...or, rather, I don't want to hear I'm a traitor to my country.
jin·go·ism ( P ) Pronunciation Key (jngg-zm)
n.
Extreme nationalism characterized especially by a belligerent foreign policy; chauvinistic patriotism. -Dictionary.com
So God how come every wrong's been done?
With deals no Christ should allow
Once the communist now the terrorist
With blood as thick as yours - Flogging Molly, Screaming At The Wailing Wall
Now everybody do the propaganda.
And sing along in the age of paranoia. -Green Day, Idiot Nation
Dear Jingoists:
I've tried to be calm and nice to you. I've tried to explain how I can feel the way I do to you. I've even spared your feelings, for crying out loud. You scare me. Conservative I can handle, believe me. I may not agree with everything certain users say, I may disagree with you most of the time, but really it's all a matter of subjective reality. Even some of what I feel are most extreme of you, I read their posts and I get the human behind each and every one of you. I have no bone to pick with those of you who are just conservative..I have a conservative friend who I love dearly, and he and I just don't go personal when we talk politics.
It's those of who seem to worship America because it exists. I'm not even going to argue with you that we're the greatest country in the world, in a lot of ways we are. Greatest doesn't mean we're perfect. Greatest doesn't mean that everyone should follow around like a bunch of sheep following around a shephard. Greatest doesn't mean because I think we still need improvement in some areas, I'm a treasonous, hypocritical bastard that deserves to go to Canada. That's not what our country is, it's not what we are. We were founded on principles, and they define us, and if some of us get a little queasy when it comes to torturing people when we have no fucking clue why they are being treated that way, then I feel we're normal. The fact that you can even justify it without a simple chill up your spine suggests to me that somethings either entirely too wrong with you or this country, or both.
And this trusting our president and his adminstration when they choose a direction? Being behind the President 100%? I didn't vote for our current one, first off, so I already disagree with the man on some level. (I did vote, before you try taking that route.) Secondly, we've tried and been burnt by this before. Nixon was a crook. Clinton lied while in the oval office. Possibly a great president policywise in my humble opinion, I know, not in yours, but he lied and made a small mockery of the office when he was in it. (He did, however, lie about something under oath no sane dishonest man would admit to where his wife was within shooting distance. Of course, you know, I don't think the Europeans blinked during that entire scandal.) Carter, while perhaps the greatest ex-president humanitarian in history, was too intellectual to the point of having something we like to call 'analysis paralysis.' I cite those three, but a lot of presidents in recent history had made decisions, in their pasts or their office, that made us go 'huh?' Not all of us are wired the same way as you, when I find something that makes me go 'huh?' I tend to want to examine it. The fact that other countries hate his guts makes me twitch, along with the fact that they cared so much about our election. Protesting is not a crime against the country. The right to assemble is in a weird document called the Constitution with the freedom of speech. I recommend it sometime, it makes an engaging read.
Let's rewind to the 'other countries' thing. 'Other countries' may disagree with our policy decisions and decide it's not for them. Just because they do, it doesn't make those 'other countries' evil, or worthy of our mocking. 'Other countries', like us liberals, may also disagree with where the country's going. It doesn't make them or the liberals your enemy. We have a history (some of it very recent) with most of those industralized 'other countries' as allies and friends. Allies and friends advise each other, and usually allies and friends tend to give a shit when allies and friends tell other allies and friends that frankly, they suck and can't agree. We owe some civility within dealings with 'other countries', even if it's to tell them that we're going to do it our way, thanks. That is the reason Ann Coulter and Rush Limbaugh were not nominees for Secretary of State. And let's face it...mocking Canada? Why don't you go find a guy who fell and slipped on an ice patch and beat him up a little? I mean, Canada's modern and industralized, but they're not even close to superpower status in recent history. It's like beating up your younger sibling; after a while, I think you forget why you do it.
Oh, we may not worship the same God/Gods as you. Freedom of religion. In that Constitution thingy. Look it up. We may not worship any. I sincerely hope if you do, you're finding a contented path in what you're doing, and question the universe every so often. Politics and religion don't mix, by the way. Just because there is a God, does not mean He wants to be president. That's probably why He created fallable humans--that and I think He has a sense of humor. Oh, fallablity. Another reason why we shouldn't always blindly trust the president's office--he's human too. (Note I used lowercase to denote the president from a diety. I try not to make that mistake as often as possible.)
Oh, yeah, those minority rights you find 'quaint'. (Acutally, I think you use more crude terms than that.) Some of them are silly...but would you want to be without them in a certain situtation? This country was founded on the backs of immigrants. Some of them didn't speak English as their native tongue. Some of the people who come into our country don't speak English. We can and should teach them. Meanwhile, we should worry about more why we're divided then exactly who's got what rights on the where now. As for PC--not offending people is good.
So...you don't like me, and I don't like you. We get to deal with each other....because, I'll tell you all something right now. I am not going ANYWHERE. You can't turn me off, you won't shut me down, and you're free to blacklist me, but I'll still be around, publishing articles. So, I apologize to you conservatives here for a healthy debate and your spin on things, you moderates (there are a few of you, aren't there?) and of course, my liberal compatriots who'll probably eat this up or think 'dear God, he's in a bunch, isn't he?' I've begun to enjoy all of you that seem to be here for what this is meant for, debate and discussion, not 'bash the liberals' day.
Oh, and the rest of you....I'm expecting your flames. (You've either divined who you are, or are much too arrogant to deal with it. And before anyone asks, it is NOT little whip. I respect her opinions and her blog (I wish I had that audience!) and she's been very civil and accomdating to me.) And to quote from a fictional woman wiser than I, "...in the parlance of high school cheerleading comedies, 'to bring it on'".
Sincerely Flipping the Jingoists the New York State Bird (it's also a hand gesture) and smirking,
The wolf dragon/AWM,
Sol