Seeing this in the Capitol Building the other day reminded me of the hundreds of Sikh freedom fighters that struggled to protect the public from the tyrannical Indian Police in the 80s and 90s. This quote could not be more appropriate in describing the threats of injustice and oppression in international capacities. Yes the US wasn't a perfect country in its formation, but this definition of America truly gives me satisfaction of being a resident of such a country, even if it's only in the mind of a few knowledgeable persons. -- "ਓ ਹਾਲ੍ਹੇ ਛੱਡ ਕੇ ਪਾਲਿਅਾ ਜੇ ਅਸੀ ਹੱਥ ਹੱਥਿਅਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ, ਲੱਗ ਗੲੀਅਾਂ ਪਿਅਸਾਂ ਨੇ ਖੰਡੇ ਦੀਅਾਂ ਧਾਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ, - ਅਸੀ ਵਖ਼ਤ ਪਾ ਦਿਅਾਂਗੇ, ਜ਼ਾਲਮ ਸਰਕਾਰਾਂ ਨੂੰ!" "Oh haale chadd ke paaliya je asi hath hathyaaran nu, Lagg geiyan pyaasan ne Khande diyan dhaaran nu, - Assi vakht paa diaange zaalam sarkaaran nu!" "If we take up arms again during hibernation, the blades of our arms are thirsty, - We shall put the tyrannical governments into turmoil!" -- "...peace without justice is tyranny, no matter how you may sugarcoat it with expedience. This state today is in more danger from suppression than from violence, because, in the end, suppression leads to violence. Violence, indeed, is the child of suppression. Whoever pleads for justice helps to keep the peace; and whoever tramples on the plea for justice temperately made in the name of peace only outrages peace and kills something fine in the heart of man which God put there when we got our manhood. When that is killed, brute meets brute on each side of the line." -- To An Anxious Friend published in The Emporia Gazette on July 27th, 1922. Author of above editorial and the quote in the picture is William Allen White. He was an editor, politician, and author. After being a prominent leader of the Progressive Movement, he later became a spokesperson of middle class America. The perception of politicians and leaders of today's public only the result of their own inactivity in the system of their polis. Our forefathers were themselves a fundamental part of the system, they didn't shrug the responsibilities of society upon those who falsely led them or took advantage otherwise. -- "ਓ ਕਰ ਕਰ ਮਰ ਗੲੇ ਕਿਰਤ ਕਮਾੲੀਅਾਂ, ਪਰ ਜ਼ਾਲਮ ਨੇ ਲੁੱਟਾਂ ਪਾੲੀਅਾਂ, ਕੁੰਡਲੀ ਮਾਰ ਕੇ ਬੈਠਾ ਵੈਰੀ ਸਾਢੇ ਹੱਕਾਂ ੳੁੱਤੇ! ਵਿੱਚ ਕਮਾਦਾਂ ਮਾਰੇ ਬੇਦੋਸ਼ੇ, ਲਾਸ਼ਾਂ ਖਾ ਗੲੇ ਕੁੱਤੇ, - ਪੰਜਾਬੀਓ ਜਾਗਦੇ ਕਿ ਸੁੱਤੇ?" "Oh kar kar mar gaye kirt kamaiyan, par zaalam ne luttan paiyan, kundli maarke baitha vairi saade haqqan utte! Vich Kamaadan mare bedoshey, laashan khaa gaye kutte, Panjaabiyo Jaagde ke Sutte?" We are in destitute despite working hard for generations. The oppressor has looted us and has sweeped away our rights! Innocents have been killed behind the fields of sugarcane, dogs have had the dead bodies for supper, Oh citizen of Panjaab, are you awake or asleep?" --
