An American Irony
- By Alicia Mae
- Published 11/14/2008
Alicia Mae
I have a PhD in the basic medical sciences and am a freelance writer. I also run my own websites, Maeflowers.com and AliciaMae.com, and enjoy art and crafts.
As Thomas Jefferson, our third President, was set to take over the
Presidency from Adams, the member of a rival political party, the
United States' status as a democracy was solidified. The transition of
power between two parties involved no war, no bloodshed, no riots...it
was a bloodless coup, and one that has occurred many times over in our
history.
This year is another such time when America's democratic institution is solidified. The first major power to elect a Black President and a rough and dirty campaign season leading to talk of solidarity and smooth transition.
It is now time for the people who feel disheartened and disappointed to remember - this is what makes our country great. The ability to shift policy and power without threat to life or spirit.
Political parties are not enemies; they are ideological opponents, but they all stand to serve the same purpose and ideals - the people and the Constitution. When they do not do this, there are means to demand a new leader, and it has been done in our history.
But there is some disheartening news from the results of the election. A
loss of freedom and equality for
some. Something I believe to be covered by the Constitution (fourteenth amendment to be exact), even if
not by common thought. Gay rights ballot measures, specifically for
marriage and adoption, were passed or defeated to allow for no unions
between loving, adult partners. The adoption ban would also prevent
loving heterosexual couples from adopting. This is sad for me. The
separation of church and state has been blurred, the definition of "for
all" is once again being debated, and many many loving couples have
been pushed to the fringes of a society they trusted in.
Homosexuals are not being given the due process of the law and equal rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. This occurred previously with women (no right to vote until 1920, delayed right to own land and enter into contracts), African-Americans (slavery), and other immigrants (e.g. Japanese-Americans during WWII). One of the most important amendments that define America as the land of the free took almost 100 years for the U.S. to adopt, and 150 years later it is still not fully enforced.
This year is another such time when America's democratic institution is solidified. The first major power to elect a Black President and a rough and dirty campaign season leading to talk of solidarity and smooth transition.
It is now time for the people who feel disheartened and disappointed to remember - this is what makes our country great. The ability to shift policy and power without threat to life or spirit.
Political parties are not enemies; they are ideological opponents, but they all stand to serve the same purpose and ideals - the people and the Constitution. When they do not do this, there are means to demand a new leader, and it has been done in our history.
But there is some disheartening news from the results of the election. A
Homosexuals are not being given the due process of the law and equal rights guaranteed by the U.S. Constitution. This occurred previously with women (no right to vote until 1920, delayed right to own land and enter into contracts), African-Americans (slavery), and other immigrants (e.g. Japanese-Americans during WWII). One of the most important amendments that define America as the land of the free took almost 100 years for the U.S. to adopt, and 150 years later it is still not fully enforced.
