Way out west in Seattle town a group has, with the full graces of local government, taken over a part of Seattle to establish first the Capital Hill Autonomous Zone (CHAZ) or now the Capital Hill Occupied Protest (CHOP). I assumed they have changed their name when it became apparent, they were never capable of being autonomous, many having just recently liberated themselves from their parent’s basements, but that is for another posting.
The question I would ask is this valiant group of freedom fighters able to inspire sufficient others to abandon the established representative Republic and strike out on a new form of government over the protestations of that government? Are these millennial souls made up of the same stern stuff as the legendary “Sons of Liberty” who inspired our original rebellion with their protests of the Tea Act and the assault on the British ship tied up on Griffin’s Wharf in Boston on December 16, 1773?
Perhaps it is the loyalist in me that doubts the resolve of these young upstarts, or the fact they do not appear as schooled in the ways of government or the philosophies of thought as the rebels who’ve gone before them. Nor do they seem to have the singularity of purpose that held our founders together during the long years of struggle. Rather they seem more intent on making sure all the separate voices of dissent are heard and supported, not as one unified choir, but as separate voices.
Perhaps I’m wrong in these observations but I don’t see a quote such as Patrick Henry made to the Second Virginia Convention in 1775[1] when he famously said, “Give me liberty or give me death” coming out of this crowd. What is their plan to gain the support of those critical to their cause and become the instrument of change they think they are? Just as the British had no idea of our forefather’s dedication and plans, I doubt many of us have insight into these young rebels. What I do know in these days of global communication their ability to coordinate far exceeds those of our founders. The question really becomes is their cause supported by those who would bear the burden of the struggle.
I remain skeptical. The wild card in all this is those insurrectionists who’ve managed to gain a foothold into the established Republic, and how they will work to corrupt any organized resistance to the insurgency.
It will be interesting, to say the least, on how this will all play out when the sides are fully identified and the existing government has to decide what course of action to take to survive.
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