dangerous words

"Remember, remember, the fifth of November,
Gunpowder, treason, and plot.
I see no reason why gunpowder treason
Should ever be forgot."

I am not a terrorist. I am not an extremist. Come to think of it, if you were to take every statement I make about each of my political beliefs, I would end up somewhere in the middle, though most would see my leaning towards the right.

I am not saying someone should go to drastic attempts to destroy a government. I am not saying I hate it. I am also not saying I'm in love with it.

People can hate me, especially those who are more likely to read this, but Thomas Jefferson had a point when he said that "People should not be afraid of its government; a government should be afraid of its people." There are things the government has done that I do not condemn, and truthfully, we would descend into utter chaos without some of these aspects.

However, to be quite frank, I am scared.

I am scared of the things that are happening right now. I am not going to start spewing ultra-conservative propaganda, but it seems like the government is slowly taking control. Inch by inch. I don't want to believe it. I still believe that our President is the commander-in-chief and should fulfill his duties as such, and I hope--daresay, I pray--he will do them to the best of ability, for the best of this country. I don't know what to believe anymore, though. I honestly should pay more attention to politics these days, I am on such a slippery ledge, but I honestly don't know where to go to for information, because everyone seems to have such a strong bias. I would almost come across as apathetic in group conversation unless I mentioned anything about my political beliefs. I know what I believe, I know my morals--some of them instilled, probably, from listening to my parents and friends, but others veering sharply away from theirs. I stick with what I know in my gut, in my mind. My intuition.

And while I don't think we are on the brink of anything too extreme just yet, I am not taking things for granted, and instead taking everything with a few grains of salt.

I don't believe in resorting to ultimate destruction of lives and country to express what one believes. I can also see the many reasons why one would. (It's called stepping back and looking at other points of view.) Doesn't mean I condone it.

I don't love the man, I didn't vote for him, and I don't agree with a lot of his platforms, but I don't want him dead or out of office--he was elected for a reason. I hope the American people knew what they were doing.

Honestly? I'm scared. I don't know what will happen next, and I'm afraid if I don't do something that it will be too late, but I can't do anything because I don't know who to ask, or where to look.

Guy Fawkes and "V" were extremists to the point of terrorism. The above rhyme is chanted while "Guy" effigies are burnt on the fifth of November; the rhyme was originally intended to remind the people what happens to those who intend to commit treason against their own governments. It was cleverly twisted for the Wachowski Brothers film to give meaning to the opposite side of the event.

I don't know why I wrote all this if it was just circular and never went anywhere, but it's such a powerful thought that brought out all the other powerful thoughts in me that I felt as if I had to write it. Hate me if you will for it; it's hard to read of or hear someone else tell of their political beliefs and still like them if they clash with yours. Even if it's just for a split-second, the disagreement shows, and is powerful. I know that where I live, in the department I am in, I am part of a politically-induced minority, as it is.

I just felt the need to write.

"Remember, remember"...remember it for what you will, how you will.

And Happy Saxophone Day and Marooned Without a Compass Day.