Friday, September 25, 2009

Revolution?

Today I did some light reading and finished a novel for my book club called The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. The novel takes place in the time period immediately following World War II. It tells about the invasion and occupation of Guernsey Island by German troops. Guernsey Island is part of Great Britain and is located in the English Channel between France and the United Kingdom. When the Germans blitzed their way through Europe and conquered France, it was just a short hop to Guernsey Island, and the island was totally cut off from England. The Germans expected to be able to conquer Great Britain from their new base of operation on Guernsey Island. This novel gives the historical background of what happened during World War II and the shortages of food, clothes, soap, etc as well as other conditions and deprivations of the war. It also tells a fun story that I really enjoyed. I highly recommend the book. I like to read stories that are based in history because then I feel like I'm gaining some knowledge while being entertained.
This novel reminded me of how close France and England are. Then I remembered the classic Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens, an 1859 novel set in London and Paris. It depicts the period before and during the French Revolution which lasted from 1789 to 1799. This revolution, which began about the time the U.S. Constitution was ratified, introduced democratic ideals to France but did not make France a democracy. Prior to this revolution, European kings, nobles, and other groups were able to rule and reign as they saw fit. After the revolution they could no longer take their powers for granted or ignore the principles of liberty and equality for all their people.
I found it very interesting to learn that the French Revolution began with a governmental financial crisis, which then became a reform movement for radical change. It came about because the peasants and the working class of the cities were paying most of the taxes but were looked down upon socially. This group was clamoring for rights and wanted a written constitution.
Early in the revolution a crowd in Paris captured a royal fortress, and elected officials took over the government. King Louis XVI and his wife, Marie Antoinette, were killed. Thousands of people were killed in what is called the Reign of Terror. Napoleon Bonaparte, a French general, took control of the government and ended the revolution.
I told you a little about a book written by Saul Alinsky called Rules for Radicals in 1971. This book has been used for about forty years to indoctrinate many young people in the ways of revolution. The young adults of 1971 are now in their late thirties and forties and are taking their places as leaders in this underground revolution in our country.
Is it too late for us to stop this revolution in our country? I don't think so. One of the reasons that I think that we still have time is because polls still show that the majority of Americans consider themselves to be conservative even though progressives are slowly moving us away from the Constitution. We must stand up and defend the Constitution and demand that our elected representatives do also.
Our government does not have to do all things for us. It is only required to protect our God-given rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. The government needs to stop trying to control our lives from birth to grave and get out of our way so we can pursue happiness.

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