(#5242) Something bigger than ourselves

      Democracy is bigger than ourselves. If we don't realize that we each are not the center of the universe then there is no hope of all of us keeping the bigger picture intact. Think about Nathan Hale, just before his hanging as an American spy against the British in the Revolutionary War and his last words, "I only regret that I have but one life to lose for my country.". That will forever be the epitome of what it is to sacrifice all for the sake of liberty and freedom like our democracy provides. We each as American citizens need to have this credo of Nathan's embedded into our DNA. We who have benefited from so many valorous heroes who through the last several centuries gave all for us to share in their dream.
     I don't have to explain the necessity of honoring their courage when it comes to their success in bringing about the single greatest form of government ever devised. So to not protect and grow it into a more perfect union betrays all who wore our American military uniform or sacrificed on behalf of our democracy. Something bigger than ourselves. I know that life is difficult and more times than not unsuccessful for us in our other pursuits but when it comes to the core of our existence there is nothing more important to survival of liberty and freedom than democracy.
     Everything we have in our lives here in America can be directly linked back to the effects of democracy. Our homes, our cars, our families, those things we desired and achieved are because we had the liberty and freedom to choose them. Even our friends are our friends because we were able to form relationships everywhere we wanted. So much of who we are is because we live in a democratic society. So the idea of protecting it is a no brainer and should need little if any explanation. But I will explain the lack of democracy in just a sentence. Being ruled as a lesser human being with no liberty, freedom nor human rights for all. Such is the way under autocracies and tyranny.