Tuesday, December 27, 2011

A Line Drawn in the Sand


     Somewhere, there is a line drawn in the sand. The sand is not owned by someone, the line is not owned by anyone, but it is there. That line, a marker of some inevitable boundary, a symbol of some limit of safe and excess, showing to all who would observe, that 'this is all that can be allowed'. A single and simple thing, a line drawn in the sand, that represents so much to so many, that we can easily be confused on it's original intent or reason for being. And simply looking at this line, we wonder why is it there and not here, how did this become so close to us, and most importantly, who drew it out so?

     We look around and find many things that we think to be normal, to be inevitable, to be okay and accept them without question, … until that is, we see that line in the sand. Some of us see beyond the thin veils of selfishness and illusions of egos. Some see through deception in motion, covering hidden actions against the majority of observers. Those people were targeted first, removed from play in a game so engrossingly enormous that even fewer realize that they play a part in it all. But there it is, still drawing our attention to it, beckoning us to see it and recognize it, that line in the sand. Did we draw it? When did it appear? Why hadn’t we noticed it before?
     Boundaries have always been a part of our world, allowing us to separate land, property, and people. Boundaries show us where it is safe to be, where we are allowed to be, and keep danger and harm safely away. Boundaries allow us to see the group and the individual, selecting for us areas of understanding or understood information and conceptual ideas. These all exist, and have existed, and yet are changed by consensus and definition often. But by who hand did those lines become drawn? And is this just another boundary that can be moved, this line in the sand?
     Maybe ignorance is bliss for it is blind to these things. As the Fool card in the Tarot teaches us, for the Fool walks blindly forward unaware of the dangers, yet not falling to the harm nor heading any perceived warning. Maybe that is why many do not see these things and have grown accustomed to the illusion of safety and secure passage in life. But why do some of us see these things? Are we questioning the realities of our world, do we challenge things that do not make sense to us? Is there some hint at 'wrongness' that awakens our instincts of survival? Maybe. Maybe that is why there is that line drawn in the sand. Maybe that is how it came to be.
     If we ponder too long on the why's and the how's and the who's, we loos sight of the simple fact that it is there, and it represents, if nothing else, a limit, a safe factor, a boundary. We know that we must defend it, for it is the marker of our safety. We come to understand that like so many other lines that have been drawn out, this one too was done as a consensus, and for reason. We know, instinctively, that this limit is ours, of where we must not be pressed beyond, where we would find not just harm, but find damages beyond our own ability to repair. This simple line in the sand.
     So we stand here, claiming all that is on and in our side of that line, and stand, and stand. Yet we have given so much without notice, that once we look down, we see that the line has been pushed to it's extreme elasticity of almost breaking. Now we understand, and are shocked that this has happened, while we were standing guard over it. How could this be? When did this happen? We question and begin anew by observing what we once thought of as clear information, yet now see illusions fade and false pretense fall. This is our line, and it falters, as we stand in it's defense. The pressure pushed into and against that line is great on both sides, yet we can see no relief either way. What happens when it is breached? Who's side will give first?

Somewhere, there is that simple line drawn in the sand, and we are just the grains that give it definition and purpose.

- In Solidarity, Sean Bigham

Thursday, December 15, 2011

My take on the 'Bill of Rights'

Here is my personal take, on the original 'Bill of Rights' as given to us by our Founding Fathers in our U S Constitution...
   ( My comments in italics )

Freedom of Speech, Press, Religion and Petition 

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

---I can worship or not of my own choosing without punishment. I can choose to worship what I want. I can say what I want as long as it is truth or not against anothers right. I may assemble with others to say my piece or to observe, and I may petition the government for change.---

Right to keep and bear arms 

A well-regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed.

---I may possess and maintain personal firearms and am free to own and use them as long as I do not violate criminal laws by thier use.---

Conditions for quarters of soldiers 

No soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
    ---The government cannot house soldiers in my property without my permission nor without compensation for the use.---

    Right of search and seizure regulated 

    The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
      ---No government official, acting in official capasity, can come into my home, collect any property or harrass me or my guests into statements, without a due processed warrent given by legal reasoning and securing said search and confiscation of proerty. And if said warrent was given without proper due cause and under false statement, I can address the government body with petition and legal defence.---

      Provisons concerning prosecution 

      No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the militia, when in actual service in time of war or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offense to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use without just compensation.
          ---I am protected by the laws of the government unless proven guilty of accused crimes against me.---

          Right to a speedy trial, witnesses, etc. 

          In all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury of the State and district wherein the crime shall have been committed, which district shall have been previously ascertained by law, and to be informed of the nature and cause of the accusation; to be confronted with the witnesses against him; to have compulsory process for obtaining witnesses in his favor, and to have the assistance of counsel for his defense.
            ---That if accused, I am allowed a council and jury, an impartial judge to hear facts of witness and evidence on both parts of the case and to be held in such process in a timely manner.---

            Right to a trial by jury 

            In suits at common law, where the value in controversy shall exceed twenty dollars, the right of trial by jury shall be preserved, and no fact tried by a jury shall be otherwise reexamined in any court of the United States, than according to the rules of the common law.

