Ciao!

Your right to rock

10.25.2004

What's always fascinated me about America's political system — and its political culture — is its unique foundation. I know of no other country founded on the principle that people have an inherent right to revolt (i.e. to overturn law itself).

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Millions of school kids memorize this excerpt every year. We teach our kids, at an early age, that there is something superior to law — and that law ("Government") is utilitarian, not an end itself or the source of higher authority. Other societies don't do this. That doesn't make them wrong; it only means that we must remember that this crucial, fundamental, and deep difference exists in how we see the world. This American dream is an idealistic dream, a still-largely unfulfilled dream. But it's the light that guides our little ship.

So. We're a society born w/ belief in the value of a good revolt. It's no surprise, then, the rock & roll was born in the USA.

Posted by Miguel at 09:35 AM

Comments

Posted by: MB at October 25, 2004 08:30 AM

Posted by: tom at October 25, 2004 01:25 PM