I wondered how long it would take our local conservative barking watchdog to opine about the Solidarity Singers at the state capitol. In her column, Ellen Bueno, calls the singers “spoiled children.”
Why can’t they just get a permit? Would it not be a better place if people would just follow the rules? For example, it was recently revealed the state administration were busy breaking the rules for an upgrade to the pay of the capitol police chief. But, hey, it’s the old, “When I break the rules I’m a rebel, but when you break the rules you get arrested thing.” I get it. You’re the man.
Rules are rules. But sometimes rules need to be broken. In this case for example, what’s wrong with singing at the state capitol? If this is the best our governor, his minions, and the likes of Ellen Bueno have, then I think it’s time some of their heartless rules were bent and broken to pieces. Huzzah, I say. Hurrah for those breaking the rules.
Sorry Mr. white-bread american family that singing ruined your day at the capitol. Actually, I am not. Your day needed to be ruined. You should be annoyed. In fact, I think you need a real long lesson in our nation’s history. Our national heritage has been filled with rule-breakers, pot-stirrers and non-conformists. You know the great unwashed? The wretched refuse of your teeming shores?
The folks that marched from Selma to Montgomery in March 1965, they were “spoiled children” too. The four students shot and killed at Kent State objecting to the war in Vietnam in May of 1970 were protesters and breaking the law. Rosa Parks didn't follow the law, either. She was arrested too. These capitol singers are no less determined to have their voices heard as well.
America is advanced citizenship. It requires its people to participate, which means getting off your expansive fat butt. In times of great disagreement, it requires the people to redress and peacefully protest those that govern unfairly. It is the greatest single testament of our American legacy.
And yes, Bueno. It is our house. We built it. And we can tear it down, if it comes to that. Let’s pray it does not. One only needs to look at Egypt to see how easily democracy can be perverted to the darkest side of human proclivities. We, us rule breakers, hope our governor can be made to understand he is but a short-term employee to serve the people in his charge. But if he does not, well, sometimes a little revolution is good now and then. If singing gets us there, so be it.
Dale Glaudell, Baraboo
