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The Gray Line Tour

Leonard Gray / L’Observateur / August 4, 1999

So what is happening in this country? People are dissatisfied with the doings of their national leaders, yet afraid of their own children. People are hungry for new technology butfearful of what’s on the Internet. People want help but cringe fromresponsibility.

We live in a society unprecedented in its freedoms. Historically, no peoplehas ever been so free to live, work, speak or think as Americans. Yet, therewas a time not so long ago, when to speak out as an American citizen was a point of pride. Nowadays, it’s almost an embarrassment.People call for gun control. Others call for no gun control. Crime is thedetermining factor behind these calls, some saying crime is on the increase while others saying crime would be much worse without the current laws. Yet, the Second Amendment isn’t talking about crime, butinvasion by foreign powers.

Nowadays, however, the talk is more like the American people consider Washington as the “foreign power,” against whom we must defend. Itwasn’t always that way.

The Civil War was fought, not to free slaves, but to settle the issue of state’s rights and the intrusion of the national government over state affairs. The Union won, hence the IRS, the EPA and the whole federalgovernmental snowball.

Can we take up arms against the federal government and “take back” our nation? That was settled many years ago. All the militias practicing withtheir illegally-altered automatic weapons won’t change that at all. Whatwe can do, however, is make ourselves aware of what is going on and take action through the ballot to change the system.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not calling for a Second American Civil War.That didn’t work the first time and nobody’s equipped to try it a second time, doomed to failure.

What I am calling for is for Americans to learn what their elected representatives, from parish councilmen to the U.S. President is up to.Learn where they derive their backers. Learn what they do when they don’twant you to know. Talk and communicate among yourselves. Take action atevery election. Get involved, and don’t stay ignorant.And keep in mind that America, despite its faults, remains the greatest country ever conceived. The fact that I can write this column means nogovernment censor is going to tell me what I can write. That’s an editor’sprerogative.

Once, America was a melting pot of cultures, races and religions. Peoplegained from one another, learned from one another, and worked to overcome prejudice to succeed. For example, where once Irish-Catholicswere vilified and despised, in less than 100 years, we had an Irish- Catholic president. With diligence, pride in being an American, and personal abilities, anyone can succeed in something.

If you don’t like the system, work to change the system. Become part ofthe system and work from within, or squeak loudly enough to demand attention.

To do otherwise is, well, un-American.

Leonard Gray is a reporter for L’Observateur

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