Moral Support

I'm getting nostalgic.  A few years ago, there were bumper stickers everywhere saying "Support the troops- support the president."  Why aren't there now?  Why, when we're at war, is it okay to not support the president?  It was essential to before, right?  It was treasonous not to, apparently. Why is it not treasonous now?  Why is undermining the president okay?  Is it okay to hurt America that way?  Does anybody out there even know what America is anymore?

Which leads me to: The person who waves the flag the most is probably the least patriotic.  A person who is loud about his patriotism is probably not really a patriot.  It's kinda like "Honest Ed's Used Cars."  If you have to point out how honest you are, mayyybeeee you're kinda shady.  Or "cheese food."  If you have to work that hard to convince me it's edible...

There is a group of people in this country that is un-American.  They don't understand our history, they only care about themselves, they aren't very smart.

They're called conservatives.  Oh, all right, they are a subset of conservatives; a loud minority, growing all the time.  Hey, I'm conservative about plenty of things, and have intelligent conservative friends.  But more and more, conservatism seems to stand for "I don't like any of that!" and "Everyone should be like me!" and "It wasn't like that when I was a kid."  "This is Murricuh."

They think of themselves as true Americans, when they don't even have a clue what America is about.  Oh, they'll say they love the Constitution, but they only focus on the parts that support them.  They like the Founders, without knowing anything about them.  They proudly fly their flag, and wave it in your face, without respecting the principles it stands for.  They're not patriots, even if they call themselves that. They are fools; and what's more, they are proud to be fools.  Don't want to hear anything that doesn't fit with their beliefs; don't want to think about things too much.  It makes their brains hurt!

There are plenty of conservatives who actually think about things.  I might disagree with those thinkers (I might even agree with them.)  But at least they have some idea what they are talking about.  The Loud Minority, Silly Party, Teabaggers, whatever you call them, seem to have a basic lack of knowledge, and be proud of it.  They are unaware of the history of our country (though they cite little bits of it that support their agenda, without understanding it.)  Unaware of science, economics, and in the end human decency.

If you start from ignorance, willful or otherwise, you ultimately end up with bad decisions.  It's willful ignorance, willful misinterpretation, not even trying to think about what someone says.  You get it on both sides, but Republicans are better at 'righteous anger,' whether they're correct or not.

And what are they 'righteous' about?  Nasty things.  They want to do what they themselves want, but not let others do what they want.  And that contradicts a core American principle: to be free to do what you want, as long as it doesn't intrude on others' freedoms.  It's also a Christian principle: Treat others as you would have them treat you.  But despite these folks' avowed religiosity and morality, they don't seem to follow their own credo.  They really don't seem to know what America is about.  Don't wanna date someone different than yourself?  Fine, don't.  Don't like gay marriage?  Fine, don't marry someone of your own gender.  But it's not your  business if someone else does.  And if you're a real American, you will support others' rights and freedoms, not impose your narrow views on everyone.

People say "I should be able to do whatever I want on my land."  Dump whatever.  That's fine- until it runs into the creek other people use.  Then it becomes a public issue.  Back to the core principle.  Let me do what I want, and you can do whatever you want- until it hurts me.

There's more to it, of course.  We should have as much freedom as possible, without stepping on the freedom of others.  And we should try to make America even better.  I keep hearing people say "why should I pay for your health care?"  Hmm.  Why should I pay school taxes when I don't have kids?  Why should I pay for your mortgage deduction?  Why should I pay for Medicaid, or Medicare, for your parents?  Why should I pay for a war if I don't support it?  Heck, why should I pay for the fire department or the police if I haven't had a fire or break-in?

The point, of course, is that we pay for these things because they're good for society, for the country.  And we can talk about whether a certain bill is a good thing, should talk about it.  But to say "I shouldn't have to pay for what I don't like" is ridiculous.  And incredibly selfish. And probably un-American.

You know what?  Do what's best for your country.  Not just what's best for you.  Be an American, be a good American.  Support the country, not just your own political party.  Be a real patriot.  Not a Tea Party one.  Not a flagwaving one.  Not a superficial, these colors don't run, blah blah blah patriot.  But a real one.  One who loves America, and what it stands for.  One who believes in its principles.  One who wants what's best for it.  Theocracy, hate, and stupidity were not what the founders wanted.

I want an America that at least tries to be fair and equal, and to help those who need it.  I hear people saying, essentially, that they are proud that they do not want to even try to make things fair, and do not want to help those in need.  Thanks for letting me know...  It's shows what kind of person you are, what you think charity is.

A relevant quote from Miss Mox who wants a country:
"...that includes ALL Americans, no matter what they believe, who they have relationships with, or what god they pray to. One that incorporates our differences as strengths instead of weaknesses. One that incorporates all that its citizens have to offer."

Our country has always been a polyglot nation, a mix of all sorts of people.  It's not the bucolic 1950s anymore- it never was.  We're a different country now, but the same too.  Let's move forward together.  Remembering the past, but leaving the worst of it behind.