In a new era of perhaps even more blatant government corruption than in the 1970s, we say good-bye to 'Deep Throat'. Mark Felt, who finally revealed himself just 3 years ago as the informant who bore the enigmatic title during the Watergate scandal, has died at age 95 of congestive heart failure.
Felt was encouraged by his family to finally reveal his identity despite his own fear that he would be ridiculed by the American public as a turn-coat for his large part in bringing Nixon's illegal activities to light. Instead he was received as a hero.
Despite what some people seem to believe about the American people, we're not oblivious to the failings of our own government. More often than not we're very embarrassed by the poor example our government. Where we are lacking is in our willingness to sacrifice our own comfortable existences in order to fight the powers that be. When we have too much to lose we seem willing to do far less. Our "fat cat" status has paralyzed the true moral majority in the United States, making us unwilling to protest the questionable and often illegal activities of our elected officials. We don't like what they do, but we stand to lose too much by speaking out against them and so we remain silent.
The current economic crisis is turning that American reputation of complacency on its head and proves my point more clearly than my own words. People are losing their jobs and homes in record numbers and when they have less to lose they are somehow more inspired to speak out against the powers that be. It's happening all over the country now. People are speaking out against Bush, the Senate, and the corporations because the bleakness of our condition is becoming more than painfully obvious. It's hitting the American people where it hurts - the wallet!
It's unfortunate that the conscience seems to grow when the wallet shrinks but that is the nature of capitalism. It's not a change in consciousness, it's a change in circumstance.
But what we have learned from Mark Felt, if we bothered to pay attention, is that bravery isn't a matter of convenience or desperation. It's an act of courage marked by one's willingness to risk losing everything they have for the sake of justice - not an act that is inspired by an agenda as a result of already having lost it all.
I'll watch with interest to see how long it will take the American public to forget these difficult times and their willingness to speak out against injustice - when we are finally once again on more stable financial ground and that notorious American A.D.D. kicks in and we return to our regrettable and shameful habit of complacency.
Rest well, 'Deep Throat'.
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2 comments:
I hear that falling gas prices are already effecting small car sales.........and I have no doubt that Americans will hop right back into those obscene gas-guzzling behemoths once they believe their jobs are safe.
We are ripe for every misfortune a people can visit upon themselves.
The current economic crisis is effecting all car sales - that and the fact that the banks (who got the $700B bailout - ya know, the one nobody talks about but everyone has something to say about the auto bailout which is a pittance in comparison) aren't giving out loans now.
There are a lot of good people and perhaps it is by comparison but if Anne Frank in her miserable circumstances could still believe that then I can too.
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