Column: Age of Forgetfulness
Remember when our government was caught spying on us?
Remember when WikiLeaks exposed the United States for numerous occasions of conspiracy and misbehavior?
Remember when the government shut down for sixteen days, leaving hundreds of thousands furloughed and millions more embarrassed about their democratic system?
In true American form, most of us are likely to forget it sooner than later. And while Mom might be proud to see we have taken her lesson to heart on never holding grudges, holding the government accountable is a different story.
It is healthy to forgive and forget, to live and let live. Honestly, if we let little problems consume us, we would amount to nothing.
But we have a big problem on our hands. It is not a new problem. In fact, some would argue we have been dealing with it since the advent of organized establishment.
The government gets away with whatever it wants.
Sure, the media can write articles and snap all the photos it wants. We can dig deep, ask questions and investigate until there is no tomorrow. But when there is no longer any public interest, the story usually sputters out.
And what once would be considered a great abomination or violation of the Constitution becomes a part of a past our country seems eager to forget. The once sure-to-be spark of a revolution flickers out into nothing but maybe a notation in history books.
The Patriot Act. Benghazi. Have we found those weapons of mass destruction yet?
This brings us to an even bigger problem. We let the government get away with whatever it wants. We are too busy with everyday life to worry about politics.
Believe it or not, I am not a conspiracy theorist. I don’t consider myself a radical nor do I hypocritically criticize a country that has given me freedom and security since the day I was born.
The United States will always be my home. I believe in having pride for my nation, one of the greatest in the world.
However, I also believe in a country built upon the Constitution, for the people and by the people. I believe in following the values and ideals that made us who we are today. And I believe that when we fall short of meeting these standards, we must do more than acknowledge it. The guilty party, regardless of rank or status, must be held accountable. Transparency is mandatory.
Sometimes, during our busy schedules, it is important to discuss issues like the implications of the government shutdown or the potential dangers of NSA surveillance. It might not seem important now, but the impact could be farther reaching than we can fathom.
I know I cannot be the only one who believes we are not getting the whole story. We might never get it, but half of the battle is continuing to ask questions.
