Take Me Out Of The Ballgame

We in Chuckonia have returned to the roots of the Federation, the place where this traditional charade of a personally-designed country began - the Governor's School. Now, more than when we developed the Chuckonian Federation, the students at Governor's School are talking about the current war in Iraq as it fits in with the larger political theories of democratic peace and the ability of democratic countries to "help" other lands adopt a democratic form of government. While, for our own specific reasons, we supported the war at its beginning and still, for the most part, support the mission in Iraq, we have become worried about the length of time spent in the Middle East and the lack of Iraqi involvement in setting themselves up to allow us a gradual and successful withdrawal. In the midst of these thoughts, we have posed ourselves the question, "Is democracy the right of all people, or just those who can handle it?"
We believe, as the Founding Fathers did, that the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness is "self-evident." But, self-evident to whom? Can it be expected that only those who realize a better life exists should be allowed to pursue it? If that is true, then all people must be deemed responsible for obtaining their own freedom.
On the other hand, we now have a world in which many countries are "free" by general standards. As has become the nature of free governments, we reach out in many ways to less fortunate neighbors around the globe. Is "aiding the development" of democratic governments in other nations really the kind of reaching out that we expect of ourselves? We are inclined to say no. As noble a cause as it is, it almost seems like coercing your child to join the local baseball league. The child may already enjoy playing baseball, but being on an organized team with multiple scheduled games may overwhelm and bore the child. What the child would prefer is to play ball in the backyard with friends and neighbors at their leisure. With the development of democratic governments, the "children" or non-free people need to ask to be on the baseball team themselves rather than have an older relative hold their hand to join. Furthermore, for the team to function properly, it needs to organize from within, not by the whims of others, so as to determine the strengths and abilities of the members and where they need to differ from other teams to find success in the larger baseball league.
Basically, we're taking what we feel is a truly Republican position here to disagree with the position of a fellow Republican (sorry, President Bush, we'll praise you for something later). We believe in getting what YOU work for, not what someone else works for on your behalf. Our Founders saw the problems of their life in the colonies, they decided what they could build as a form of governance in its place, and they organized the movement to make a change happen from within. That's where democracy comes from - inside the hearts and minds of the people. When the people desire freedom enough that they are willing to work for it, let them have it. And feel free to ask the rest of us to help. We in Chuckonia would take up arms for our sister nations in support of revolution anytime, but only when they do it for themselves first. Freedom is not free, but it is a gift only to be given to oneself.
So, parents, don't force your kids onto the baseball team. And, Americans, treasure your freedom. Everyone wants their own, but they've got to find the store themselves.