Fourth of July 2013 - An Essay on Growing People Power

Do We (Still) Care?

"Thoughts of Gavrilo Princip and Sarajevo 1914 came to mind this morning. Back then, a gunshot from a single freedom fighter started World War I. Now (2013), a news leak from a single freedom fighter might have the same effect. "

HAIKU, Maui, July 4, 2013 - I woke up this morning uncharacteristically early - at dawn. It happened after a dream that involved a train accident in the former Yugoslavia. As I slowly regained consciousness, I realized today is July 4th, the 237th anniversary of the American Revolution.

My next thought was about all the revolutions that are currently taking place around the world... Egypt, Turkey, Brazil. People power seems to be on the rise. 

Yet our 1776 revolution was really a rebellion of one elite against another.  So it was quite different from today's global uprisings.  The elites are scared of People Power. They don't want People Power.  Because that threatens the power of the elites. So our Founding Fathers invented Electoral College - proof that America's revolutionaries did not trust the people to cast direct votes for President.  They were also afraid of People Power.  The fact that this situation endures today, 237 years after the American Revolution, is another aspect of America's plutocracy.

As if reading my mind, a friend who is a college professor back East wrote to me this morning, commenting on the latest in the US-NSA spying saga (Barring of Bolivian Plane Infuriates Latin America as Snowden Case Widens, New York Times, July 4 and Wall Street Journal http://stream.wsj.com/story/latest-headlines/SS-2-63399/SS-2-269161/).  

Here's an excerpt from her comments:

"This time Washington showed clearly its imperial power and  its control of Europe and the rest of the world.  All bent to its will and denied use of their airspace for the use of the Bolivian president and his diplomatic group returning home from a conference, even refueling was a question.  There was a quote in the NY Times where the Bolivian President said that he had to wait because Spain was checking with the US to determine if its airspace could be used by the Bolivian President. 

Truly shocking!!! …  Raw power… but no good sense. No wonder, Latin American Presidents are angry as are thinking people in the rest of the world.   As far, as I can tell this young man told the truth.  What else does he know?  Why must he be taken at all cost?  Do we care?"

Do we care? This is what I replied to my friend:

"Happy Fourth to you and [her husband].  I realize that this is not a "native" holiday for any of us. But it does stand for fighting for freedom and staying true to one's conscience. And that's what America has stood for for a century and a half since 1776. So in that respect, it is a "world freedom day." 

Alas, our country has been newly reoccupied and enslaved by financial chains, if not by the bayonets. I wrote about that 15 years ago in this March 1998 column: WALL STREET'S FINANCIAL TERRORISM. I also spoke about that at the Reform Party Convention and other public forums, and in media interviews back then. Alas, things have only gotten worse. So you ask an important question: Do we care?

It would appear not. Yet it is once again time to stand up for freedom and stay true to one's conscience. Lest we forget the famous words of Reverand Martin Niemöller in reference to Hitler's Nazi Germany:

First they came for the communists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the socialists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a socialist.

Then they came for the trade unionists, and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for me, and there was no one left to speak for me.

What better day than July 4th to be reminded of that?

And yes, I do suspect that Snowden has more on the Washington's unlawful and secret transgressions. Which is why the powers that be are becoming to desperate as to even break diplomatic immunity. I have a sense this is only a tip of the iceberg. Thoughts of Gavrilo Princip and Sarajevo 1914 came to mind this morning. Back then, a gunshot from a single freedom fighter started World War I. Now, a news leak from a single freedom fighter might have the same effect.  God willing, this could be the beginning of the end of another empire.

(A Steve Bell cartoon in today's Guardian in London. I just added the word NSA)

And with this happy thought, I wish you and [her husband] a wonderful holiday."

I then made a Frankincense, Myrrh and Palo Santo fire offering in honor of this special day and in memory of all the people who lost their lives so that others can enjoy freedom and independence of foreign tyranny. 

Sadly. America today is still nor free of tyranny.  Here's what I wrote about that in my 2000 and 2010 updated Declarations of Independence:

Back to my dream about a train wreck in the former Yugoslavia, I now understand why my Spirit guides and teachers gave it to me and woke me up so early to write this essay.  Here's a clue:

"Thoughts of Gavrilo Princip and Sarajevo 1914 came to mind this morning. Back then, a gunshot from a single freedom fighter started World War I. Now (2013), a news leak from a single freedom fighter might have the same effect. "

Happy Fourth!

Bob ALTZAR Djurdjevic

Haiku, Maui, Hawaii

Bob Altzar Djurdjevic is a writer, musician, video maker, thrice-ordained Inca-shaman and business consultant based in Maui, Hawaii (altzar.org, djurdjevic.com, gaiasteward.org, and yinyangbob.com). He is also a former war correspondent and geopolitical commentator whose columns have been published by major media in the U.S. and around the world.

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Also see "DO WE (STILL) CARE?" - A Fourth of July Essay

For more on this topic, also see...  g%20Main%20St%20to%20Finance%20Wall%20St.html">Bilking Main Street to finance Wall St.'s greed (May 1997), DANCING 'ROUND THE GOLDEN CALF (Aug 1997), WIPING OUT THE MIDDLE CLASS (May 1998), Toward a Nation of Morons  (Washington Times, Jan 2006, click here for the TiM version), etc.

Election 2008 Editorial: The Great Divide Widens ... - Truth in Media   Oct 29, 2008 ... Here's what I wrote in a Washington Times column “Plutocrats of the NewWorld Order,” 11 years ago (also see “The Great American Divide,” ... www.truthinmedia.org/Bulletins2008/Great_Divide.html

WIPING OUT THE MIDDLE CLASS - Truth in Media   Phoenix, Washington, DC, and many other American cities have their own "Great American Divide" stories, but nowhere is the desecration of the American ... www.truthinmedia.org/Columns/chronicles-may-98.html

Great American Divide Widens   (1998), "The Great American Divide Widens" - about the increasing income gap between the various social classes in America. This was also a lead to the TiM ... www.truthinmedia.org/about.html

The Great American Hoover II (Aug 3, 2010) - Truth in Media   Aug 3, 2010 ... And guess where the Great American Divide, which separates the rich and the ... by then the Wall Street Hoover will have sucked it out of the... www.truthinmedia.org/Bulletins2010/Hoover2.html

Poverty Up in U.S., Again (Sep 16, 2010) - Truth in Media   Sep 16, 2010... Up in U.S., Again. Plutocracy flourishing in America: Poor get poorer, rich get richer ... The Great American Divide (Jan 1998). Wiping Out the ... www.truthinmedia.org/Bulletins2010/Poverty.html

Click on COLUMNS for more stories like this.

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