United States of Authoritarian America
Tom LaGrave
Integrated Behavioral Health Provider (IBHP) at Sonoma Valley Community Health Center
The First Amendment - “Constitution of United States of American 1789 (rev.1992).
Authoritarian and “the right to practice Religion freely.” All people of the Christian, Catholic, Presbyterian, and Mormon faith will no longer be allowed to immigrate to the United States of America. As of today, you must make the request for citizenship to the United States, doing so in the country immediately bordering the United States of America (Mexico, Canada).
To the reader, I ask that you do not imagine what I’ve just shared by thinking, but do so in feeling. So now consider this, you land at an American airport, at customs you’re informed that you’ll be transported to the nearest border. There you’ll begin the process of seeking asylum or citizenship. You’ll do so on your own dime, and you will do it because you’re Christian, Catholic, Presbyterian, or Mormon.
Now, how would you feel? No, that’s not quite right. What I actually mean, how do you feel? Do not read these words in passing. Here let me help, now sit up and listen. Do not open your mouth or I’ll have a couple of my thugs hold you down. I’ll then take a needle and thread and sew your mouth shut. Understand this, from here on I’ll tell you when to talk. I too will tell you when to think.
You doubt this; let me share several names, (Pol Pot, Idi Amin, Kim Jong-un, Gaddafi, and/or Saddam Hussein). Let me put it another way, a more meaningful way. If you’ll not feel these words, then you’ll never truly understand what it is to be Black. If you’ll not feel these words then “Black Lives,” will never matter, and you’ll also never be able to empathize with “Me too!”
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Authoritarian and “the freedom of speech.” The internet is now the vehicle where “We the People,” can find the means in which we can each individually go viral amongst the masses. Now imagine this thought, how you would feel if your voice was silenced. What would that feel like; if as an American your words were denied? If then to each and every one of us this precious right was deprived? Imagine what that would feel like, really, authentically, truly and yes factually?
Authoritarian and the “freedom of the press.” I do not ask that you imagine what the stoppage and dismantling of the written word would be like. I’m asking how you would feel if the press were not free, but instead a puppet creation of an authoritarian regime? How would you feel if you could not trust the written word? Now, how are you feeling? Again really, authentically, truly feeling?
Authoritarian and “the right of the people peaceably to assemble.” So once again, do not imagine what it would be like to be pepper-sprayed, beaten by the baton, shot with rubber bullets, or by hoses blasting out blue water? My brothers and sisters, how do you feel? I ask that you seek what would be felt, and now feel it…
Authoritarian and “to petition the Government for a redress of grievance.” From you, the right of free movement denied because of Religion. By you, the denial to speak your mind, to freely speak the truth. To you, denied gathering peaceably so as to express your belief. Finally, to be denied the ability to confront the Government that was elected of the people, by the people, for the people.
Come on America; don’t imagine what that’s like. I ask this of you because if you feel what this would be like, perhaps you’ll realize that the feelings of freedom are not of the heart but of our soul and precious. And, these times we live in make all our rights precarious to those who would govern authoritarianly.
Well, what do you think? Or, how do you in this moment feel? Scary, huh… Angry?