When I heard about the 60 year old librarian in Denver who was arrested and given a citation for trespassing at a John McCain Town Hall meeting for holding up a sign "McCain = Bush", I had longed wish that I had the money to start up a defense fund and put "plants" at various campaign stops.
My thought process was to have two volunteers with signs. One that said McCain = Bush and the other that said I Love McCain. Have them both standing side by side and see which one was told to leave the premises. Of course there would be someone there with a video camera to tape it all.
The pragmatist in me tells me nice fantasy but rather unrealistic. Not only would funding the project be an issue, but realistically, how many people are willing to go to risk going to jail for an experiment?
It's said that one person can't make a difference, but I disagree. Cindy Sheehan gave voice and courage to others to speak out against the War in Iraq. Jon Soltz and Jeremy Broussard co-founded VoteVets, Markos created this site and helped fuel a movement that has spread like wildfire. Margaret Sanger started the push for birth control and led to the creation of Planned Parenthood. These are just some examples of people who were willing to put themselves out there to make a difference.
Often times it's asked what can we do to make changes. I guess the question should be what are we willing to do to make changes. It seems, in todays day and age, we're more willing to sit back and let someone else be responsible for making the changes. It's easy for many of us to open up our checkbook and donate to a candidate, as long as it doesn't interrupt our weekly viewing of American Idol or Grey's Anatomy. For many, they believe in the candidate that they're supporting enough to give their time and energy to the campaign, and for others, activism is the way for them. They're willing to take the criticism that comes with the territory. They are willing to put themselves out there.
Grant it, the donations, the campaign work, the activism all play important roles. However, one thing is certain, the government that Abe Lincoln referred to in the Gettysburg Address
that government of the people, by the people, for the people
requires active participation by the people long past elections. Regardless of what our issues are, it takes voices and sweat and determination to ensure that our government is acting in the best interest of the country. Are we willing to put in the effort that's required to maintain the system that was put in place for the common good of the people or will we be complacent once the election is over and just shrug our shoulders and swallow the rancid taste in our mouth until the next election?