"The Constitution is not an instrument for the government to restrain the people, it is an instrument for the people to restrain the government – lest it come to dominate our lives and interests." – Patrick Henry
*disclaimer: I do not own The Hunger Games. All thoughts are my own and are not affiliated with the author in anyway.
It might seem a little odd for you, dear reader, to read a quote about the Constitution and see a picture of The Hunger Games emblem. What do these even have in common? Let me share my thoughts with you.
I had never read the Hunger Games trilogy or seen the movie until a few weeks ago. I really had no interest in reading a novel about teenagers being forced to kill one another for the sport of others. I don't like dystopian genre novels, they usually end unhappily and I like a happy ending. I was pretty set on remaining off The Hunger Games bandwagon until my husband got sick and wanted to watch it. I agreed on the condition that we didn't watch it at night (to prevent bad dreams of course!). The movie was good and I was surprised to find that I liked it. Since the movie ends at the first book, I had to read the other two because I can't stand not knowing the end. I read Catching Fire and Mockingjay within a couple of days and these thoughts started entering my head.
The government of Panem has control over everything. I find it disturbing that the American government echos the imaginary Capitol. Socialized healthcare anyone? The government run school system? (I graduated in Elementary Ed.), the bailouts to banks and the auto industry? Even more disturbing and, an added twist in my HG thought-mongerings, laws coming out concerning what parents can and cannot do when it comes to their children. It seems like everyday I hear about more and more government run programs. I can see the appeal of the government taking care of everyone. It must be nice to have someone else give you food, shelter, money, a job, health care, education and a free iPhone, but government control of everything comes with a price. OUR FREEDOM!!!!! The founding fathers understood this principle so well, that it became the preamble to The Declaration of Independence:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
In fact, I think the whole Declaration is awesome so I'm going post it right here:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
These few paragraphs are so bold and full of important messages, that I think it would behoove us all to take them to heart.
Now I'm not saying that we're going to become an indulgent society who delights in violence and preys on the misfortune of others by taking their children and having them fight to the death for our amusement, that certainly seems far-fetched, but I am cautious and concerned about the slippery path our government has taken. A few words from Thomas Jefferson illustrate my thoughts perfectly:
"A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities."
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
"When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty."
I hope, with this election coming up, that the American people will remember the importance of these freedoms that others worked so hard to bring about in this country. Our Declaration is unique, our Constitution, also, unique. We are so blessed here, but I'm afraid we've forgotten that. It is time for us to remember and to reclaim those virtues and freedoms we are losing and preserve them for our future.
Just a thought....
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
In fact, I think the whole Declaration is awesome so I'm going post it right here:
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.
That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles, and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.
These few paragraphs are so bold and full of important messages, that I think it would behoove us all to take them to heart.
Now I'm not saying that we're going to become an indulgent society who delights in violence and preys on the misfortune of others by taking their children and having them fight to the death for our amusement, that certainly seems far-fetched, but I am cautious and concerned about the slippery path our government has taken. A few words from Thomas Jefferson illustrate my thoughts perfectly:
"A wise and frugal Government, which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government, and this is necessary to close the circlue of our felicities."
"All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent."
"When the people fear the government, there is tyranny. When the government fears the people, there is liberty."
I hope, with this election coming up, that the American people will remember the importance of these freedoms that others worked so hard to bring about in this country. Our Declaration is unique, our Constitution, also, unique. We are so blessed here, but I'm afraid we've forgotten that. It is time for us to remember and to reclaim those virtues and freedoms we are losing and preserve them for our future.
Just a thought....
No comments:
Post a Comment