The party is over, on its last legs, and the Citizens’ Movement has begun
An initiative of The Center for American Studies at Concord, MA, USA: www.concord-ium.us
Where 1, 2, 3, 4 and more shots were fired "heard' round the world".
"As usual, you (Concordians) are years ahead of us,” Dennis Kucinich, Congressman, Presidential Candidate, Public Servant stated in 2021. Might the time be at hand?
The Old North Bridge, Minuteman National Park, Concord, Massachussets, United Sates of America
About Us
With malice toward none. With charity toward all.
—Abraham Lindoln
What the Citizen's Movement Is ..... and Is Not
I have never seen more senators express discontent with their jobs. I think the major cause is that, deep down in our hearts, we have been accomplices in doing something terrible and unforgivable to our wonderful country. Deep down in our hearts, we know the we have given our children a legacy of bankruptcy. We have defrauded our country to get ourselves elected.
—US Senator John Danforth, MO
Inspired by Buckminster Fuller's words that, if the system is broken don't fuss with it (rather devote your energies to creating a new and better system), the Citizens’ Movement is a simple, straightforward two-step process/celebration that contributes to inaugurating a new era in public service.
That is, friends, we are at the outset, the beginning with, we trust, much to come . . . .
Step 1. WE, the People hold Memorial Services at our state capitals and throughout our nation.
The purpose of the Memorial Services is to lay to rest, at long last, that “baneful” (“exceedingly harmful and destructive”) Partisan Spirit, the “Spirit of Party” that over two centuries ago George Washington, the “Father of Our Nation,” solemnly warned us about in his Farewell Address.
In the opening words above, Senator Danforth had the courage to acknowledge the “terrible”and “unforgivable” consequences of, we suggest, such partisanship today.
The Memorial Services will put the Divisive Partisan Spirit out of its misery, pay it our respects, give it its last rites/rights, and, as expressed, lay it to rest.
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Step 2. Following the Memorial Services, WE, the People proclaim VICTORY. The victory is summed up in the very words of our MOUNTING movement:
The Citizens Movement to Revive the Spirit of Public Service.
That is: If WE, the People are committed to such a revival (resurrection), if we give it our best, how can we lose? The Good Lord willing. In Schopenhauer’s words:
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“All truth passes through 3 stages:
First, it is ridiculed.
Second, it is opposed [violently or otherwise].
Third, it is accepted as being self-evident.”
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The accompanying passage (See "Amazing Grace") from “The Prayer for Our Lands” speaks to such “willing,” Greater Will. A birthday greeting to Klaus Schwab, founder of The World Economic Forum at Davos, the passages introduces Klaus to his Mother of Mothers, bespeaks such grace, Amazing/Saving Grace . . .
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What WE, the People: The Citizens’ Movement to Revive the Spirit of Public Service IS and IS NOT:
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1.WE, the People are not against anyone or anything. Politics as usual.
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That is, we are not running against other candidates or issues. We are not opposed, in opposition to anyone, including, in Lincoln’s words, the “Respectable Scoundrels” themselves. “God bless them, and ‘keep' them (in their right and rightful minds). And let His light shine down upon them.”
Rather, recognizing that We, the People are defeated, when we forget that we’re on the same side, the side of our shared humanity, The Citizens Movement is for: Liberty and Justice for ALL.
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2. WE, the People will not govern in a manner that, we believe, undermines the spirit of our United States Constitution.
That is, our Constitution begins with the words, WE, the People. Not we, the republicans or democrats -- divisive partisan interests/constituencies. The point being: the People, We, are defeated when -- "thanks" to the party bosses and monied interests behind them -- we forget that we are on the same side:
ONE nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for ALL.
Trusting this is clear, we invite our fellow Americans to consider that — if one has run, and been elected, on a narrow, partisan, platform — the candidate has violated the spirit of his/her oath of office to the United States Constitution, before he/she has even crossed the threshold and stepped into their office.
The opening lines of our Supreme Court Justices’ oath reads:
I, do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic . . . .
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3. WE, the People are not beholden to monied interests.
Rather, we are committed to serving the interests of the People as a WHOLE.
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4. WE, the People do not expect to be led by our servants, public servants.
Rather, we recognize that we are the ones we’ve been waiting for. That is: When the People lead, truly lead, the leaders, reputed “leaders” will follow. So it was with the Civil Rights Movement; so it has been time and again throughout history.
5. WE, the People, The Citizens Movement is, as noted, not a campaign with candidates.
Rather, we are a Celebration with Celebrants. We are celebrating the revival of the Spirit of Public Service. And we invite you, friends, one and all, to join us in such a long awaited, historic celebration.
