Fear of Our Fathers

It wasn't that long ago when we lived in a country where we weren't afraid all of the damn time. Our fathers, a mere generation ago, were the product of parents who lived in this country and a society that focused on growth, progress, development, and the idea we could be a better nation. Now, the country is filled with people who aren't creating anything, just holding on to what their mothers and fathers built and grew.

At the onset of WWII, we didn't have a bloated standing army consuming a large percentage of our GDP. Now, we overfund a huge military just to be sure that nobody comes and takes away our McDonalds and Netflix. If we just turned the clock back a little, and decided it was time to grow again, instead of just trying to protect wealth we didn't earn, then maybe we could be great again. Instead of having a monstrous standing army, maybe we could save some money by raising a citizen army, like our forefathers did when troubles arose. Farmers, shopkeepers, teachers, and businessmen rose to the occasions, answered the call of duty, now we just pay soldiers a meager salary to do it for us, and defense contractors too much too much for too little in return.

As a country, I hope we can let the fear go away. I cannot believe we have become so afraid as a people that our politicians, (under W. Bush mind you) convinced us to give up our liberties, our rights, and in turn some of our dignity, and for what? Long lines at the airport and hours stuck on the tarmac because the only people being regulated are the ones who don't need to be. Republicans talk like lions, but they sacrifice like lambs, and what they sacrifice is not their freedoms, but ours, mine, and yours.