Battling for democracy vs. battling boredom
In early February, Myanmar experienced a takeover of its fragile democracy by its military. As is always the case with such dictatorial juntas, the press was throttled, the right to assemble, and the right to vote were curtailed. Tanks and armed soldiers and police patrolled the streets. The military threatened protesters with death for violations of these emergency laws.
In the deadly face of these laws, millions of unarmed citizens took to the streets. One 17-year-old boy was quoted as saying, “I am willing to give my life to protect our democracy for future generations.” Precisely the sentiment that our Founders pledged their fortunes, lives, and sacred honor to secure and defend.
At the same time, a lengthy article in our press opined on the “boredom” Americans were suffering from because of the social restrictions of COVID-19. Americans were dealing with their boredom by a record mania of consumerism, alcohol and drugs … the signature diseases of affluenza. They were doing so not one month after their own democracy suffered its greatest threat for survival since the Civil War.
We are in a suicidal war among ourselves. Whether a flabby people — in their bodies, minds, morals and souls — can remain free, is a question that our grandchildren, or their children, will certainly live to see answered.
The only exit from this future will be a nation of brave and committed Americans willing to risk something more than their divided opinions. It will take, in a word, citizenship, a citizenship both unselfish and sacrificial.
Jack Hyland, Denver