Ability and Responsibility

[Stephane Budge]

Over a decently long winter holiday, I was able to do a lot of
thinking and pondering about the phrase in the Dclaration of
Independence saying "when a long train of abuses and usurpations,
pursuing invariably the same object evinces a design to reduce them
under absolute despotism, it is their right, it is their duty to throw
off such government, and provide new guards for their future
security..."

The question arose as to when does a person become responsible to
throw off such government? For me, my own personal responsibility
started when I became aware of the crimes and corruption in our very
own government. As stated on the Declaration, it is my right and my
duty to throw off such government after a long trail of abuses and
usurpations have taken away my liberties. So for me, having gained
this knowledge, I am bound by conviction and duty and responsibility
to protect myself and my family and our liberties.

And when do responsibility and ability meet and become the enabling
force of change? When do my responsibility and my ability make it
possible for me to throw off an oppressive government? And that
answer, to me, is as soon as I gain that knowledge sand have
determined that the government is being oppressive. I cannot, as a
person of sound mind and body, allow myself to "settle" for the lesser
of however many evils. As I have gained this knowledge over this short
time I have been studying this, I cannot just sit idly by while the
lesser of two evils slowly and painfully erodes liberty and freedom.
Though my voice is small, I could not live with myself if I
contributed to the destruction of a nation that was founded as a
refuge for all peoples of the world against the very discrete, sly,
and brainwashing oppression we are currently faced with in our
government today.

Even though I am but one voice, I cannot and will not let mine be in
support of a system which rapes our constitution and steals our
personally liberties under the guise of the common good. Stand up for
yourself and fight for your freedom!