Once along time ago our own Great Grandparents Had a Dream. They were told that if they sacrificed “everything” – their time, effort, and convenience – even sacrificed pursuing their own personal dreams – the very essence of what human beings are made to do… If they put aside pursuing their own personal happiness, for their children and grandchildren, that every single one of their ancestors would inherit a bounty of gifts that they created and earned for them. Many of us remember some of these promises, the gold stars or the numerous times they told us, “When you grow up, there will be so many resources and educational opportunity’s that you will be able to do whatever you want to do with your life.”
For our Great Grandparents, being asked to fully apply themselves and their labor at good paying jobs, that empowered them to build up their lives, begin family dynasty’s, and to modernize and strengthen America, didn’t seem like such a big sacrifice to them. In fact, producing products to create a high standard of living for all citizens, while establishing a peaceful world and a secure retirement for themselves, sounded great.
Especially, considering the hell that their generation had already gone through, when they worked for Sweatshops that paid practically nothing and then nearly starved to death, during the Great Depression. After all, what did their generation know about that Happiness thing anyway – and they were convinced that living their lives as the example of the life-style that they were advocating was not only the best way – but, the only way to achieve True Democracy and Human Rights for all Nations.
They thought long and hard about the plan, and realizing that we were the only people on earth, who had ever broken away from the clutches of Dictatorship and Authoritarian Rule, they knew how important this step would be, not just for themselves and our country, but for every human being on the face of the Earth. Then our Elected Leaders talked a lot about Representing the People and took an oath that they would never break their promises. They solemnly swore, to never return to the days of Sweatshop Kid wages and labor or the systematic oppression of loyal, decent and hard working people again.
Nope, not in America! That kind of Governmental Rule Making System would never be resurrected ever again. Then to show their devotion to us, they immediately began investing our consolidated tax dollars to expand our communications systems to fully empower our journalists and to develop our citizen’s radio and television air-waves and make media programs accessible for all of our American households. Because our Leaders had “seen the light,” they knew without a shadow of a doubt, that the amount that a man carried in his pocket, had nothing to do with the sincerity of their character, the desires of their heart and their value as a human being.
Well, our Great Grandparents liked the sound of that and they loved the idea that their future Grandchildren would be free to reach for their dreams, because every one of them would receive good College educations. And they really liked the idea that for the first time in the history of the world, regular folks -- in fact, themselves, would be encouraged to play a big part in the Rules Making and Decisions that were applied to their lives and directly effected them.
Within a short time we had established the 40 hour work week, Universal 11th Grade educations and determined to discover cures for all diseases! This was the first time that the doors opened for everyday citizens to study and research the various sciences and our great grandparents and grandparents invested their energies to ensure that this life-style became a reality for their own kids. Okay, well maybe not their own kids, because they knew it was going to take a little while to expand and understand the sciences and develop this system – however, their grandchildren would defiantly receive the benefits of their tireless devotion to them, before they were even born.
There was a Grand Celebration and the wages were good, so folks throughout our country focused on building up their lives and securing assets in order to pass down a solid foundation to the next generation. Yup, future generations would never have to start building from scratch again. Nope, none of that Aristocratic-inequality stuff! And America’s children could jump off the coattails of what their own family’s had achieved before them.
Oh, hallelujah, a chance for every individual to become the King of their own castle, a chance for all men to finally break free from the knowledge of poverty and the senseless pain of living within those untenable conditions – and a chance to pursue their own Happiness too! We are Masters of our own Destiny! …and almost every family in America – both Democrat and Republican and all those in-between joined the same team. In America, we were all chasing the same dream, a prosperous future for every citizen!
So focusing on what the next step should be, our Elder’s decided that if they wiped away all of our previous sins of humanity – that their children never knowing of these realities would simply never repeat or develop those systems of human control ever again. At the same time, our Great Grandparents and Grandparents were making certain that we would never be denied the Rights of Men ourselves. They believed that once we immersed in a culture that values human rights and felt the comforts of freedom that we would instinctually never allow anyone to take those rights and freedoms away from us. Happy Days were here for all People!
Excitedly, both of our citizens and leaders, jumped on board to do everything they could to make that dream come true. So they excitedly jumped on board to protect future generations and were told that for their sacrifice, their children would be freed from all unnecessary and senseless obstacles on their life-path, so that they could spend their whole lives developing their talents, building new innovations and achieving their personal goals. The best part from their point of view was that while we were doing this for our families and ourselves, we also had the opportunity to spread human-freedoms and democracy around the world.
Our lives were a living example of what was possible, when citizens united and worked together to make every citizen’s personal dreams come true. And all one had to do to be on the team was have one head of household work 40 hours a week, apply themselves in school and put our best foot forward every chance that we could.
Our Elders were promised that if they just followed the rules based on fairness that everything would finally be safe for the Common Man and by extension for their children and grandchildren and every generation that followed. And we, the small children, desiring to be King’s and Queen’s of our own Households as well, embraced our Elders advice and stepped onto the established pathway to build our nation and lives.
Yes, the day would surely come, and much quicker than we could ever suspect, when everything would a last be comfortable for all human beings. All children would go to great schools and have access to college. All people would either have, “lifetime jobs with white collar salaries,” (because of the incoming computer age), and/or be enabled to focus on their interests and develop their inventions, produce their artistic projects or open businesses. And last, but not least, our Great Grandparents, and by then Grandparents would be provided comfortable and secure retirements.
And because of our efforts, sheer determination and long-term dedication, the everyday citizens would never have to worry again about things like keeping the lights on at night, the heat on during the winter, and cupboards full of food – because one thing would always be certain, “America Takes Care of Its People.” After all, each and every one of us are Lady Liberty’s children.
Copyright © 2005 Common Man For America, Suellis Kelley, All Rights Reserved
