President Obama made the following statement five days prior to becoming our 44th President. “We are 5 days away from fundamentally transforming the United States of America.” It is statements like these which politicians make with ease and create a great deal of unease within me. America, not withstanding her flaws, has been and still is the greatest force for good this Earth has ever seen. We have spilt more blood and spent more treasure for the defense of our own liberty, and the liberty of other nations than any other nation in history. The United States has been the source of more technological advancements, which have raised the standard of living, than any other nation. The United States of America has given more freedom and security to women, African-Americans, Latinos, and other minorities than any other society. Given these truths about America, what American fundamentals does President Obama wish to change? In order to change something fundamentally you must change the fundamentals upon which that thing is built. Our fundamentals are found on every coin and bill - Liberty, In God We Trust, and Out of Many, One. They are found in the Constitution which limits the power of government and reserves power for the people. Our fundamentals are found in the Bill of Rights and Declaration of Independence. It is because of these fundamentals that America has become a great nation in the world and a great place to live. I do not want these fundamentals changed!
Regarding a national language, President Obama said during the campaign that questions about a national language is designed to divide us. Questions don't divide us, some answers might, but questions allow us to come to understandings and encourage dialog. There is nothing more dividing than the inability to communicate with one another. The less the citizens of the United States can communicate, the less united they can be. The crowd applauded his comment which was absurd. It tells me these people were reacting emotionally not rationally. What would be the effect of instantly dividing a nation into three or four groups that each spoke different languages? Nothing would be more effective at destroying the unity of that nation and injecting suspicion, mistrust, and fear. To allow our national language of English to diminish into one of many options directly undermines one of our fundamentals Out of Many, One.
President Obama stated that, “we can no longer rely only on our military in order to achieve the national security objectives we have set. We gotta have a national civilian security force that’s just as powerful, just as strong, just as well funded.” I have a few questions about this. First, what are the national security objectives we have set that the military cannot meet? Second, who is the enemy this civilian force will be pitted against? Third, do you indeed mean it when you say this force will be just as powerful and strong, because that is an extremely powerful organization. To establish a group as powerful as this without clear limits and direction for the use of that power is a clear threat to our fundamental value of Liberty.
President Bush created a Faith-Based Initatives Office and President Obama is continuing this group. It is not the place of government to reach into the lives of the American people in this way. Government should stay focused on its role in keeping the people safe and rights protected. Religion is the place for the people to have ownership and the government should stay out of the way. The government has enough to do without over-reaching when the founders clearly intened them to leave this to the people as the First Amendment intended. Over reach in this way can easily lead to the encroachment of our fundamental value of In God We Trust.
Politicians make these kinds of statements from time to time and it is common to receive applause from the awe stricken crowds who are either not capable or willing to think critically about what they are hearing. This behavior is unacceptable. Politicians must be more deliberate and clear in their assertions and we as a people must listen and ask the follow up questions which are so obvious and begging to be asked.
