Tunisia and Egypt threw off their Dictator-Presidents earlier this month. Hundreds of protesters perished last weekend in Libya; the carnage there continues today.
Why?
It's simple. They've been oppressed for decades. Centuries.
All they want is some freedom. Self-governance. Civil liberties. Economic freedoms. More guaranteed rights. Just like the ones a lot of other humans enjoy. Freedom engenders a righteous envy.
Most basically, they want more flavors of liberty.
It makes perfect sense: Freedom is delicious. Far from blaming Tunisians, Egyptians and now Libyans for causing trouble, we admire their efforts and wish them success.
Meanwhile, nobody has died in Wisconsin (U.S.A.) during the week of protests against Governor Scott Walker's plan to remove certain collective bargaining rights from nurses, firefighters, teachers and cops.
And Mr. Walker has only been in office eight weeks. He's not yet eligible for dictator status anyway.
Plus, he's not proposing to suspend religious freedom. Or curtail free speech. Or revoke the Second Amendment. He's just trying to break unions.
But this is where comfort might come from tonight: Human beings a continent and a half away are selflessly shedding their own blood, in pursuit of more rights. And thankfully, respecting their sacrifice, enough of us in this freest of nations continue to resist those who would nudge us (even if only a little) back toward the ugly place from which so many North Africans are trying to flee.
Carry on, Wisconsin protesters. And any lovers of liberty worldwide, you too.
I like your design upgrade! It shares your beliefs in a positive non-confrontational way. Pretty much the opposite of your words.
ReplyDeleteIn the written word is the only place I allow myself to be this confrontational. And thanks, I enjoy the new deisgn myself, especially with the hint of alternative energy in the background.
ReplyDelete