Getting Involved in Your Government
“Our Banner in the Sky” by Frederick E. Church (1861)
With the onset of summer, we celebrate three uniquely American holidays. We start the season with Memorial Day. A day set aside to remember and thank those who have placed themselves in harms way, those who sustained wounds to their body and/or mind, and those who made the ultimate sacrifice. These are the men and woman who defend our freedoms. We then move to the 4th of July. On this day we celebrate those who rebelled against tyranny and started this country. These are the men and women who risked all for freedom. Summer season officially ends on Labor Day. The day we celebrate all those who labor to keep our country going. These are the men and women who enjoy the freedom of opportunity that is uniquely American.
All these celebrations have a common thread running through them. That thread is the willingness of Americans to get involved. We are a nation that sees something that needs to be done and do it. We have risked life and limb to help those in need in our country and other countries throughout the world. From local issues to state issues to national and global issues, Americans have always stepped up and let their voices be heard. We have contributed our time, energy, effort and money to causes that we felt needed to be addressed. This is an area where America has shown the world how committed we are to preserving our freedoms and helping others establish the type of freedoms we enjoy. Letting our voices be heard assures no one will be able to go against the will of the people.
The very freedoms we cherish, the ones maintained through the sacrifice of men and women throughout our history, are in jeopardy. Americans have become complacent. We now expect someone else will take care of the problem. We want to sit back and let the next guy deal with it. We don’t want to get involved. There are many reasons for this. We have become a nation of commuters spending numerous hours traveling to and from our jobs. We have become a nation of households where both must work to make ends meet. We have become a nation with increasing single parent households where working two jobs is necessary to make ends meet. Free time has become a rare commodity in our lives. This leaves precious little time to spend with family, let alone get involved in your community.
These are all legitimate reasons for not having the time to get involved. These reasons though must not stop you from voicing your opinion. Technology now allows you to get involved with a minimum of time and effort. Websites and email bring the world to your computer screen in seconds. They allow you to read about what is happening in your community, state, nation and the world with the click of a mouse. Email allows you respond and voice your opinion on any issue in seconds. The website you are on now has brought many local issues to the forefront, allowing you to stay informed without leaving your home. The rest is up to you.
Please take the time and respond to the issues. Your input is extremely important if free and open government is to continue. There is no reason why you can’t get involved when that involvement involves only five minutes of your time. Read one article a day or even one a week and email your response to this website or to your elected officials. Let your voice be heard without leaving your home. Without the voice of the public, the voice of special interests will prevail. Our elected officials need to know that you will hold them accountable. They need to know they were elected to serve the will of the people, not those of the special interests. Your involvement is crucial if our system of government is to work. The freedoms we enjoy will only last as long as they are defended. Do not give up your freedom to address your concerns and grievances to elected officials through apathy. Our freedoms were and are still being defended by the sacrifices of our fellow Americans. Do not let their sacrifice be in vain. Get involved let your voice be heard. Our freedoms depend on it and demand it.