Natural and Civil Rights: Paine and Handlin

As far as I am concerned, though they are not always upheld to the fullest extent of which they should be, America was founded on the same ideas as those of Paine and Handlin. Thomas Paine alone had a tremendous impact on the evolution of this country. While the United States was still in a state of infancy, Common Sense was a widespread phenomenon- addressing rather profound yet obvious points. Also, the concept of natural rights has maintained a strong hold in this country since its creation. The Declaration of Independence makes this apparent with it’s ending statement, that every individual has the right to “life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,” all of which would be considered ‘God-given’ rights. Not only that, but civil rights are addressed as well, stating that, “All men are created equal.” So why then, are these concepts of natural and civil rights even debatable? Why is it that a country founded on the recognition of these natural rights struggles still to uphold them? Why is it that a country who clearly says that, “All men are created equal,” has struggled through a Civil War, the civil rights movement, the women’s suffrage movement, and others? Why is it that lower class immigrants have been taken advantage of and have been neglected these same rights? Why is socio-economic status so debilitating, and the cycle of poverty nearly impossible to escape? What do these movements have in common with the views of Paine and Handlin? It is civil disobedience- the belief that people have a responsibility to be loyal to themselves and struggle to uphold and fight for these God-given rights in which they are being denied. A government sometimes struggles to maintain public order, and what they would consider to be a state of ‘peace’. Unfortunately, so often it seems that rather than public order or so sublime an ideal of peace- that they are struggling to maintain an illusion. Thoreau wrote a great deal on civil disobedience, and he was not the first or last to say, “That government is best which governs least.” I agree with this, and I also believe that the government’s inevitable desire for control correlates with Handlin’s relation of ship masters and captains to Plato’s ‘players’. It is often said that there is so much going on within the government that we will never know, if for no other reason than to prevent widespread panic and paranoia. Nonetheless, we are manipulated through mass media and other outlets everyday, sometimes blatantly, but more often than not very subtly- unaware that we are even being influenced. Take the current presidential campaign for example, politicians often disgust me, even the most initially sincere tend to sell-out. There is little to no authenticity in the world of politics, and I find this to be very dangerous. The political world is a show, and these politicians are all tap dancers putting on a show- ventriloquist dolls and puppets, having others speak for them and pulling their strings. Illusions, used to manipulate the citizens of a noble country who do not deserve to be lied to. The government promotes ideas of patriotism and nationalism, which will aid in the blind following of their ideals rather than the truer concept of what is right, and morally appeasing to all; no matter what race, religion, nation, et cetera. The bureaucrats of today act as players, and these shadows of the images they present us with, are often oppressing- diversions which distract us from the truth. The “American Dream” for example, an illusion, a perfectly crafted ideal in which we are conditioned to not just live up to, but to desire to do so. And why is this- because it fits in perfectly to the scheme of Christian conservative capitalism. If we were however, to realize this, to acknowledge it and more importantly to react to it, than perhaps we could break free of this conditioning. I feel that there are many more revolutions in the future of America. There are many more obstacles to overcome, and unfortunately the fight for freedom and life and happiness for all may never be concluded. It is those simple and obvious teachings of those like Paine and Handlin that are simple and obvious yes, but are profound in the sense that they provide us with recognition of what we all ready know to be true. They cause us to want to defend these rights at all costs. So long as we maintain awareness, and choose to see through the illusions- so can we do a much finer job at upholding these natural and civil rights, not only for ourselves, but for all of humanity.