April 18 … Civil Disobedience
Today is a day of peaceful protest – a day for you to be truly patriotic. Indeed, if you are an American citizen, there are still quite a few practices either promoted or supported by your government that are patently hypocritical and/or that violate its own governing Constitution. Rather than ignore them, today is a day to take a stand for Justice. Either find your own issue or “adopt” one of the ones listed below and peacefully protest for its cause today. Make posters and stand outside your local center of government. Stage a “sit-in” or a one-day hunger strike. Chant or remain silent – it makes no difference. Remember simply that your protest must be peaceful to be powerful. Railing in anger against the immoralities of your government will only be met with resistance. What you hate or express indignation against will inevitably defend itself, and in truth the only disobedience that has ever proven to be truly effective is the disobedience that is overtly “civil.” As such, whenever you protest remember to extend Compassion for your lawmakers – especially those who have succumbed to greed and arrogance and forgotten that they are here to Serve, not to be served.
So, as promised, here are some ideas for your protest: *It is illegal (as defined by the U.S. Supreme Court) for the IRS to tax private income … *It is impossible for a “Christian nation” to involve itself in any war … *The death penalty directly violates the 8th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution … *It is hypocritical to have cigarette use be legal while marijuana use is illegal (both or neither) … *It is immoral to have the technology available for an immediate shift to earth-friendly sources of energy and not to do so … *It is both hypocritical and immoral for animal abuse of any sort or kind to be in any way legal or acceptable.
Bonus Activity: If you are feeling exceptionally bold today, invite the media to participate in your efforts. And if you are feeling truly patriotic, call your friends and invite them (as well as any strangers on the street) to join you as well.
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