It was a big day in 1986 when my single mother bought a small black and white TV — the type of version you take on a camping trip (a true vacation at the time). We only had two hours of broadcasting in which we would watch the dictator Ceausescu speaking every day. Our “leader" had only graduated from elementary school, and yet, he was running the country. I was a pre-teen but read much better than him. I didn’t know at the time that Romania had zero debt to any entity in the world — something we came to appreciate much later — but it was obvious to us that our way of living was a constant struggle.
We had no freedom of movement outside our borders, no freedom of speech, of press, of religion, of justice, and no freedom to carry weapons of any kind — the Securitate (the Government’s Militia) ensured we were obedient citizens. Healthcare was socialized. On Saturday, kids would go to school, and adults to work. I lived that way for the first 16 years of my life, though we risked watching illegal broadcasts from Bulgaria, and listened to Radio Free Europe. Any decision we would make had to go through the filter of the survival-oriented question “What if they catch me?”
We all valued food (vegetables and the rationed bread) which had no time to spoil in any household. Money was always short and well-managed but food was always the last on the list; we would help each other from paycheck to paycheck. No credit cards. Store shelves were always empty, and the only source of food was provided by the older peasants who were traveling from the countryside — many by public transportation — carrying large bags of vegetables. We didn’t have heat in the house except for the summer. I remember having thick ice on the inside heater elements. We bundled up indoors from head to toe.
When growing up, we had to “volunteer” for social events, although attendance was actually mandatory. We lived in a building of 80 families, a communist-designed cement building that we called “home.” The system that we nowadays call “voluntold” was something that had to be done with “all hands on deck.” Relying on the government to do it would have been a sin. Besides, we already knew that nothing would happen. Managing ourselves had to involve each with his own skills, kid and adult alike. In other words, we had to self-govern.
Our ancestors, however, were duped into the mentality that the government would take care of them, and that quickly became the best lie in the history of the 20th century: the lie of communism. People believed sweet words, and once the whipping started, fear ensued in all of us.
I remember we were proud to keep our streets clean, and many times in my teenage years, I carried trash found on the streets all the way home because there were no bins on the public roads. We all valued each other and each other’s property — most of us using public transportation and the Almighty’s gift of two legs. We couldn’t loan books from the libraries but studied there with handwritten notes, and returned late back home, risking missing the last tram or bus.
In December 1989 we revolted in unison. Just like the snake that doesn’t strike until provoked, we didn’t unite until we had enough of the status quo. For those who don’t understand the price of freedom, they only need to look at wars around the world and history. We owe our fallen heroes, but mostly, we owe it to ourselves.
As a proud legal immigrant and Veteran, I witness our American system collapsing, and we all can see its symptoms. My best friend, “Bud” — a Veteran of Vietnam — used to say two decades ago that we’ll collapse like the Roman Empire — from within. He was right. We recognize and point fingers, but only a few understand who holds the power — We, the People.
The Convention of States is the best solution! An effort that started ten years ago to use the tool given by our forefathers. Can we afford another decade of Washington’s lunacy? I don’t think so. It’s up to us! We, the People must save our country! Relying on the mentality that the government will do something for us will enslave us all.
We, the People need to do some serious damage control on America! If we don’t do something now, we won’t have another chance to fix it, possibly for generations. Join me in signing the petition for the Convention of States! Share, volunteer, and do whatever you can in your community! Assess what you need versus what you want, and stop feeding the monster with your hard-earned money! It’s time to wholeheartedly say: “Don’t tread on me!”
