Liberation as a concept draws one to consider what it means to be truly free. In my mind, freedom is to be able to live without oppression. Oppression not only in the physical sense- which precludes both social and economic realms. But, free from being merely an instrument by which the mechanisms of evil are conducted. This is the worst oppression; the oppression of the individual's consciousness.
In American history, we have drawn up and fought for our rights repeatedly. From segregation to gender equality; generation after generation has stood up to free their minds from oppression of their own consciousness. Together, we have stood and asked our government to conduct itself righteously. Our consciousness has a voice; it is organizing and demonstrating.
Today, America is at war in multiple countries. Our homes are powered by pollution. Oil drilling in the gulf has devastated millions of lives. Our food has artificial genes in it which are patented by corporations. Mega-corporations run by mega-millionares are bailed out while third world type poverty exists in every inner city (should I go on?). All of these things are subsidized by our tax dollars. If you pay taxes (unlike many large corporations), you pay to continue the existence of these things.
Suddenly, freedom from taxes is the "name of the game" in the U.S. Tradgically, none of the tax subsidies I have mentioned are even remotely threatened.
On the other hand, funding which supports public transportation, public school teachers, and AmeriCorp is referred to as "extraneous" spending. Funding which protects our own breathable air is tossed aside as "pork-barrell" spending.
Mechanisms that are seeking to cut these programs are by the same folks looking to remove public union bargaining rights and remove college students from the voting poll for voting "foolishly".
Granted, the EPA is not a perfect entity. What would we have in their place? A new government entity? A promise from big coal corporations to be socially responsible and shift to clean energy? A promise from BP to be extra careful? Could any industry possibly display more apathy towards social or environmental justice?
I propose a new American dream. Imagine that we don't pay for war or pollution anymore. Imagine that we don't fight for oil, don't burn the future with dirty energies such as coal, and create a better world for our children. Now, imagine that our grandchildren will admire us for being the heroes that changed the script, and not loathe us for carrying on foul practices. Imagine that we tell them real life nightime stories of peace and righteousness, not fairy tales. Stories of health, happiness, and equality. Imagine that the minds of your grandchildren are free from oppression when they become adults. The free and equal nation our founders envisioned.
I'm going to John Boehner's office tomorrow to demonstrate in the name of this vision. Students from Ohio Student Environmental Coaltion (OSEC) and the Sierra Club will have a strong message: we don't want to pay for coal subsidies. We don't want to pay for the destruction of tomorrow. We want our taxes to protect our grandchildren and our clean air- not dirty energy. We ask our nation to heal itself, seek righteousness, end war, and stop polluting. Someday, we can tell our grandchildren stories about days like tomorrow, when we stood together for them.
No comments:
Post a Comment