When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation. We hold these truths to be self-evident; that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights; that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness; that to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that whenever any form of government becomes destructive to these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
(Thomas Jefferson, The Declaration of Independence, 1776)
We all have heard these words many times throughout our lives. We have memorized them for classes, and we heard them read so often that they start to lose their meaning. The left-wing liberals often use these words as the core of their argument for homosexual marriage – “pursuit of Happiness.” The right-wing conservatives often pull from the same quote to defend the right to life – “all men are created equal…endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life…” Regardless of what political party you may align yourself with, it is clear that when it comes down to it, we all want the same thing: “Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.” We just do not all have the same idea of how to fulfill those goals, but that is part of what makes this country great.
In this country, we are free. Each morning people all over the United States wake up and send their children to school. Some children are taught in home by their parents, some go to their local public school, and others go to a private school. This is a freedom we take for granted. We can choose our education. After high school, we have options: college, vo-tech, military, or the workforce. This is a luxury not afforded to the young men and women of Israel. In Israel national military service is mandatory for all Jewish and Druze men, and Jewish women, over the age of 18. In America, we can choose our religion. For many Americans, the morning begins with prayer. We, as Americans, have the freedom to choose to attend a Catholic mass, a Jewish Synagogue, a Muslim Mosque, or a Christian Church, to name a few. We can even choose not to attend at all. We have an unlimited amount of choices when it comes to what religion we choose to practice. In some countries to choose Christianity, is to choose death.
We are free to pursue our goals, dreams, and happiness because of a 230-year-old document. Each one of us has the freedom to live our life our own way. We are free to have our own opinions. However, some of us are louder than others.
In a 1969 speech, President Nixon used the term “The Silent Majority.” President Nixon asked for the support of those whose voices were being drowned out by the very vocal minority. In 1969, much like today, we were at war, and also much like today there were a very vocal minority that were not afraid to protest that war. War is not a good thing. In a perfect world, we would never have to have to defend our country against terrorist threats, the numbers nine and eleven would just be simple numbers that come before and after ten, and we would not have to send our young men and women off to foreign countries to fight and die. However, we do not live in a perfect world. In fact, the world that we live in is far from perfect. When we awoke on September 11th, 2001, we woke up to a world at war whether we wanted to be or not. Our country was being attacked, our people were dying, and we had to respond. President Bush, just like President Nixon, needs the support of the country and The Silent Majority. Regardless of your personal opinion on the war, it is our duty as Americans to support our President and our troops.
It is easy to turn on the news or open up the paper and see a report about those who oppose the war. It is the men and women standing outside of the soldier’s funeral with signs and the Cindy Sheehan’s of the world that get the media’s attention. These make great stories: Mother of Fallen Soldier Demonstrates outside President’s Texas Ranch, Anti-War Activists Protest Soldier’s Funeral. It is also possible to be so pulled in by all of the attention that the media gives to this incredibly vocal minority that we do not even realize that there is a whole other side of the story that the media is not showing.
When was the last time you turned on the ten o’clock news and heard a report about The Presidential Prayer Team (http://www.presidentialprayerteam.org/)? The Presidential Prayer Team is group of millions that have joined together since September 11th, 2001 to simply pray for the President, the troops, those in the cabinet, and the whole nation. They have come together not with a political motive, but rather a biblical one. In 1 Timothy 2: 1-2, the Bible says “I urge, then, first of all, that request, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone- for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.” This is the goal of many Americans – simply to pray daily for the President to have wisdom in his decisions, and our soldiers to have strength. Since they are not standing outside with signs or marching on the President’s lawn, the media chooses not to cover this story.
Too often we stay silent, because we do not think one can make a difference, or because we are okay with the status quo. We wait for the tragedy to strike before we take action, but “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime” (Adlai Stevenson). After 9/11, it was easy to see these “frenzied outbursts of emotion:” American flags were everywhere and nearly every sign I passed had a message about prayer or trusting in God. In times of great tragedy, it is easy to see where we all turn. Our country was founded on a faith in God, and when the towers fell, He is where our nation turned. The problem is that it did not take long for the flags to come down, the signs to change, and the people to forget that it is okay to pray even when things are looking up.
As infants, we cry out when we are unhappy and in need of attention. As children, we are not afraid to express our disapproval of what is set before us. It is as adults that we often told to be silent. We stifle our opinions - afraid of hurting another’s feelings. We silence our voices – afraid of not being part of the popular crowd, afraid to stir things up. Well, I say that it is time to stir things up. How many times a week do you watch the news and think that the news anchor is simply not telling the whole story? How often do you go and search out the other side of the story? How often do you see images of men and women protesting against the war? How often do you see an image of someone holding a sign saying they support the war? It is easy to sit at home, flip through the newspaper or television stations, and jump upon our living room soapbox about the way the news is covered, the way the war is being handled, the way any number of issues are being addressed in the world today. However, standing in the middle of the living room and arguing with the television is not going to change the world. Mahatma Gandhi once said, “Be the change you want to see in the world.” It is time that the silent majority is called to arms. We need not be silent anymore. “I’m one person,” you say, “How can I change the world?” Simple – by starting small. Every one of us has a voice that is worth being heard. If you are breathing, your voice is important. It is time to take action. Go change the world!
*Written for the Cass Conservative - Published September 2006
