~ Noam Chomsky ~
So now they are protesting for democracy and a shot at real freedom in Hong Kong. This has become a growing trend all over the world: People yearning to be free and to be treated fairly by their government, are taking to the streets to make their voices heard.
There have been others. The Arab Spring,Myanmar , and Russia to name a few. I suspect that if Thomas Paine had written The Rights of Man recently it would be a best seller.
Of course there are no such protests here in America. Not when we have what we perceive as real democracy. Oh there is a breakout of civil disobedience every now and then; when the stench of injustice is so strong that citizens can do nothing else. (See Ferguson, Missouri) but this is rare.
The majority of Americans are too busy patting themselves on the back and telling anyone who will listen how exceptional they are to notice that the freedoms that they claim to enjoy is somewhat of an illusion.
The average American doesn't care. They are too worried about getting a steady pay check and taking care of their families to care if the system is rigged against them.
Of course we know that it is. They don't have any influence in Washington or the people they send there. Only a few people will truly benefit from this "democracy". They are the ones with the means to buy votes and influence laws.
The beauty of this system, if you happen to be one of the haves, is that the have nots are given just enough to have too much to lose.
They will not spend nights on the streets protesting an unjust government because they have a clock to punch in the morning. The mortgage has to be paid.
Finally, e-mail from a field hand:
"Field I loved your top ten house Negroes list, but don't you think your list should have been longer?"
Funny you should say that.
1. Whoopi Goldberg.
2. Harold Ford.
3. Ben Carson.
4. Steve Harvey.
5. Harris Faulkner.
Maybe next year.
*Pic from popularresistance.org
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