Mikey wrote:
" He will never understand it or what it means for us. Period.
I think this is a red herring as far as this topic is concerned.
I too was born elsewhere, and grew up with the 'British' culture all around me. Each morning, to begin our day at school, we faced the photo of Queen Elizabeth and sang God Save the Queen. Our national flag had a Union Jack in its corner.
We were taught to be proud of our British heritage, which was so obviously a civilizing influence for us (and the world).
And we were taught to look upon the USA as, a useful trading partner, and a rambuctious, semi-friendly, though slightly scary neighbor.
Because of our "Britishness" we were actually more civilized and stable than the US. Our society was quietly, but obviously, superior to the US. Perhaps not materially superior, but certainly morally and culturally.
For the record, Canada is the country I grew up in.
And, unlike our English born friend who wrote the piece above, I understand completely! I 'get' it about the Constitution. I 'get' it about government having a monopoly on force. And I hate that concept.
Aside from it being (at least in the US) unconstitutional, it is unnatural! Humans have a basic, inherent, natural, unquestionable right to defend their own lives! From who, or whatever, may threaten them.
A government may have a general duty to 'protect' society, and occasionally individual citizens, but each person has an unassailable and instinctive right/need to protect him/herself.
I might point out that there are people who were born, raised, and live in the U.S. - people whose families have been part of this country for generations, who have the same lack of understanding about the
right to bear arms (which is much more than the 'desire' to do so) as does our English born friend above.
In a very general way, think East Coast, think Southern Californina, think Kennedys, Feinsteins, Bradys. Why do they not 'get' the core beliefs and values represented by the
right to bear arms?
It ain't because of
where they were born. Or a lack of exposure to the U.S. Constitution. Or being a subject rather than a citizen. (When I was growing up in Canada, I was considered a 'subject' of Her Majesty, far away in England, rather than a citizen of Canada... bizarre!)
It is, as suggeted by 'alsatian' a matter of 'nobility' versus 'serfs' or 'commoners'.
And that, I think, is simply fear. Paradoxical fear. On one hand they fear that the commoners aren't confident and responsible enough and must be 'protected' from themselves, and on the other hand they fear that the commoners
are confident and responsible, and 'they' must protect themselves from independent commoners. (Ironic isn't it that 'they' believe in the right to be armed -or hire armed people- to protect themselves against others, yet don't belive others have the same right to protect against 'them'.)
It might be amusing, if it weren't so dangerous.
Some might actually feel sorry for people with this belief paradox -it must be hard on one's brain to have these conflicting beliefs. I'd consider feeling sorry for them, if only they weren't the people and class in power.
Anyway, bottom line... It is obvious to me that people who believe in government having a monopoly on force can be just as "American" by birth, as any on this forum, and people who 'get' the concept of
the right to bear arms can be as foreign as geography can make them.
It is not just the geographical land mass on which you drew your first breath that gives you an apreciation of, and drive for freedom (though that can, and does contribute), it is an inherent, internal, pulsing recognition that you have an absolute
right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. It is just so damn human!
And I, as an ex-pat Canadian, and inhabitant of this planet gratefully thank the creators of the US Constitution for putting that
right down on paper for the world to see!
