"Ours is the only country founded on a good idea."
-John Gunther
After spending a week in Washington DC, soaking up the sights and history, I agree with the above quote. The founders of this country were a strange varied crew, yet they managed to create a document and a system of government out of thin air and it has come to dominate the world. As I wandered through the Library of Congress and beheld the world largest book collection it struck me that this land of my birth is truly breathtaking in what it has done and become. Those who conceived of this country and wrote the constitution to give it dimensions surely knew not what would come of it, and even admitted so openly. This phantasmagoria that is modern America and what a rowdy role we now play on the world stage would give those long dead men that set us on this path something to behold. The complex interrelation between what our history is, our perception of ourselves, and then how we act is quite possibly the most insane balancing act than any group of people have ever attempted. Maybe that explains why the extreme polarities in our society never seem to challenge the system, because it seems to thrive of it, as indeed was apparently the plan. As is so often my mind wanders me into a corner out of which only a great quote can extricate me, and so here is one from Hegel- "America is therefore the land of the future, where, in the ages that lie before us, the burden of the World's History shall reveal itself." Hegel
1 comment:
Our government was certainly a work of genius. The theory of government by the people and for the people is wonderful.
The resulting government is unfortunately has gone far a field. We only have ourselves to blame.
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