Posted on 04/21/2006 8:11:31 AM PDT by AnnaZ
Of Mice and Minutemen
April 21st, 2006
Minutemen -- ready for battle in a minute's notice; enthusiastic, reliable, strong. Not too many nations can boast of such a term, such a legend, or such a reality. There are a few, but none so much as America, where the citizen-soldier is the embodiment of Independence and resolve.
There is a remarkable difference between a subject and a citizen, between one dependent upon one's government and one dependent upon no one.
Two recent examples:
On September 11th, 2001, thousands were killed while millions helplessly watched. But beyond the spectators, and among some survivors and some victims, were seen glorious acts of self-sacrifice and, thereby, the greatest act of love -- laying down one's life for a friend, in a moment when even a perfect stranger becomes that dear and worthy friend.
Many of these acts were seen only by God, who saw them all, but some were witnessed, and some have become the stuff of legends. Legends are good when they can be used to refresh and reinspire those who were far away from the original moment. Or who have forgotten. Legends can unify and point the visions of many into one focused direction.
One week from today, Americans will get an opportunity to, for a couple of hours, immerse themselves in the retelling of such a legend. On April 28th, in (thus far) 1700 theaters around the country, Paul Greengrass via Universal Pictures will present United 93, an (according to The Hollywood Reporter) "emphatic political document, a movie about defiance against tyranny and terrorism." A story from that horrific September day of collective and individual civilian, no-chance-to-survive-make-your-time defiance.
Everyday, men and women and, really, boys and girls, volunteer themselves to take up that mantle, to willingly don the uniform of that defiance, even at the risk of never seeing the fruit of that labor. As President George W. Bush has said, "We exercise power without conquest, and we sacrifice for the liberty of strangers."
But Minutemen do not only summon up that courage when the danger is foreign, sometimes the danger is more subtle, not flaring up in an instant but rather in a slow smoking that will burn brightly eventually nonetheless.
What is perhaps the cheekiest component of the Minuteman persona is the defiance towards the domestic danger, even if only cloaked in the banal banner of bureaucracy, and thus we arrive at the second example: Chris Simcox and his band of undocumented border patrollers, who have made a gesture of such true American spirit, one can really only stand up and cheer, or, at the very least, chuckle.
From yesterday's Associated Press: "Minuteman border watch leader Chris Simcox has a message for President Bush: Build new security fencing along the border with Mexico or private citizens will."
Regardless of how one feels about a fence, it's hard not to love the bravura. This is really the defining of the American attitude -- if something has to be done, and the government is blathering and dithering and doing meanwhile nothing, this does not in any way mean that it will not get done.
If more folks around the world took upon themselves this courage and determination, we'd have a lot less sacrificing to do on their behalf.
If illegal immigrants, instead of marching through the streets of America with demands, marched through their native streets with such passion, we might not need a fence.
If subjects of tyranny collectively realized that death was preferable to tacitly accepting barbarity, we'd need less uniforms.
And if the folks in charge find it easier to succumb to the mob than honor the law-abiding, they needn't be surprised when the law is taken back into the People's hands, from where it was taken. That ain't vigilantism, it's the American way.
Good morning, Anna! :)
You know I'll stay on the ping list....and so will your 1st name on that list....why do you ping yourself? heehee
"undocumented border patrollers"
My favortie line....
Thank you Anna.
You continue to out do yourself.
"Succumb to the mob instead of honor the law abiding", indeed. That is a keeper.
..and so will your 1st name on that list....why do you ping yourself? heeheeOoops.
"Regardless of how one feels about a fence, it's hard not to love the bravura. This is really the defining of the American attitude -- if something has to be done, and the government is blathering and dithering and doing meanwhile nothing, this does not in any way mean that it will not get done."
Food for thought PING
BTTT
Hi, Anna -- thanks for the ping. Joining you in a hearty TGIF!!!
. . . and of course, you're SO not]
Great post, AnnaZ!
I've always thought that vigilantes got a bad rap, myself.
The notion of VIGILANTE AS GOOD CITIZEN appears to have some currency in the literature. Vigilante violence is the opposite of revolutionary violence as vigilantism always seeks to restore order or preserve the status quo. Sometimes, it is often said that vigilantism is always conservative.
"If illegal immigrants, instead of marching through the streets of America with demands, marched through their native streets with such passion, we might not need a fence."
After all... isn't this how the American dream started? Isn't that what being an American is truly about? The PEOPLE have the voice, and if the PEOPLE don't like what's happening then it's up to the PEOPLE to demand the change. If the demand goes unanswered by those in power, then the people have to MAKE the change. What if, instead of flowing across the border, all of the Mexicans that are here or are coming here stood together and rallied against the current lawmakers and political leadership of their home country? What if they marched against the oppression plaguing Mexico. Instead of stealing across the border and living in hiding...make your country what you want so badly here.
It's a shame really. Yesterday we saw on our nations Capitol a lone woman who dared stand up to a tyrant our leaders were giving honor to.
Recently we had illegal uninvited immigrants marching in our streets from a nation that is many times more free than China with free elections and can freely determine the course of their nation. They were demanding we adapt to their demands. The woman at the White house knows the price for freedom just as she knew the price for screaming of the injustice she likely witnessed in what was once her homeland. I reckon she weighed the cost and saw it worthy.
What runs through my mind is what if Patrick Henry had been standing at the White house yesterday morning representing our nation or even among the crowd? If he knew who was being honored and the oppression that leader was responsible for would he have remained silent? I seriously doubt it.
We have good people willing to stand up and say what needs saying or do what needs doing. How can a nation born of Minutemen who said enough is enough not distinguish the difference between what constitutes tyranny or what constitutes patriotism? The new Minutemen give us hope. The immigrant who yelled in defiance at the Communist Ruler gives me hope. Those who ridicule ones such as these do not give me hope nor do ones who support people unwilling to clean out the corruption in the free government they live under.
I've always thought that vigilantes got a bad rap, myself.As have I. Some people just cannot abide injustice. And, frankly, all I can say is, I understand.
Thanks for the ping. Keep me on your list. :-)
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