On a day like the Fourth, it's often good to not just remember those that came before us and made our nation great (like watching the Grand Excursion come into town), but to also take a little stock as to what we might be doing that doesn't live up to their hopes and dreams. Is there anything we have that is a threat to inheritence of Freedom?
Oh, sure, there are a few things. Terrorism, stuff like that. But if I was to name one significant threat to everything we hold dear that is totally ingrained in our culture so that we don't even notice it, let alone root it out, it is this: The pathetic, unthinking, selfish, middle-class notion that our obligation to a free and open society begins and ends at the ballot box. The people in the Farmer's Market are plain wrong. They are doing our city a grave injustice. Yes, some people will find it annoying. But I've had these guys approach me several times in public places. It goes something like this: GUY: Hello, I'm signing up people who will take a pledge to turn out and vote this year. ME: Already signed, thank you. That was it. Well, one other guy had this experience: GUY: Hello, I'm signing up people who will take a pledge to turn out and vote this year. OTHER GUY: No thank you. Now, this isn't any different from people who have stopped me to try to get me to buy a credit card. I have yet to hear a complaint about this. Or walking into Target and being asked to get a Target card. Or a PetsMart SuperSaver Card. These sorts of things we don't pay attention to. But someone bringing up that dirty old politics, why that's a problem. You're exactly backwards. And if you think politics is rotten, it's because you've stuck it over in a dark corner and try to ignore it most of the time. Next time I'm at the Farmer's Market, I will tell them, in person, what I think. That way they can tell by my full arms I'm a shopper. I encourage anyone else who is concerned about our dear Freedom to do the same. Erik Hare [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://home.comcast.net/~wabbitoid/ Irvine Park, West End, Saint Paul, Minnesota, USA, North America, Earth Fine Amish furniture, cedar chests, and crafts http://www.harmonycedar.com _____________________________________________ To Join: St. Paul Issues Forum Rules Discussion Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] _____________________________________________ NEW ADDRESS FOR LIST: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe, modify subscription, or get your password - visit: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/listinfo/stpaul Archive Address: http://www.mnforum.org/mailman/private/stpaul/
