Snitching on Dissidents

Martin Luther King, Jr.  - Man, how we admired him. Standing up for what he believed. Encouraging people to take a stand. Encouraging people to voice their opinion without violence. How those words still ring, “"I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” 

How about Rosa Parks? Wow! What a woman...what a soldier! She was not going to sit in the back of the bus. No! And we celebrate her, as we should, for standing up against the establishment - irrespective of how popular or unpopular she may seem in the mainstream press.

You know, a really controversial abolitionist was Nat Turner. Nat was a black preacher who led a slave revolt in the South. Result? Fifty-five dead white people. Still, old Mr. Turner is held up by many as a change agent who fought against oppression and we need to consider the situation before dismissing Turner as a murderer.

What about John Brown, the white abolitionist who led a rebellion, took over the Harper’s Ferry Federal Arsenal in hopes of arming slaves and leading a slave revolt? Seven died, ten injured - John Brown and his followers were hung. However, his memory is eulogized in a martyr’s song, “John Brown’s Body.”

These people are heroes. For what? For standing up against the oppression of the ruling forces and demanding change. They are the fabric of America. We celebrate them.

What about the opposition to Obama and socialism? You’d think that America’s first black president and his supporters would embrace the importance of Americans standing up for what they believe. Hmmm?

President Obama has set up “flag@whitehouse.gov” so citizens can tell on anyone who may be spreading misinformation about Obamacare. Gee, I wonder why the White House is taking the care to have citizens snitch on one another? This is pretty creepy. Americans are supposed to be able to discuss politics openly, challenge their government - the 1st Amendment guarantees Americans the Right to seek a redress of grievances. Instead, our President has leveled an unspoken threat: Speak out, and be cataloged. This is what Stalin did. Thirty million Russians were killed as enemies of the State.

Oregon’s two US Senators our being very slow in scheduling Town Hall meetings. I’m sure they are very busy during this recess. And Lord knows, they might have to face hostile audiences (i.e. constituents). As more and more information comes to light as to what is in the Health Care Bill, Americans are very concerned about losing their choices. The mainstream media tries to blame “mobs” for ruining the decorum of the town halls.

Were the Patriots a mob? According to King George and a tyrannical Parliament they were. They needed to be quelled, and now. John Brown, Nat Turner, Rosa Parks, and even Martin Luther King, Jr. - in the eyes of their contemporary presses - all mob leaders. 

Americans are angry. And with good reason. They are being held holding a financial bag that requires them, their children, and their grandchildren to pay a debt passed by legislators who did not even take the time to read the entirety of the bills they passed. Now, Americans are being threatened with losing their health care choice to a single payor plan which will inevitably lead to infanticide of babies born with defects and euthanasia for seniors who are no longer productive members of society. 

America is at a crossroads. Will we continue being a country which embraces open dialog, debate, and even protest - in order to fully examine controversial issues? Or will we sink into tyranny, where voices raising opposing viewpoints are silenced as dangerous extremists?