Necessity:

Monday – February 14, 2011

Necessity:

“The necessity of the times, more than ever, calls for our utmost circumspection, deliberation, fortitude, and perseverance. Let us remember that ‘if we suffer tamely a lawless attack upon our liberty, we encourage it, and involve others in our doom.’ it is a very serious consideration...that millions yet unborn may be the miserable sharers of the event.” Samuel Adams, speech in Boston, 1771

This is one of my most favorite quotes of the Founding Fathers. It tells of the value of circumspection. It tells us to be strong and it warns us of what an attack on our liberty does. It also says that it is incumbent on us to preserve the liberty for the millions that are yet unborn.

If I had a word of advice for those in Egypt, who brought change by virtue of the public square, it would be to read the quote that I opened with today.

The voice of the people of Egypt was heard. That is the greatest thing any democracy can ask for. And that is exactly the necessity of ensuring that the people get the democracy they want. The Egyptian constitution was suspended and the parliament was dissolved. The military is clearly in charge as it always has been.

As we view the events that have occurred and the events that are yet to unfold in Egypt, our country must take the lead. Our elected representatives must not talk unless there is something to say. Our country must invest whatever resources are necessary to ensure that a western style democracy is established. Our country must take the lead so that the true voices of democratic rule are heard. This is a necessity.

Someone asked me what is the difference between the revolution in Egypt and ours? My response was 250 years and no live video on the chat sites. This might be a humorous thought to some, but it is a serious thought that must be considered. The movement of democracy is a delicate thing to achieve in a region that is ripe with a fundamentalist desire and their necessity to install their belief system.

In the two hundred and thirty plus year history of our democracy we have had a revolution a civil war an industrial revolution and now a political revolution. We have established our democracy and have been fortunate to thwart most assaults on our liberty. The formula of democracy starts with liberty and recognizing what you want as a people and as a society.

The people of Egypt have said they didn’t want the rule of the former regime, but they have not said what they want as a replacement. The forces that will impose their will and their power will be felt and will be made clear very soon. However, we, as a nation, that has a duty to spread democracy, can take the lead and can start the process of establishing a western style democracy there now.

We can do this through helping with the process of writing a constitution, establishing an economy and encouraging entrepreneurship. We can do this without bringing our party politics into the process, but rather show the benefits of the party process.

Most in the world observe what happens in the United States through the prism of wanting what we have here. We must realize here that there is a gap between Americans who want to govern themselves and politicians who want to rule over them. This political gap today is as big a gap between the colonies and England as we had during the 18th century. I believe that the American people don’t want to be governed from the left, the right or the center. They want to govern themselves.

There is no difference of what went on here early in our history than what has occurred in Egypt. Revolution is revolution, but the revolution must be one that makes it possible for liberty to grow. Jefferson said, "The main body of our citizens... remain true to their republican principles; the whole landed interest is republican, and so is a great mass of talents. Against us are... all timid men who prefer the calm of despotism to the boisterous sea of liberty... We are likely to preserve the liberty we have obtained only by unremitting labors and perils. But we shall preserve it, and our mass of weight and wealth on the good side is so great as to leave no danger that force will ever be attempted against us." -- Thomas Jefferson to Philip Mazzei, 1796. ME 9:336

Jefferson also said, "a little rebellion now and then is a good thing" The rebellion in Egypt has occurred, so why not share the great history that we can boast about after the seeds of revolt were planted here. I believe the message of America is great one that should not be limited by the region and the prevailing views of some. It should be broadcast and spoken about. It should be made available to the Egyptian people so that they can also say their revolution was as great as ours, because it was a move towards democracy.

The big difference between now and two hundred and thirty five years ago is that a message can be sent in seconds, so why not take advantage of it? It becomes necessary by virtue of necessity, that the seeds of liberty be planted quickly to encourage rapid growth rather than slow growth that can be halted by the opposing forces that will reject democracy and the liberty that comes with it.

The people of Egypt must also be told, as Jefferson reminds us, "No government can be maintained without the principle of fear as well as duty. Good men will obey the last, but bad ones the former only. If our government ever fails, it will be from this weakness." --Thomas Jefferson to John Wayles Eppes, 1814.

Gregory C. Dildilian
Founder and Executive Director
Pinecone Conservatives

A footnote: If you want the world to become a democracy then it is a necessity to speak the words of history that created our great democracy. We should boast about our liberty, as a result of our democracy, and we should show others in the world how to grow a democracy.