            ---That I can request a jury trial of common folk to hear my case.---

            Excessive bail, cruel punishment 

            Excessive bail shall not be required, nor excessive fines imposed, nor cruel and unusual punishments inflicted.
              ---That I will be treated fairly and justly in all cases against my person.---

              Rule of construction of Constitution 

              The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.
                ---That these rights, given to me by the Nations Government, are to be ensured and protected by the government, the officers there of, and by the people there given unto.----

                Rights of the States under Constitution 

                The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.
                  ---That when there is doubt to the coverage of Law, or to the jurisdiction there of, or the ability to uphold or enforce, that the States and or the People, by vote and judicial proceedure, can set presidence and incure laws and enforcement that would be just.---

                  Sunday, December 11, 2011

                  Apathy, a non-action verb that destroys our Nation

                  In the last dozen years, we citizens have been asleep. Figuratively so, and so much so that the actions of our Nations government and political offices have gone almost unnoticed and definitely unchecked. It has been the 'status que' that our government wants, to keep us as uninformed as possible to what policies they want in place. They have lulled us into complacency, feeding our ego's, dangling 'shinny little goodies' and directing our thoughts by redirecting our media. We fell for it...
                  Apathy, it is a word that has come up many times in conversation lately in our household, our neighborhood and our social gatherings. I had to look it up in the beginning, and that alone ashamed me somewhat. I though myself informed and educated, up to date on news and current civil laws, I found myself lacking and in want of the actual reality of the world events. I had to re-evaluate what I had seen, heard, read, and understood. I began to research and question a lot about the policies that had been put into place. I was no longer complacent, I lost my 'apathy'. And in doing so I gained a few things I didn't count on...
                  I discovered that the Nation had changed, so much so, that we were no longer a Democratic Republic, That our Nation was no longer defending it's citizenry against injustice, that our education was not indulged in teaching civil laws and citizen rights, and that multinational corporations had somehow gained and had laid claim to our rights as a citizen. Our monetary system was in the hands of world banking tycoons and not our government, that alone made me question our Nation's leadership and values of our ability to govern and sustain our Nation. I discovered that there was legal differences in the terms,'Citizen of the United States' and a 'United States Citizen'. I also stumbled across the information that there are quite a few differences in the term 'unlawful' and 'illegal'. And of course I researched the legal, government, definitions of 'Right' and 'Privilege', and found a disturbing amount of regulation on both...
                  So, armed with information, and asking questions, I assumed that it was a good idea to share these things and inform my fellow American citizens of these and many other things. I joined internet groups and forums, stood with other active citizens in protests, rally and gatherings, contacted civil liberty and civil law activist groups, and exercised my 'Rights' to help inform others and stand against acts and proposals that were being offered by government officials that I did not believe were in the best interests of the citizens of my Nation.
                  By doing so, and as a product of past legislature and current laws being accepted by Congress, me and my fellow active citizens, were easily identified and labeled as 'low level terrorists' and seen as a political threat to this Nation. Excuse me? Now I am suspect to terrorism? By speaking my mind and sharing information? By not only protesting but by calling for public vote and voice in matters that affect us, as a Nation of 'Free' citizens? And this is being done with the majority of our Nations public not even aware of the Federal Governments ability to arrest and detain citizens without bond, trial or by any other lawful or legal reason except that we challenge our governments position on governing our media, our taxes, our trade and our borders.
                  Well I am no longer apathetic to these unjust, unlawful and un-American acts of our supposed Congress of the People. Patriot and Terrorists as closely defined as actors in a movement for or against a government. I am for this Nation, for the principals of it's People and will always side on the betterment of our People that have made this Nation a place to be proud to live in. Our Government needs it's citizens to support it, not the Banks and corporations that continue to bleed it dry and cast harder economics on it and bigger debt into it.
                  I am no Terrorist, I am no Patriot, I am something more powerful and dangerous...
                  I am a free citizen, educated and better informed, alert and aware of my government and political officials actions, and I not only have contacts and friends who are like me, I plan on continuing to inform and educate the public.
                  We have just over 400 political officials in office. We have over 7 million service personnel in our branches of military service in country. There are less than 4 million police officials in active duty rosters. But there are 1.8 billion U S Citizens and Citizens of the US. Do the math.
                  Yes there is a lot of groundwork for a Police State to be enacted in place, and a lot of talk about Martial Law being set into our countries Cities and States. That is not my 'paranoid ramblings', that is facts based on reports and statements made by our current government. So which way will this turn? Me, I hope for the best and the sovereignty of our Nation and it's People, however I have planned for the worst...
                  Apathy, a non-action verb, that our Nations Government hopes you continue to hold onto....