Last week's CPAC speeches made me angry. Somehow, the keynote speakers talk as if they alone know what it means to be a true American. But CPAC attendees do not reflect the American values we should cherish most. I am a patriotic American and I love America. And I think it's time for the rest of us to speak up and stop letting right wing media and media-loving right wing politicians put words in our mouths. It's time to take back our American symbols. It's time to wave our American flag, admire our Constitution, and it's time to protect our purple mountains majesty and our amber waves of grain. This land is our land and we love it.
I am not sure how we let the right steal the narrative on patriotism and love of country. For me, whenever I did happen to tune into a Palin, an O'Reilly or a Hannity asserting that the left hates America, I'd roll my eyes, but otherwise the statement seemed too stupid to merit a response. That, I realize, was our mistake. As with most big lies, they seem more true with each retelling.
So, it's time to take our symbols back.
It's time to remind ourselves how much we love America.
It's time to defend and protect our core American values.
I challenge my fellow liberals to say what we believe in our hearts and to never let others smear our intentions with their lies again. Make your list and say it out loud. Here is mine.
- I believe in respecting the office of president, even if I disagree in fundamental ways with the person in office. I respect him because he is the president of the United States, elected by the American people. A patriotic American would never hope that the president fails.
- I believe in the Constitution's vision of an independent judiciary and three co-equal branches of government. The power of the jury to weigh the evidence and the power of judges to restrain the acts of the most powerful is amazing and wonderful. Threats to an independent judiciary, jokes about sending away or arresting judges, especially by people running for president, show a frightening disregard for the rule of law and our traditions. Could I even call such statements "un-American"?
- I believe in government of the people, by the people and for the people, and I want to ensure that it does not perish from this earth. Government should not serve the pleasure just of those people who can pay to be heard.
- I believe in separation of church and state. I believe freedom of religion also means freedom from religion, and that each American may make an individual choice to practice or not practice as he or she may choose. There is no evidence that people who talk about God in public are better people, except when their words are accompanied by genuine acts of kindness.
- I believe the Oath of Office requires members of Congress to protect and defend the Constitution, and if that is inconsistent with the oath given to unelected anti-tax lobbyists, then the Oath of Office should prevail.
- I believe that an elected official's duties require that the interests of all Americans be served, not just the party with which he or she is affiliated. A refusal to do what needs to be done because it might also help the other political party should not be considered politics-as-usual; it should be considered reprehensible.
- I believe in amber waves of grain, and I think supporting environmental policies that protect our air and water so we continue to be the bread basket of the world, so that the air we breathe is clean and we can drink the water we need, and supporting policies ensure that the costs of resource development are paid by those who benefit instead of those who live nearby, makes me a patriotic American, not an environmental radical.
- I believe the freedom to assemble is a critical feature of American democracy. And I think that when people assemble in public parks, they should bring brooms and trash bags and clean up their own messes, since the parks belong to everyone.
- I believe that while I may not agree with what you say, I should fight for your right to say it. And I believe I am entitled to the same level of respect from those who disagree with me.
- I believe that believing America could be a better place than it is and acknowledging that America does not always meet the ideals set for us in the founding documents is simply an acknowledgement of reality, not evidence of lack of patriotism.
So I say to my fellow liberals: Take back our symbols. It's our flag. It's our Constitution. It's our way of life. We are the descendants, whether by DNA or ideals, of people who wanted to change the world and make it better, and who embraced science, technology, knowledge, good deeds and good will. If the founding fathers were conservative we would still be an English colony. Liberals love America, and we love liberty and justice for all.
Point 1 - At least I SERVED (4th Generation, from WWI to Iraq), along with others liberals, in this country's defense. The others just give lip service.
Point 2 - If you DID NOT SERVE, you have NO RIGHT to judge me or any other progressive who put on the uniform of the Armed Services.
Point 3 - If you DID SERVE, but don't agree with MY OPINION, then just agree to disagree, but you cannot claim patriotic superiority because of.
We liberals HAVE allowed the CONservatives to label US as UN-Patriotic, because some of US did not want to have that fight. WRONG DECISION! I say, from now on, you BETTER BE on the CORRECT SIDE of the argument if you're to challenge someone over this - that means, IF you can claim someone was dishonorable because YOU don not agree with their P.O.V., YOU BETTER HAD served FIRST!
Duly noted.
I then told him how much it costs to house a prisoner for 1 year ($23,000) and that its a waste of tax money if your goal is to reduce drug use.
His solution was "I know how to reduce the costs, buy a box of .45 ACP for $23, kill 100 of the druggo's and that has saved the government from spending $23,000,000 incarcerating them each for a year"
I was a bit taken aback, but then I said "Yea that eighth amendment must really grind your gears, I mean what were the founding fathers thinking when they put that in?"
I told him he was a fascist in that he wanted to create death camps with body burning ovens for a "final solution" to drug users in America. He was surprised I compared him to the nazi's but anyone with half a brain could easily see the link I was making since he wanted capital punishment for non-violent people committing the victimless crime of possessing crack.
How do you feel about private property? Should a landowner be forced to do what government tells him because there's an endangered newt?
How about due process? Should an American citizen be indefinitely detained because the government says it's necessary to fight terrorism?
How about cocaine? Should it be illegal because government says it knows what's best for its citizens?
Liberals and conservative both paint with the illusion of freedom, but neither is really concerned about it because both will offer exceptions to the rule.
but other than that, I agree with you. so 2 out of 3, libertarian...2 out of 3.
I'm still a liberal though, since I can still believe in a progressive income tax, a welfare system that helps the old and unfortunate,educates both white, black, brown, and yellow kids, and teaches people that they are worth more than the money they make at work...
The reality is that politics in this country and corrupt and they themselves are un-American. All of them. This country was founded on by the people, for the people and from the people. None of these are true anymore. Both political parties have a monopoly on what happens in this country and both are equally to blame. They give a grand illusion of being against each other when in reality it is just to cause dissension amongst the voters; such as yourself.
Tell me, what are the votes when the Senate and House vote on a pay raise for themselves?
Tell me, what happens when (D)'s and (R)'s want to keep the political system as is? Independents don't appear on a lot of state's ballots. Other parties don't either. Enough so, where they don't make a difference.
Career politicians that have their "own" needs to meet at the expense of others are the problem. People such as yourself condemn 1/2 of them while praising the other 1/2. You want to do something to help Americans and our country? Admit the truth and stop passing 1/2 truths on as fact.
The problem is actually weakminded false equivalencies like your statements, pretending in the face of all the facts that both sides are equally destructive. Even the most slender acquaintance with facts shows otherwise.
The constitution you are thinking of is the articles of confederation, written in the late 1780's. It gave much more power to the states, it was deemed a failure and thrown out, and the constitution was written which gave the federal government much more power.
States rights, blacks would still be slaves, women couldn't vote, Jim Crow laws would still be in place. The states are not infallible bureacracy's as you like to believe, I think the current Republican party is closer to anarchy and fascism than they are freedom and democracy.
Enough of the sloganeering!