Matt_R

Democracy. It is the foundation of the United States. But what is it? To one it can be defined as power by the people, for the people. To another it can be defined as freedom of speech. To another, even, it can be a hypocritical scam that gives the government the right to screw over other countries by destroying them with our atomic bombs...which we prohibit those countries from even possessing. So we are invading countries in an attempt to find and destroy "WMDs"; meanwhile, we are producing those same weapons left and right with no consequences. And if a democracy gives freedom, what are the limits to freedom? Are there limits? Where is the fine line that turns freedom of speech into a national threat? When, in any situation, can you not say, "I'm an American" and give yourself the freedom to do anything you want. These are questions that I want answering.

I've been told countless times that I live in America. That I am free. Then I started to hear that I am a minor, so I have no rights; therefore, no freedom. Do I have rights? Does the American Democracy give freedom? Or only so after I turn 18. These are questions that I want answering.

Is the point of a democracy to participate in the government or to change it? If I want to be a doctor, how can I participate in the government. By voting? What if I have to choose between to options on a bill, but the most logical one isn’t even presented? Do I just sit back and not vote? Because I am a doctor, not a politician. Therefore, I can’t make the bills, I can only vote for them. Do I trust the people that are making the bills? Are they making the bill for the good of the people or for the good of themselves? How am I supposed to know? These are questions that I want answering.

Bringing up another point. How do I know if the truth is being told to me? There is freedom of the press, but how do I know that the press is telling the truth, or if a newspaper is just trying to write attention-grabbing stories for better sales and ratings? These are questions that I want answering.

As I stand up at the Boston Red Sox game during the 7th inning stretch, ‘God Bless America’ is being sung. I feel chills run down my spine and I feel that little thing called “patriotism”. Pride for my country. I say to myself, “//God **Bless** America!//” But to I really mean it? Thinking about all of the questions and uncertainties that I have about our democracy, do I REALLY mean it?

These are the questions that **__NEED__** answering.