6. WE, the People are not concerned about winning.
For, we can’t, cannot lose — regardless of the final count. We can’t lose, that is, as long as we give it our best, put our heart into the MOUNTING celebration, devote ourselves to the revival of the Spirit of Public Service from sea to shining sea.
7. WE, the People are not, in fact, running at all.
Rather, we are walking . . . . walking the talk, serving our fellow citizens.
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8. WE, the People seek no funds, funding;
Rather, we seek foremost to support the devoted labors of ALL good-willed parties and perspectives committed to the revival of the Spirit of Public Service. If that support is recognized and valued, it will bring, of its own, the funding required to carry on.
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9. WE, the People seek no publicity.
Rather, we are committed to serving and to letting such service, our labors speak for themselves. If such labors merit publicity, it will come in its own right.
10. Otherwise expressed, WE, the People do not seek the lime-light, glare. Our focus is not on the victory, being number 1, greatness.
Rather our focus in on goodness, fostering the good, “from sea to shining sea”.
11. WE, the People will hold no rallies; give no speeches.
Rather, we will listen to our fellow citizens, to what moves in your hearts, as our first president, George Washington did when — the dove perched on his shoulder — he presided, silently, for 4 long months during the Constitutional Convention, harkening to the voice of the People, We.
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12. WE, the People seek no membership.
For every person of good will, each and every person fellow citizen, national/international, is, in our eyes, already an honorary/honored member of WE, the People: The Citizens’ Movement to Revive the Spirit of Public Service. We are in it TOGETHER. No one needs to sign up; no dues are expected.
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13. WE, the People will issue no marching orders to party “regulars.”
For, the winds of freedom, liberty, Lady Liberty, Herself, “cometh and goeth as they will,” blow through and refresh, enliven our blessed ranks. If our labors are worthy, those winds will bless our celebration. All we ask in our work together is: i) that you appeal to your own conscience; ii) that you then confer with others, who can broaden and fulfill your/our otherwise singular angle of vision.
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14. WE, the People will, in fact, form no party.
For, as Senator Danforth noted at the outset, the party is over, on its last legs. Indeed, independent voters all but outnumber Republicans and Democrats, together.
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To honor and do justice to such a “passing,” Memorial Services will be held throughout the nation. That is, catching up to Washington’s “Farewell Address," during the Memorial Services the “baneful” partisan spirit will be put out of its (divisive) misery, paid its respects, extended its last rites/rights, and laid to rest.
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15. WE, the People will not allow ourselves to be distracted by “the issues,” the legion of issues that divide and would conquer us, the US. That is, we will not allow ourselves to get entangled in partisan agendas, “politics as usual.”
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Rather, our movement, celebration focuses on the deeper underlying ISSUE that waits to unite us, WE, the People. As such, the celebration’s aim is a singular one: To Revive The Spirit of Public.
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16. WE, the People: The Citizens Movement is not a passing fancy, fad, a lark.
Rather, if we are to create, together, a future worth envisioning for our children, grandchildren, and for the generations to come: ALL our relations, “The Citizens’ Movement to Revive the Spirit of Public Service” is an historic necessity whose time has come. In the words of Katherine Drinker Bowen, author of "The Miracle of Philadelphia":
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“If ‘WE, the People’ should indeed prove an entity, a corporate being [imagine] what power that incorporation might one day represent.”
Along with George Washington, old Ben (Franklin) himself spoke to such an historic
necessity in a reflection dated, May 19th, 1731. (Emphasis added.)
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“That the great affairs of the world, the wars, revolutions, etc., are carried on and affected by parties.
That the view of these parties is their present general interest, or what they take to be such.
That the different views of these different parties occasion all confusion.
That while a party is carrying on a general design, each man has his particular private interest in view.
That as soon as a party has gain'd its general point, each member becomes intent upon his particular interest; which, thwarting others, breaks that party into divisions, and occasions more confusion.
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That few in public affairs act from a mere view of the good of their country, whatever they may pretend; and, tho' their actings may bring real good to their country, yet men primarily considered that their own and their country's interest was [necessarily] united, and [thus] did not act from a principle of benevolence.
That fewer still, in public affairs, act with a view to the good of mankind.
There seems to me at present to be great occasion for raising a United Party for Virtue, by forming the virtuous and good men [and women] of all nations into a regular body, to be govern'd by suitable good and wise rules, which good and wise men [all of us at our best] may probably be more unanimous in their obedience to, than common people [all of us at our less than best] are to common laws.
I at present think that whoever attempts this aright, and is well qualified, can not
fail of pleasing God, and of meeting with success.
—B. F.
