Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

Skip to comments.

The United States of America: The Inimitable Nation
Tech Central Station ^ | June 13, 2005 | Lee Harris

Posted on 06/12/2005 9:35:01 PM PDT by quidnunc

Once there was a farm located by a tranquil river. One day a duck from the river bumped into a chicken from the farm, and they immediately fell head over heels in love with each other. Sadly, no one else in the barnyard community could appreciate their romance, and both were mocked by all the other animals. "Ducks and chickens were not meant to fall in love," guffawed the cows and the dogs and the roosters — especially the roosters. Deeply mortified by the ridicule, the duck told his beloved hen, "We will flee these narrow-minded bigots. Come, let us find a place free from such ignoble prejudice." And with these inspiring words on his beak, the duck plunged into the river, followed by the love-stricken chicken, who, of course, promptly drowned.

We are not told what lesson the duck learned from his tragic experience. Being a duck, he may not have learned one at all. He may even have gone to other farmyards and urged other love-smitten hens to follow him to their watery graves. Perhaps he thought, one day I will find a chicken that can swim.  

Ever since our miraculously successful revolution in 1776, other countries, falling in love with our democracy, have tried to follow in our webbed footsteps, only to drown miserably in the misadventure, as France would do in its revolution of 1789, and as nations like Mexico or Venezuela would come to do after the collapse of the Spanish Empire in 1808. Sometimes we have, like the duck in the fable, cheered on the chicken to her aquatic death; sometimes we have merely been the inadvertent inspiration. Yet, in case after case, the chicken always ended up dead, while the duck went happily quacking down the river.  

Why is this?  

It is because Americans take to democracy, so to speak, like a duck to water. It is our element. We thrive in it and prosper in it. It is our refuge and haven. But, like the duck of the fable, we too often forget our natural element may not be the natural element for other peoples, whose history, culture, and ways are radically different from ours. We forget that, just as the duck has evolved to survive in the water, so America has evolved to survive in the midst of democratic bickering and dickering.

-snip-


TOPICS: Constitution/Conservatism; Culture/Society; Editorial; Philosophy
KEYWORDS: fowlplay; leeharris; warbirds
Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last
To: Issaquahking
it is worth risking it all to acheive it.

I think change the it to that. But it is late.

that is worth risking it all to acheive it
21 posted on 06/12/2005 10:15:25 PM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 16 | View Replies]

To: TASMANIANRED
Humans are a strange mix of wanting freedom and self determination and wanting to be taken care of.

Very true. They want freedom, but once they acheive it, they think they can have their cake and eat it to. Hopefully, having to reacheive freedom after losing it to laziness ove time will lead to a permanent level of freedom.
22 posted on 06/12/2005 10:23:18 PM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 19 | View Replies]

To: budwiesest

We are giving them FREEDOM were as, they never had it before, and don't know better.


23 posted on 06/12/2005 10:25:04 PM PDT by Prophet in the wilderness (PSALM 53 : 1 The ( FOOL ) hath said in his heart , There is no GOD .)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 9 | View Replies]

To: new cruelty
I wonder how a duck would fare against that.

By posting a pic of a chicken swimming, you're debunking the premise of this thread. Ought not there be some form of penalty for such out-right insubordination?

You, yourself may be duck-like, in that you can tolerate democracy, whereas the chicken (probably thrown into the pond) spent it's last dying moments trying desperatly to reach the safety of the shore.

Keep it up and I'll smack you with my oligarchical pope hat.

24 posted on 06/12/2005 10:25:46 PM PDT by budwiesest (Too many cops, not enough 2nd Ammendment? Welcome to California.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 15 | View Replies]

To: budwiesest
As stewards of our own individual liberties, I'd say that we haven't been vigilant and that the other side is winning.

True, but it does not take many that understand it like yourself to get it back. We just need to make people understand what they are giving up. Every time I see a freedom lost I think of the beaches of Normandy and think those brave souls did not die for nothing, no way, not on my watch.
25 posted on 06/12/2005 10:27:14 PM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 17 | View Replies]

To: microgood

The US was in a very fortunate position during our colonial period.

You worked and worked very hard or else you starved.

Government was thousands of miles away in England and really didn't have a lot of impact.

As a result self sufficient citizens got used to limited government and self rule.

It was good enough to build a nation.

It has taken 60 years to break a system that endured 300+ years.


26 posted on 06/12/2005 10:27:42 PM PDT by TASMANIANRED (Democrats haven't had a new idea since Karl Marx.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 22 | View Replies]

To: TASMANIANRED
It has taken 60 years to break a system that endured 300+ years.

You have to give the Russians some credit for that unfortunate circumstance, damn them. They got us from the inside.
27 posted on 06/12/2005 10:39:49 PM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 26 | View Replies]

To: microgood

"Every time I see a freedom lost..."

What freedoms are we losing?


28 posted on 06/12/2005 10:44:30 PM PDT by pcottraux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 25 | View Replies]

To: Prophet in the wilderness; microgood
We are giving them FREEDOM

And what a gift that is! Just, how do you wrap it? Bombs and bullets? Should it be accompanied with a cake? As this thread suggests, there are some who would find individual 'freedoms' foreign (water) and would prefer tyranny, prefer to lord over others and have no desire to get 'wet' at all.

As Microgood commented, the conditions for democracy may be rare which is something we shouldn't discount (rarity, that is...not that freedom isn't universally desired).

