“It’s a Free Country.” Says no one anymore
Sun, November 8, 2020 Can we settle down now, the people have spoken with their vote, it is the way democracy works. But let’s not forget that it was the same democracy that put the King on his throne in the first place. I get the feeling that no one took that election all that seriously back in 2016.
Voting can often feel like ordering food at a shitty restaurant with a limited menu. Then when the food comes you go, “Hey, this is not what I ordered.”
In 2016 people said, “Let’s give Trump a chance.” He’s different, and at least he’s not named Bush, or Clinton. And America found out what happens when you elect a TV reality star to be President. You get a reality show that has little to do with reality.
And for the next four years, despite having the entire news media against him, (With the exception of Fox-News.) Every comedian and Late-Night-Talk-Show-Host, constantly ridiculing him, he built a following of people who loved him. No small following either, close to half the Nation. Sadly, this is what has divided this great nation to extremes, with rioting, and even people killing each other.
Enough already, it is time to put the “United’ back into the United States of America. Growing up in England, I am old enough to remember WWII. I did not fully understand it at the time, but I knew enough to know that the war was fought to preserve Freedom.
I was eight years old in 1944, and I clearly remember the American soldiers coming over prior to the Normandy Invasion in June 1944. At the time they seemed like adults to an eight-year-old, I remember how they were always laughing and goofing around, and I later realized this was because they were mostly teen-agers, just barely ten years older than me.
This is what teen-agers do, they laugh and goof around. I also realized years later that they died in their thousands on the beaches of Normandy. They died fighting for my Freedom, so I would not have to. Their faces still haunt me to this day and was probably the reason why I formed and affinity with These United States that lead to my moving here in 1979.
Also, as a kid, I remember whenever someone would question what I was doing, I would reply, “It’s a Free Country.” I never hear anyone say that anymore, which is strange as this is supposedly, “The Land of the Free.”
No one says that anymore because this is no longer a Free Country. Not by Government Decree, but by a divided people. One must pick a side. If a person were to put a Biden poster outside his house in certain parts of the country for example, he would have the signs stolen, or even a rock thrown through his window. By the same rule, a Trump sticker on your car in a certain city in a predominantly liberal state, could result the car being set on fire.
So, I ask, “What was the purpose of all those young Americans dying on the beaches of Normandy in 1944?” So people can fight and kill each other in some un-official civil war? The people have spoken, albeit by a small majority, and if your side lost, suck it up, deal with. There will be another election in 2024.
If your side won, now is not the time to celebrate, because you only just squeaked by with a narrow margin. Now is the time to hold your hand out to your fellow American, agree to disagree, bump elbows and each move a little towards each other.
I have tried to be impartial here, favoring neither one side or the other, because neither can be all right, or all wrong at the same time. If anyone gives me stick for writing this, it will prove my point. There can be no Freedom while the is intolerance to anther man’s point of view.
I worry for the future for my grandchildren and great-grandchildren, mankind is destroying the planet, (Womankind has little to do with it.) How can we fix this if all we do is fight among each other? I wish everyone would just go outside on a clear night and look into the sky and realize just how insignificant we really are. We are nothing but tiny microbes, sitting on a speck of dust, floating in an infinite space.
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Reader Comments (13)
Well said, Dave! The media clearly won this time. Let's see how their man does. Hopefully democracy will prevail and his more radical policies will fizzle.
A well thought out position, and it should be agreeable to all on both sides of the political fence. Let us hope that Americans choose to unite once more and strive to be good ancestors.
But let us also ensure that the cheaters and criminals who have infested the current administration are given their day in court and judged fairly.
I've got no dog in this fight as I'm in the Southern Hemisphere, but I say the Democrats and their supporters have set the precedent in 2016 unfortunately. Where Trump has gone wrong is kicking up a stink right away - he should wait until after the inauguration and then spend the next 4 years attempting sedition, stirring up nonsense about "Russian meddling" etc. Of course he would need the support of the intelligence community and media for that!
Don't get me wrong, Trump is a total fruitcake but what's good for the goose is good for the gander eh? Good luck with the next four years under the Clinton/Obama I mean Democrats.
I would say it couldn't be any worse but I don't want to tempt fate!
Very nicely stated.
I wonder how much of the 49 ish% of the country that voted "red" deeply hate Trump but truly believe in Republican values. That is, they choose party over person.
The President of the United States is not decided or chosen by the media.
December 12 the Electoral votes will be cast. Until then, there will be legal challenges to changes in the voting rights and processes carried out in each state. The court decisions made along the way, and we have weeks to go, may go all the way to our highest court, the Supreme Court, which will decide whether a legal and just voting process took place in this election.
Nothing is over until we know these changes and processes are aligned with the Constitution of the United States.
Stay Tuned.
Or better, you have many days to ride your bike till the next President is decided by the framework laid out by the Founding Fathers of our nation.
Well Dave, You did it. I didn't think you would go and bring politics into your blog. Commenters have in the past and you have no control over that except to say "Please , this blog is about cycling and related issues." I'm sorry to say I won't be commenting and probably not even check in to read about your views on cycling. Yes, you can present whatever you choose, but if I want to get involved in politics there are many other blogs to look at.
I agree with Brian - I need a few small places to go, such as this blog, where I don't have to be afflicted by politics. Your post makes sense, but the comments just show where it ALWAYS goes.
Riding my bike is always a refuge where I can not have to think about all this 24/7.
Sorry, I was just trying to inject a little peace, love and understanding.
Dave
Never mind Dave. To go along with your "It's a free country", let's add "You can please some of the people, some of the time..."
I don't see anything inappropriate in Dave's comments. His blog has often addressed societal issues that are outside of bicycle stuff. Nor is a call to decency and respect partisan. If you think it is, please read it again. Finally, it's Dave's blog, he can say whatever he wants! I don't always agree, and that's just fine. Thanks, Dave.
I just listened to comedian Bill Burr's Podcast. It echoes My sentiments almost exactly: https://billburr.com/monday-morning-podcast-11-9-20/
Dave
We haven't seen an electorate this angry since 1860.
Dave, you said: "The people have spoken, albeit by a small majority, and if your side lost, suck it up, deal with. There will be another election in 2024."
But in 2016 this did not happen. And now you are asking the other side to? If I remember correctly after the 2016 election, all means were used to try and unseat Trump. We had Russia and Mueller, a total planned coup done by both sides. This includes the railroading of Michael Flynn that is still in progress. When that did not work, they tried an impeachment. And near the election we found out that Biden is as crooked as them all. He has enriched his family with millions. Then we had riots that came from the left and really had nothing to do with Black Lives Matter. The city I live in spent 25 years getting the downtown so it was really enjoyable to visit and spend money. That was all destroyed in 3 days. They had to board up the windows again the night of the election based on planned riots if Trump won. But, when it looked like that was not going to happen, no riots happened. As you stated the media was terrible and did everything in its power to turn the election to Biden. And then we have Hillary Clinton who to this day still says she won because she won the popular vote. The Democrats did not suck it up and deal with it, they cried, cried, and cried for four years.
I am going to end with a link from an British blue collar worker, that I hope you can relate to. I grew up in the steel town of Pittsburgh when it was really making steel. These blue collar workers, worked hard and were not given anything. And they would do anything for you. Those times are gone, but they are missed because we were the land of the free.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rjgukn8qXpo