Where's OUR revolution?
So now we're looking at Equiano offering an idea that, while not revolutionary in itself, will lead ultimately to the very revolutionary act of EMANCIPATION. Emancipation is revolutionary not because it frees people but because it TAKES PROPERTY. Never before or since has the US government in one fell swoop taken so much private property and obliterated it as property. So revolutionary is this act, in fact, that when the HAITIAN REVOLUTION happens - first in 1791 then for real in 1804, the US government insists that the slave holding French be paid off.
So, as I read about the FRENCH REVOLUTION and compare it to the AMERICAN i cannot help but wonder how truly revolutionary the US was. The freeing of the slaves seems out of character.
Her's more evidence that we're not so revolutionary: in France the Third Estate led the revolution after about a decade of economic trouble. Here we are in an economic crisis, we are told, with unemployment and all the rest, but no revolution. Why not? Where is our revolution? I don't look forward to the Reign of Terror, but a revolution might be fun, especially if it is televised.
The France have a dictatorship while here, we have many people trying to work us out of the economic crisis and we are allowed to choice who we want in offices hoping for them to solve our problems. Also we are trying hard to find jobs and get out of the crisis.
ReplyDeleteRevolution is a powerful word. I don't think we are quite 'there' yet. You cannot deny the fact that we want change and desire it, but unlike the other revolutions noted, i do not think we NEED it yet, or at the least realize we do. my reasoning being simply that it has not happened. Yet.
ReplyDeleteI feel as though we are hopeful as a country and believe that everything will work out over time. I have been told countless times to "stay in school for a few more years and it will be easier to find a job because the rescission will be over." We have seen the US fall in and out of rescission before without revolting so why the need for it now. I think that all the "hope" that Obama and the government is preaching to us is making us believe that they are doing everything in their power to stop this crisis. Even though we are in a crisis right now, rebelling seems ineffective to help dig us out of the hole that the US has got us in. It seems to me that we are just waiting for these economic troubles to pass us by, while we deal with the hardships we have now.
ReplyDeleteThis is just it.. What is hope? We are a "hopeful" country, the government is preaching "hope." In context what can we really hope for? I agree with Brad, I don't think that we need a revolution just yet, but perhaps a fall from "hope" (not grace) will lead us there. How much longer can we really hope? Will everything work out over time? I am starting to think not, but than again I am also the one questioning hope.
ReplyDeleteJust a small point, but France is a Republic just like the US of A:
ReplyDeletehttps://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/geos/fr.html
I agree with Bryanna, that we are hopeful as a country and believe that everything will work out over time. Although we are not experiencing a revolution, we are pretty close to it. According to the dictionary, a revolution is "An overthrow or repudiation and the thorough replacement of an established government or political system by the people governed." Our government has not been overthrown, or replaced, although within the last year it has experienced many significant changes. The definition also told me that a revolution is a "round or cycle of events in time." If we are talking about the economy in the US, I would say it has gone through an intense cycle of events. With 12.5 million people unemployed today, it is simple to say that if this economy doesn't turn itself back around within the next couple of years, a revolution will be knocking on our front doors.
ReplyDeleteAgain, I continue to be hopeful that a revolution will not necessary in the near future.
I do think that we are still hopeful. I don't know when that will run out though. The government doesn't seem to be helping much. Although recent credit reform is a good thing. That is some of our issue. Banks lending to people that couldn't afford it. Credit companies allowing people to pay so little that they would be paying for the rest of there lives. The unemployment rate is still high though. I think it is a waiting game. How long are we willing to wait? I can't say. I think that if we don't see results soon enough, the hope will be gone and we will have to do something.
ReplyDeleteJust another quick comment, does a revolution (today) have to be a complete government overthrow? Is it possible that we can have individual revolutions- that will ultimatly lead to change (without actually having a tradtional "revolution?)
ReplyDeletei agree with both Maddi and Brad. our country is led by HOPE, we hope all goes well and we overcome our economic crisis. i just think that time should heal itself and we should just go with the flow. our government is never going to be out of debt because of federal banks and the debt they put on money as it is taken out. we as a country just have to wait for the outcome and see what happens.
ReplyDeleteI agree with Maddi on the thought of hope. That is the modo of our country when we are in bad times. We also aren't going to start a revolution because we have seen what overthrowing a government has done in the past & what affects it can have on a country as a whole. Instead we have hope and try to find other ways to improve our economic stability.
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ReplyDeleteThe French Revolution was a lot different than our economic crisis of 2008. The French economy was no producing that much at all. Inflation went skyrocketing where it was difficult to afford bread. The U.S crisis is not half as bad, as the GDP for the U.S is still higher than any other country. The country is still strong economically, but more importantly the GDP per capital still remains high as its ninth in the world. The average U.S citizen still makes around 43,000 dollars a year. The people that own all of the land and the property in France was a small percentage. In the U.S it not at that point yet, even though much of the wealth in the U.S is owned by a small percentage it is not as far spread out as the French were during the Revolution.
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