation is assailed from within and from without. We must all, individually, do our best to ensure her continued survival.
We must continue to embrace the values we know are right: honesty, loyalty, bravery, strength, judgment, courage.
We must pledge our allegiance, every day, to this Great Experiment — because it is STILL the FINEST nation on the planet.
BZ
And so it is true, Mr. Z. Building a Republic is hard work, and we have gotten this strange notion that passing the buck up resolves us of the responsibility to ensure that things are done right.
We are a nation of individuals that have come together to say: these few things are necessary to govern us, the rest of the rights and powers are Ours. Keep your mitts off!
But, when ‘Groups’ say that they are more important than individuals and that ‘Groups’ should have things individuals should not have… then we come to a basic disagreement of what makes our Republic special. We are not ‘Groups’ coming together to make a society, we are individuals with diverse backgrounds wanting to be one diverse People.
Putting the Group above the individual is Statist and Elitist. By giving more power to Groups, individuals are denied their fair say in things and that is the path to Authoritarian rule by a Group that sits above all other Groups. That is where the Left is today: wanting Groups to rule over mere individuals.
Group-think. Group-acceptance. Group-rights. Group-rule.
Accepting that there are such things as Groups with rights will be the death of the Republic of Free People. Individualism becomes only the collection of Groups you belong to for easy definition, sorting, demeanment and castigation. Individuals are seen as outsiders, anti-social, and very un-group like.
I am an individual and I am not nor ever will be a Prisoner to someone else’s definition of me. Because the moment you think you have the group I belong to pegged, I will do something so un-grouplike and think thoughts so different that I must *not* be of that group.
Accept me as an individual or not at all. I do not care. Try to put me into a straightjacket of conformity and you will find yourself wearing it as I dance around you.
And *that* has got to be an ugly sight!
Boy.
I sure wish I could publish your site and your comments, and then send the World an e-mail with your URL and your comments.
Sometimes. I just get frustrated.
BZ
Mr. Z – Do check the info on my blog… my words and ideas are free for thefting so long as you give appropriate citation and credit or blame as you see fit.
I do not want limelight.
I want a *better* Republic.
I do not have energy to grandstand or give talks or even guarantee I will be semi-conscious for an interview.
But when I have concentration and energy I can write.
Take my ideas and thoughts. Build on them. Make them your own thereby.
This is how a Free People work: word of mouth and Franklin’s Common Wisdom.
I am NO Tom Paine.
I am NO Ben Franklin.
But their words and thoughts have become Our Own. That is how the Republic was spread and how it best grows.
Bottom up, not socialistic or authoritarian top down.
Steal my ideas and make them yours and they shall grow. For one or two others may just do the same… and an idea will spread. You and I will be lost as the founders of it, but the idea is what matters.
Ideas made this Nation.
And those ideas continue to reshape Our world to this day.
So INCREDIBLY TRUE, Mr. Jacksonian!
Hello, BZ!
“A Jacsonian” may not be Thomas Paine or Ben Franklin, but he certainly does write well, doesn’t he? After finishing this comment I’m going to go see what he has going on over at his place. I’m not quite awake yet though; hope I can understand what he has to say!
Thanks for taking my advice, and for the link! 🙂
Sometimes my cat interferes with my posting too. He climbs into my lap and tries to play with the mouse! Cute, but irritating!
Have you changed your template? Your blog looks different… or maybe I’m confusing it with someone elses.
Have a great day, BZ!