About Camelot
Daniel James Wood
September 01, 2009
Despite the seemingly innocuous and romantic references to the Kennedy clan as some sort of Camelot, the notion should have caused ordinary Americans to recoil in horror at the very mention of it. However, it began in a simpler time when American life was still compared to less fortunate countries as superior, and proudly so. To be certain, with the perpetual fascination of Medieval times shared by Americans - even to this day, with the Renaissance Fairs so popular - that hobby has never been meant as a wish to return to such times. And yet we have, to some extent, through the glorification of them. How curious...
The Founding Fathers decided that they had had enough of the tyrannical monarchy and so rebelled and formed this Union, sacrificing much to launch it. While the King was not what today would be considered a tyrant, the tight control exerted was more than the Founders and the people could bear, thus the rebellion.
Being religious men who craved nothing more than freedom from the strict control of a ruling class - and fully realizing that grown adults were more than capable of governing themselves - America was born under the vision of great men. Certainly, there were experiments that failed, such as a brief try at a socialistic system, but it became evident all too quickly that motivation removed was the petri dish for sloth. So they abruptly reverted back to the philosophy of personal success at personal risk. The new country flourished and became the worlds most dominant in record time.
Jealousy would be the next deadly sin to permeate the societal consciousness, and it was the perceived "injustice" that success was not for everyone that would facilitate the downward spiral in which we now find ourselves. Many Americans today still stridently cling to the belief that Congress is comprised of people we elect to serve our interests. Many still believe that we, the people, own every seat in Congress.
The problem is, those we've elected no longer share such beliefs. The hierarchic Throne we fought to achieve independence from has found its way back into the mindsets of the people we elected to take care of government business while we took care of our own, but they have made it abundantly clear - at least in their minds - that we have no business of our own, whether it be commercial business or private, such as our diets and our still-legal - albeit temporarily - vices.
Forgive me, but I do not recall the exact time, whether late last year or early this year, but I do recall Ted Kennedy trying to persuade whatever controlling entity to let his wife "take his seat" in the event of his demise. Now, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is faced with the choice of appointing a replacement to "fill Kennedy's seat". Inadvertently constructing a monarchy in America, the people have enabled this notion of possession that was never intended to be, and it is not limited to only the national level. Long forgotten is the intent by the Founders that the people own those seats.
This sense of royalty is on obvious display at the current spate of angry town hall meetings, where supposed servants of the people now arrogantly berate and belittle the very people they have come to hear; their constituents. The outright contempt for their employers could not be more clear as Congressmen either tell people to "mind their own damn business" or show proper identification to simply ask a question.
We, the people, have bestowed upon ourselves this ruling class by our reluctance to excel and also by our romanticizing of the days of yore. Little did we know that such an innocent fondness for history would result in our ultimate ruination, as the powerful would seize upon such revelry as the actual wishes of the masses.
Perhaps it's not too late, as people have been fierce in their outrage regarding the health care reform looming on the horizon, but I caution you; do not be timid in opposing it out of some expected level of respect for a deceased member of a royal family that never really existed. Camelot was for a long-past time, and dressing up and enjoying an afternoon of merriment in its memory is fine. Just know where to draw the line when it really matters.
As of this posting, we are still a free people. Keep that flame lit, always.
The Founding Fathers decided that they had had enough of the tyrannical monarchy and so rebelled and formed this Union, sacrificing much to launch it. While the King was not what today would be considered a tyrant, the tight control exerted was more than the Founders and the people could bear, thus the rebellion.
Being religious men who craved nothing more than freedom from the strict control of a ruling class - and fully realizing that grown adults were more than capable of governing themselves - America was born under the vision of great men. Certainly, there were experiments that failed, such as a brief try at a socialistic system, but it became evident all too quickly that motivation removed was the petri dish for sloth. So they abruptly reverted back to the philosophy of personal success at personal risk. The new country flourished and became the worlds most dominant in record time.
Jealousy would be the next deadly sin to permeate the societal consciousness, and it was the perceived "injustice" that success was not for everyone that would facilitate the downward spiral in which we now find ourselves. Many Americans today still stridently cling to the belief that Congress is comprised of people we elect to serve our interests. Many still believe that we, the people, own every seat in Congress.
The problem is, those we've elected no longer share such beliefs. The hierarchic Throne we fought to achieve independence from has found its way back into the mindsets of the people we elected to take care of government business while we took care of our own, but they have made it abundantly clear - at least in their minds - that we have no business of our own, whether it be commercial business or private, such as our diets and our still-legal - albeit temporarily - vices.
Forgive me, but I do not recall the exact time, whether late last year or early this year, but I do recall Ted Kennedy trying to persuade whatever controlling entity to let his wife "take his seat" in the event of his demise. Now, Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick is faced with the choice of appointing a replacement to "fill Kennedy's seat". Inadvertently constructing a monarchy in America, the people have enabled this notion of possession that was never intended to be, and it is not limited to only the national level. Long forgotten is the intent by the Founders that the people own those seats.
This sense of royalty is on obvious display at the current spate of angry town hall meetings, where supposed servants of the people now arrogantly berate and belittle the very people they have come to hear; their constituents. The outright contempt for their employers could not be more clear as Congressmen either tell people to "mind their own damn business" or show proper identification to simply ask a question.
We, the people, have bestowed upon ourselves this ruling class by our reluctance to excel and also by our romanticizing of the days of yore. Little did we know that such an innocent fondness for history would result in our ultimate ruination, as the powerful would seize upon such revelry as the actual wishes of the masses.
Perhaps it's not too late, as people have been fierce in their outrage regarding the health care reform looming on the horizon, but I caution you; do not be timid in opposing it out of some expected level of respect for a deceased member of a royal family that never really existed. Camelot was for a long-past time, and dressing up and enjoying an afternoon of merriment in its memory is fine. Just know where to draw the line when it really matters.
As of this posting, we are still a free people. Keep that flame lit, always.
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