okay boys and girls, let's learn
US History, as I recall, is an 11th grade Social Studies requirement in the state of NC. I’m thinking this is likely the case elsewhere, since, well, we live in the US, and history is important. If you want to argue history isn’t important, I’ll meet you in the parking lot after work, and run you down on the fun baseball facts I’ve retained since my childhood. Be warned, Ty Cobb is my favorite baseball player.
But I’m not here to blog about baseball history just now, I’d rather refresh your brain on a sliver of knowledge that I hope and pray was instilled in your mind at some point in time, (assuming you’re not that Russian porn spammer here to hack my comments again). If you grew up in the US, this should be somewhat familiar to you:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
This is the First Amendment of the US Constitution, that exemplary document upon which the structure of our modern life rests upon. As a foundation for religious freedoms, consumerism and democracy in our nation, this is the most important scrap of paper in your life. You should respect it. You should champion it. You should take five fucking minutes to remind yourself why it is important, because kids, it may not be around forever. In fact there’s a good chance it won’t, whether it’s some socio-economic crash, or meterological distaster that kicks America to the curb, one of these days the US Constitution ain’t going to mean jack shit.
You may ask, “Nicolle, why are you taking time out of your busy pop-culture consuming schedule to bother us with rants about the effing Constitution?” and well, my answer to that is to quote South Park- “Whatever! I’ll do what I want!” Then there’s the fact that the patriot act has been approved by Congress.
And okay, maybe I’m getting a little carried away, I mean who needs Civil Liberties anyway? Public Library card? Gotta cut that one up. The Interwebs? Well….*shrug*.
Awareness is important. I’m not marching, I don’t have time to do much more than bitch about it on my website, but that’s what I’m pitching here, some awareness. There’s a lot of material out there, that if you take five or ten minutes to look at will give you some inkling of why this is not a good thing. Wikipedia is your friend. If you’re looking for a jumping off point, I’d suggest checking out the Reichstag Fire Decree. I’m not saying it’s the same thing, there are clear differences, but there are some obvious similarities. It’s history folks, learn from it.
In a vague, only related in my own mind sort of way, I’d also suggest everyone go see V for Vendetta when it opens on March 17th.