It's almost as though we've stepped back in time and encountered a tribe that still tosses virgins into volcanoes to ensure a good corn crop. These 'chickens' may not be ready for prime time or swimming lessons.

29 posted on 06/12/2005 10:49:51 PM PDT by budwiesest (Too many cops, not enough 2nd Ammendment? Welcome to California.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 23 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux
What freedoms are we losing?

Well, when I was growing up you did not get fined for not wearing a seat belt. In fact, you could ride in the back of a truck.

We used to be able to go camping in the National Forests.

Many of our campgrounds have been closed by environmental nazis.

We used to be able to get a job without someone testing our bodily fluids.

We used to be able to burn wood in our back yard.

We used to be able to buy a 5 gallon toilet so that we would not have to deal with the disgusting and unsanitary ones that they have now.

If you want the full list your computer will need a 17 terabyte drive.
30 posted on 06/12/2005 11:04:35 PM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 28 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc

The major difference between the US Constitution and the Constitution of France, is that we mention God, and that certain rights are God given. The French have no mention of in alienable rights.


31 posted on 06/12/2005 11:10:03 PM PDT by Exton1
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]

To: microgood

Okay, okay, I guess being only 20 yrs of age, I wouldn't understand.

Nevertheless, where I live, we can burn as much wood as we want in our backyard. I live out of the city limits. Everyone in my neighborhood has a burnpile.

I guess the reason I ask is that most people word it as if to say "During the Bush Administration...we've lost all our freedoms" rather than a gradual erosion. That's what the Europeans say when calling Bush "Hitler."


32 posted on 06/12/2005 11:10:41 PM PDT by pcottraux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: microgood
If you want the full list ...

LOL!! Man, I'm not certain I want to see the 'full list'. LOL! (But it'd be cool to have it just the same)

33 posted on 06/12/2005 11:11:05 PM PDT by budwiesest (Too many cops, not enough 2nd Ammendment? Welcome to California.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: microgood

We are so wonderfully blessed. Life is not perfect, and it's never been without irritation.

Take a deep breath and choose to be thankful, just for today, for the freedoms we have rather than scratching around for something to complain about.

Oops. A chicken metaphor. Sorry.


34 posted on 06/12/2005 11:12:26 PM PDT by Jedidah
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 30 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux
I guess the reason I ask is that most people word it as if to say "During the Bush Administration...we've lost all our freedoms" rather than a gradual erosion.

No way this is Bush's fault. Most of the freedoms we have lost is due to the liberal side of the house. But the rise of the Federal bureacracy has dampened freedoms for all Americans.

Glad you can still do what you like to do. Fight for it. I am sure you will.
35 posted on 06/12/2005 11:16:57 PM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: budwiesest
But it'd be cool to have it just the same

You are right. It is time to come up with a good list of lost freedoms. I will work on that diligently and when I come up with it, I will ping you. Great Idea.
36 posted on 06/12/2005 11:19:00 PM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 33 | View Replies]

To: pcottraux
most people word it as if to say "During the Bush Administration...we've lost all our freedoms"

Forget those idiots, this has been going on since Lincoln's time. It's only snowballed of late. If Bush is guilty of anything, it's producing the corn-cobbed pipe or the coal for the eyes on Mr. Snowman which is the snowjob that has us sniviling for relief from the fed/god/gov that rules America from the bench of stench.

We either tar and feather some 'justices', or go down with the ship as these clowns are blowing holes in our constitution.

37 posted on 06/12/2005 11:22:03 PM PDT by budwiesest (Too many cops, not enough 2nd Ammendment? Welcome to California.)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 32 | View Replies]

To: Jedidah
Take a deep breath and choose to be thankful, just for today, for the freedoms we have rather than scratching around for something to complain about.

You are right and I daily thank God for my freedoms. I also feel a responsibility to pass them on, mainly because so many people sacrificed their lives for the ones we currently have. I have been given so many gifts, and I am determined to make sure future generations receive the same. I am not whining, just trying to buck the current trend towards limited freedoms for future generations.
38 posted on 06/12/2005 11:24:38 PM PDT by microgood
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 34 | View Replies]

To: budwiesest

"We either tar and feather some 'justices', or go down with the ship as these clowns are blowing holes in our constitution."

The tar would go good with their black robes. It's amazing what idiots they are, with their "interpretation" of the consitution. Some laws, like most gun control, are even in violation of the constitution. I've also had trouble finding the article or amendment in the constitution that makes it illegal to say the pledge to the flag in school.


39 posted on 06/12/2005 11:25:30 PM PDT by pcottraux
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 37 | View Replies]

To: quidnunc
This guy has no clue of the difference between a democracy and a republic.. especially THIS republic.. unique for any republic that ever existed.. and absultely NOT a democracy..

There are three words found NOWHERE in the U.S. Copnstitution..
1) democracy..
2) democratic.
3) democrat..

It was on purpose not an oversight.. A democracy is governed by MOB RULE.. like England, Canada, and other URPean countrys.. Democracy is the source of socialism...

Democracy is the road to socialism. Karl Marx

Democracy is indispensable to socialism. The goal of socialism is communism. V.I. Lenin

The meaning of peace is the absence of opposition to socialism.- Karl Marx

40 posted on 06/12/2005 11:37:28 PM PDT by hosepipe (This propaganda has been ok'ed me to included some fully orbed hyperbole....)
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 1 | View Replies]


Navigation: use the links below to view more comments.
first previous 1-2021-4041-56 next last

Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson