To the Editor:

It appears we are moving too quickly to the proverbial place, between a rock and a hard spot.  It is not a time for bickering between political affiliations or the lack thereof. Trending “weather” reports, once acknowledged to be cyclical patterns, suggest something greater. A nation, founded on the principle of “liberty and justice for all”, seems to be as it has been, allowing greater power and influence to the wealthy elite. I recognize that such allowances have always been. I am simply asking us to recognize what we have become after two hundred fifty years of the “grand experiment”. When asked what we have, Benjamin Franklin replied, “A republic, if you can keep it”.

I think that is what is worthy of our attention. Political and economic persuasions aside, we need to focus on the intent of our forefathers. We are not served well if we qualify or disqualify contributions to future generations because they owned slaves, distilled spirits, repaired shoes, or whatever. We built this country, so I was taught, on what they believed to be true. In so doing, they provided us a means to amend their thinking. I can only suggest that we refer to what they afforded us, our Constitution.  

That guiding document has seen us through untold challenges to our creation and becoming as a nation. The Civil War, on its surface, challenged, but did not undo, that principle. The lack of civil rights needed to be rightfully challenged and protested. Civil rights have been expanded to include most all of us.  

The challenge to uphold all of our rights to “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness” will be ongoing. Our Constitution affords and provides us with means to address that. I would suggest we do not abandon that. I would suggest we reexamine that. I would suggest that if we pledge to our flag, to the symbol of who and what we are, we should attend to what we have and now pledge our allegiance. I believe, if I remember it correctly, we pledge to, “liberty and justice for All.”

It was never assured to me that preserving the status quo, in my coming of age, would be or should be forever. I, perhaps naively assumed that the Constitution would prevail, amended as deemed necessary. I think, as I complete my seventy-ninth trip around the sun, my understanding of that underlying principle of our founding, of our governance, needs to be reaffirmed or amended. And if such affirmation is required, I suggest we pause for a moment.  Do we mean some are more entitled than others? In doing so, can we acknowledge that we will continue to do what is necessary and expedient to address what we come to know and declare?

Our answer to that question will have significant bearing on our fate and will determine further discussion. 

David Crosby
Colton