“Law and Order”, Or Oppression and Despotism

As the President of the United States of America makes his bid for a second term in the Oval Office, his speech in Tulsa, Oklahoma, sounded a little of everything; criticizing, threatening, and even as reported by some racist, stating that he could “refer to the Corona Virus by more than 19 names.”

Starting a re-election campaign with such an approach at the time when Americans are looking for unity and reassurance is deepening peoples’ fear (putting more power in the hands of the few to oppress the many). This “cartel” type of thinking and behavior is what the founders of the Constitution wanted to prevent. The assumption of ruling with an iron fist is gradually becoming the norm it appears, putting the American democracy to the test in a country where one of the core foundations of our democratic governing system is to respect, protect, and to honor ALL people. Centuries ago, Thomas Jefferson understood that “all men are equal”

“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.”

Yet, here we are in the 21st Century and still resisting to accept that there’s no difference between who people are and that every person has the absolute right to life and happiness. “Law and Order” in Mr. Trump’s voice emits a wave of distressing emotions causing people to live in a constant state of uncertainty wondering what tomorrow is going to bring. Although, one cannot contradict the fact that Law and Order is necessary to keep a nation safe. However, an excessive Law and Order undermines the democratic system that so proudly defines who we are as a country.

A nation’s breakdown is not just its peoples’ division, but worse than that is ignoring what that division could provoke, because at some point in time, none of us will be spared from what might happen if “We, the People” do not come together, regardless of race. These unrivaled words making us proud of who we are, and the kind of democracy we believe in becomes only ink on paper.

Ronald Reagan’s words still carry a firm belief in all of us that we can do better:

“I have read the constitutions of a number of countries . . . ” and “Many countries have written into their constitution provisions for freedom of speech and freedom of assembly. If this is true, why is the Constitution of the United States so exceptional?

“The difference is so small it almost escapes you–but it’s so great it tells the whole story in just three words: We the people.”

In its quest to be the world’s guardian of human rights and individuals’ liberties, America is failing to live by the same principals it preaches. This institutionalized racial discrimination in our own backyard is decaying the values we hold to be true of who we are. Human interaction, individual and community welfare, and equality are being threatened by the institutionalized racial disease we have allowed to infect the American society. If we have to ask ourselves one very important question: Are we going to seize the opportunity from seeing people taking to the streets denouncing racism or are we going to lose the momentum to change? This question cannot be answered unless people not only understand the consequences of racism but also change the narrative in their minds about prejudice.