a vastness unparalleled
especially out west!
WE THE PEOPLE live in a country so diverse; it’s difficult to imagine another even remotely close in the freedoms designed. A government limited in power, where the people hold control over the overall: The fabric of American empire ought to rest on the solid basis of THE CONSENT of the People. The streams of national power ought to flow immediately from that pure, original fountain of all legitimate authority (the people/Federalist 22). Yet, since signing the Declaration of Independence, America has been fighting to define itself and what it is as a people, even though the definition was clearly laid once the Constitution was adopted as the law to write all laws, yet legislators immediately went about twisting it.
And the nation’s diversity: The cultural makeup of its citizens and landscape. From arid deserts to mountains so majestic, with an expanse of fertile plains unparalleled, one’s jaw can only drop in awe attempting to take everything in. Plus, while no one ethnicity can claim superiority, as the fabric we call America is woven with all manner of color to produce one nation of many. The flag may be red, white and blue, but all citizens bleed the same when cut, while we fight like children today in cage matches using underhanded tactics to prove “right,” even though both sides are wrong.
Historically, to grow in land mass, America set out to settle the west. An openness and vastness of beauty unmatched. Harsh, desolate, foreboding, unforgiving, yet rich in variation, elevation, and purported sublimation. The cavalry would have a new job of killing after four years of brother killing brother to reunite what had been broken during the Civil War. Imagine, out west, several nations roamed land just sixty-two years prior a portion had been mapped by Lewis and Clark. Of them, some were nomadic, others settled, some warring, others agrarian. They loved what they felt was theirs and fought to maintain their sovereignty. Thus, throwing another nation into the mix deciding over ownership produced disastrous results. Although, before those who were there, other cultures extinct had vanished without a trace. How? Why? Which should make one wonder who was truly first or killed first for the control thereof. So, if one has an open mind, a perplexing debate awaits.
Example: In southern Arizona, there is the town of Bowie. A poverty-stricken community in an extremely harsh climate and ecosystem so desolate, most traveling through just want to get through. And by doing so, they miss the beauty of a landscape so hotly contested over a century ago that many fought valiantly but failed, trying to maintain their sovereignty over the region.
Southeast of Bowie the Chiricahua Mountains rise to 9,798 feet. And fourteen miles outside of Bowie the remains of Fort Bowie stand. Three nations (America/Apache/Mexico) struggled, fought and died vowing to make the area of inhospitable nature theirs. A triangle of combatants, the Apache, destined to lose, fought against two opposing sides for one land. Traveling the area today, one might begin to understand why the desire to call this landscape theirs prompted nations to fight and die for ownership.
And I get it, history is subjective. One’s perception, dependent on one’s agenda. Although, truth requires an open mind, willing heart, and ability to look at things objectively to see the right and wrong of an issue and what our forebears did. America is not perfect. And things that happened in the past cannot revert, but … a verse from the Bible is apropos: What is twisted cannot be straightened; what is lacking cannot be counted (Ecclesiastes 1:15).
And even though it’s impossible to unwind the actions of others, there is a table where all can gather in peace, harmony, and friendship. It’s like no other anywhere in the world. It may have scrapes, uneven legs, and possibly holes that need patching, but it’s sturdy, strong, forgiving. And, if we work together to make it Panglossian, it will become so. That table is the United States of America and the tablecloth … the Constitution. So, take the time and read it, learn it, understand it, believe it. Trust me, our legislators don’t read, learn, understand, believe, nor give a damn about it. And when it comes to who’s on first; unprovable. But second, or third base, doable, understanding the winner writes the history. The loser, well, let’s just give six feet.
