Eternal Vigilance

"Eternal Vigilance is the price of liberty." - Wendell Phillips

Those of us who have been living with a background of visceral discomfort, obsessing over the endless transgressions against the bedrock principles with which we were inculcated, and have been disgusted by their forthcoming consequences -each and every one, epic in proportion- have finally, decisively, and with unprecedented enthusiasm, repudiated the despicable hypocrisy, rampant incompetence, and reckless endangerment which has permeated the decisions of this past administration.

In short, "it's been a long, long time coming, but change 'gone come." Sang Sam Cooke.

I was privileged to witness the outpouring of joy that spilled into the streets of my home city, New Brunswick, NJ when news of Mr. Obama's victory broke. Much of the euphoria can be attributed to the significance of a person with black skin attaining the highest, most powerful, most influential position in the world today.

It would be ridiculous to deny the symbolic significance and real impact of a black man getting elected President of a country whose founding fathers owned slaves, and whose founding documents declared that a black person's life was worth "3/5ths" that of a white person.

I think now, that for my entire life, I've been force-fed nothing but crap from our presidents.

The first president I remember was Reagan. Even as a kid I remember thinking, "This guy doesn't even know what the hell is going on." I also remember thinking at that time that it was the people who had the real power, not the government.

Then came Bush, aka Pappy. Who only seems like a half-decent human being when compared to his retarded jack russel terrier of a son.

I always thought that Clinton was full of shit. I realize now that I was somewhat influenced by the false narrative promulgated by the vast right wing conspiracy. Still, he lacked authenticity, (a moral value which I value greatly), and appeased the greedy and bellicose forces of the right with some of his economic policies. He also encouraged corporatism, which has run rampant like a steroid fueled slugger for the last 15 or so years. While the rising tide did lift many boats, the great flood also drowned out the voices and aspirations of many people who wished to "form a more perfect union" through spiritual, intellectual, and artistic development, not just economic striving.

Then came President George W. Bush. The worst president in American history.

You know what happened, I won't rehash it for you. Let's just say it was awful. A terrible time to be an American.

Now, finally we can move on.

If you refer back to the first post in the illustrious history of this blog, you will find that it was founded with the intention of countering all of these awful forces that have overwhelmed us for the past several years.

Now, the pendulum has swung back in favor of decent, rational people and it's tempting to retire. However, I know those weasels are still out there and always will be, so we must remain eternally vigilant, that is the price of our liberty.

Now go have a beer. You deserve it.