TAKE SIDES

Dear fellow citizen, do not just complain, grumble, or remain outraged—take part in politics!

Join a political party!

If we do not do so, those who do will rule over us. Over us, our children, our grandchildren, and our descendants. All that will remain for us is to complain in the corners.

If we intend to continue living in this country, in this land, if we do not imagine ourselves moving to Portugal, Miami, or anywhere else, as our Venezuelan neighbors were forced to do, we need to participate.

Those of us who believe that, in this country, we are building a nation with its own culture and customs, through our work and not as a gift or a demagogic narrative, need to organize ourselves; we need to participate.

This is not fiction—it is possible. But we must leave our comfort zone instead of merely believing that someone else will do something.

We are ordinary people. We believe in work and perseverance, in seriousness and honesty, in the right to bear arms, registered in the same way as a driver's license for qualified individuals.

We believe in the rights of, and respect for, older people because it is fair and because all of us are or will become elderly. We believe in the rights of, and respect for, women because we have mothers, sisters, daughters, and granddaughters. We believe in respect for and the rights of minorities, but without overriding the rights of the majority.

We believe in punishing those who break the law, not in revenue-driven punishment—punishment imposed on those who might, perhaps, commit an offense, while guilty individuals, criminals, and antisocial offenders are released based on questionable criteria. We believe in punishment that discourages crime and also provides a sense of justice to those who have suffered because of it.

We believe in the equal intelligence and abilities of people, regardless of the color of their skin or eyes, or the group to which they belong.

We believe in the State as an inspector, responsible for public safety, emergency healthcare, and education—not in an all-powerful State.

We believe in, and need, a neutral and effective judiciary, free from ideological bias, arrogance, privileges, and special benefits that ordinary citizens do not enjoy.

Above all, we believe in individual freedoms, freedom of thought, and freedom of expression.

We are ordinary people, with fears, laziness, disappointments, and a tendency toward comfort. If we actively participate in politics and become engaged citizens, we may encounter problems, but we are and will remain capable of solving them and making improvements.

No political party will ever be 100% perfect, but do not use that as an excuse. We do not even like ourselves 100% of the time. If you find someone you like 51%, marry that person.

If you find a better path, follow it. If you do not, participate and be tolerant of others. At the same time, demand, encourage, and be willing to accept encouragement yourself.

Forward and upward!

Miguel Fernández y Fernández, engineer, chronicler, and columnist, member of the National Academy of Engineering and the Engineering Institute # written in oct2024 Rb, 2,727 characters