I’m doing something a bit weird and starting off a post on holiday that celebrates American independence by pointing out that a British reporter held in captivity for 114 days has been freed … thanks to the concerted efforts of Hamas, an organization (no longer a government) that we consider to be terrorists — and with good reason. There was an interesting piece on NPR yesterday about how much safer Gazans now feel since Hamas ran Fatah out of the strip. Of course, one could also point out security is bound to increase any time fighting stops, regardless of who actually wins. After all, Iraq under Saddam was one safe place. Places where you get executed for shoplifting generally are.
Hopefully Gilad Shalit is next and then everyone can move on from this whole sorry mess.
But it seems rather in the spirit of liberty that a number of parties managed to work together — regardless of how distasteful they might find one another — toward a common cause that has, at its core, a concern for human dignity.
I say this, of course, because this particular Fourth of July in the United States it is very difficult to heed our own president’s words as indicative of anything other than what the president of the United States thinks personally. I have long ago rejected the idea that the president represents anyone other than himself and the interest groups that support him regardless of how far off the path of good governance he strays.
In a sign of how far afield we’ve gotten, I read an editorial this morning in the Austin American-Statesman, a newspaper that tends to be at editorial odds with the community that makes up its core audience (the Statesman is conservative, Austin is liberal). What surprised me about it is — other than the fact that all of its examples of hope for change use Republicans — that there’s really nothing I disagree with. In fact, I agree with just about all of it, and rather strongly.
Among the choice highlights:
Americans’ faith and trust in their government is ridiculously low. President Bush has approval ratings around 30 percent in most polls, and Congress fares even worse, with a 25 percent approval rating. They clearly earned their scores.
There are myriad reasons: the awful, grinding war in Iraq; endless partisan bickering in Washington; a stagnant political process that seems to get nothing important done; and a government that views the public with disdain.
What makes a democracy work is transparency, accountability and an informed public. Washington’s disregard for Americans’ rights, open government and responsible governance makes for a rather sunless celebration of American independence today.
I keep looking at the calendar and thinking that in a year and a half, this will all be over. But will it?
Here’s an idea: what if, this fourth of July, we all collectively decide that this November and next, we’re going to use our votes at the ballot box to remind those in charge that they work for us, not the other way around (and just saying you serve the American people over and over doesn’t count).
What if we throw an election and everyone comes? What if we restore power to the people? After all, isn’t that what this holiday is supposed to be about?
