By James Pogue, NEW YORK -The U.S. is under attack but not from without, from within. The American Constitution guarantees freedom of thought and freedom of the press as well as the freedom to worship as one pleases. But what happens when one person or one group of people see themselves as the purveyor of what you can and cannot do. In that case, there is a direct violation of not just the American Constitution but a violation of the American way of life which is predicated on freedom and freedom of choice. Though as Americans, one would think that most people like to stay informed, read the news, research topics and be in the know – it appears that another vast majority prefer not to investigate or be critical of what they see, hear or read. Despite a plethora of questionable podcast content and the like, when it comes to the facts, there is still authentic, honest journalism happening and being reported daily. This is the crux of the matter – the preservation of real, authentic, live and on-the-spot reporting that brings the news to you with seasoned journalists on the ground who actually report what is really happening.
For those who still continue to maintain their distrust of the media, one must ask them: where do you get your news? Because the majority of mainstream news channels in the U.S. and abroad, including independents, are reporting exactly what’s happening, whether some people want to acknowledge it or not. Each and every American must wake up to the fact, that one day if we do not remain vigilant in our quest to preserve democracy, that America could very well fall to the hands of propagandizers, political hoodlums and of course, those countries who detest America and are just waiting for the right time to watch it fall apart. Which brings us to the stark reality of the present moment in ‘anywhere U.S.A.’ – extreme ideology has taken hold in certain circles and rather than uniting two sides, it is effectively working to tear them apart with accusatory language, abusive rhetoric and blatant misinformation. The right questions must be asked if we as the United States are to thrive and succeed going forward. Questions like: What are we doing as individuals to make our country competitive, contemporary and safe for the next decade and beyond? How are severe weather events caused by climate change, going to be handled and with what technology? Are we truly acknowledging our role as decent and responsible U.S. citizens and are we willing to take responsibility for our actions? Are we also willing to stand up and make ourselves heard when we see injustice perpetrated not simply in our country but on our neighbors as well? More importantly, do we realize we live in a global society where we are all interdependent – what happens to one, happens to all.
What seems to be the problem is that certain groups and individuals make everything and every issue a ‘black or white’ situation with no grey in-between – nothing could be farther from the truth. It is precisely those grey areas that call us to stand up and be counted, that demand our attention so that we can step in and exercise our right in the American Constitution to do the right thing for all people, not just for a privileged few. It is necessary now more than ever to stand tall against disinformation and misinformation, against tyranny and tyrannical leaders as well as extremist ideologies that threaten the very fabric of our country. America was not founded to limit its inhabitants but to expand and enhance their level of awareness, knowledge and clarity. We must, all of us not ever forget that the majority of us come from immigrant families who came to America from countries that were too dangerous to remain in. In the 21st century, there are no excuses not to care about your fellow Americans, not to be informed because all anyone has to do is GOOGLE the facts to get the facts. If you’re not even willing to do that, then you’re ready to give up everything the American Constitution says you’re entitled to. Are you willing to give up the freedom the American Constitution guarantees, because I know, I’m not.
