Fall 2008
What's an American?
by Rob Gaskell, Jr.
With oil and fuel prices recently hitting all-time record prices and the resulting decline of auto sales, particularly gas-guzzling trucks and SUV's, the automotive industry has been a key interest in economic and political news lately. These are just a few of the challenges our nation has faced in recent months, and with the upcoming presidential election, I think its an ideal time to examine what it is that makes us as Americans unique from people in other countries.
In my short lifetime, I've noticed a decline in people's awareness concerning the economy, foreign relations, and just about any other political issue you can think of. This is a great concern to me, as someone who has actually read the constitution, and who strongly believes in the ideals it represents. I'm certainly no expert in constitutional law, but I think I have a good grasp of the general concepts of our supreme law.
First of all, the Constitution makes our government unique from the governments of other nations in that it grants sovereign authority not to the president or any other elected or appointed official, but to us, the people. There are many rights granted to us in the constitution that help ensure we are able to maintain this authority, and in fact maintain those rights as well, and it is our responsibility as Americans to do what is necessary to maintain our freedoms. Freedom of speech is a very important right that we must use, as protesting and speaking out for or against issues can be a very effective way to exercise our authority as citizens. Voting is similarly an effective and important responsibility, and should be taken very seriously. This means educating yourself on the measures and candidates, and the issues that surround them. I think one of the biggest problems in our country today is the lack of interest in what it is politicians are doing once they get into office. Many people feel powerless, and I believe they are powerless because they don't know or care enough to educate themselves. This allows the highest bidder to put on the most impressive press conferences and campaign ads, and attract voters in a very superficial way. Blaming government officials for the problems our country is a result of ignorance. When we the people do not understand that we have been granted sovereign authority, and are ultimately responsible for the actions of our government, we point fingers. Politicians surely must be held responsible for their actions and their performance, but remember that we the people are the authority that must ensure they are held responsible. We tend to complain that we are too busy to get educated and take responsibility for the authority we have been given, but we must remember that the millions of individuals who have risked their lives, suffered and died to create and defend our rights were not too busy.
Ultimately there are two ways in which our freedoms are protected, and I believe both are equally important. A citizen's right to bear arms, and the US Military. First of all, I think that it's important to note that I am not a member of the NRA, and I don't believe that Big Brother is coming to take away our guns. I do believe that the right to bear arms is critical to our freedom, and like all of our rights, as Americans I believe it is our responsibility to use that right. The single most important assurance of our freedom is the Oath of Enlistment that each military member is sworn in under. There is no reference to government or people, and for the Officer's oath there is no reference to following orders or doing any specific task. Members of the US Military are sworn to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and enlisted members are also sworn to follow the orders of the President and the officers appointed over them. As a former US Marine, I believe this oath requires each individual to act on his or her conscience, regardless of the law, or the consequences of breaking the law. I believe that this is what every American should do. Now, this doesn't mean that everyone should go out and break laws just because they believe they are unjust. There are processes that allow us to use our power in a legal manner to overturn unjust laws and counter illegal or unconstitutional acts committed by our government or other entities, and foregoing these processes undermines the system that we the people are responsible for.
It is only when legal processes fail that I believe an individual must act on his or her conscience and break laws, and the individual should be ready and willing to face the consequences of their actions. If a person's conscience dictates that a life should be taken to defend the rights of themselves or their fellow citizens, the person should take that life. The authors and signers of the Declaration of Independence were committing high treason against the King, and were ready and willing to be kill or be hung for their actions, and in fact were putting their entire families at risk. Thankfully, the Revolutionary War was a success, and now we can generally uphold our rights without risk of punishment or the need to use violence. I believe the recent trends we've seen are an example of how we the people use our authority. The recent rapid decline in oil prices can be attributed at least in part to the American people's unwillingness to pay such high prices. We have become more efficient in the past year, and many Americans have expressed their concerns over energy efficiency and independence both audibly and with their wallets. Imagine what we the people can accomplish when we are well-educated and proactive.
So, what is an American? An American is an individual who is a part of their own ruling class, from the poorest to the wealthiest, the most highly educated to the unschooled, Americans together form the most powerful authority in the world, that is, if we understand and utilize the power granted to us by the Constitution.
Rob Gaskell, Jr.
Account Manager
Fleet Service Northwest