America- love it or leave it

[Guest]

America- love it or leave it.

You have a choice!

 

[Kymberley]

Live it, love it, breathe it, the American Spirit.

Ain't giving this up for nothing!

 

[cymbidia]

Oh for god’s sakes, quit posting stuff that sounds like you're a freshman in high school full of the zeal to go kill (insert epithet of your choice here - ragheads, commies, gooks, etc).

The issue of who we are as a people and individually, today versus two weeks ago, is not something that can be boiled down to a slogan or a black-and-white choice. It's far more complex than that, far more deeply personal to each of us, and far more emotional.

We have an obligation as fully enfranchised members of our country to question authority, to argue our convictions, to press our truths, and to voice our concerns, all while still being good Americans and without EVER having to choose whether we "love it or leave it".

It's those who don't think about the decisions being made in high places that are bartering their rights and responsibilities as American citizens for some vainglorious attempt at goose-stepping along with patriotic zeal.

Think about what you're feeling in these days of high emotions.
Choose what's best for you and your loved ones, and the country.
Be patriotic, yes, but not a zealot, a fanatic, a crazy like the ones we're going to have to kill in the Middle East.

And quit with the fucking platitudes.

 

[p_p_man]

Wow!

cymbidia...

 

[A_Jacks]

Love it.

 

[Dillinger]

Thank you cymbidia...

 

[cymbidia]

Just seemed necessary to say, and i was definitely in the mood to say it. I detest rabid, unthinking, foaming-at-the-mouth, rattle-brained reactionary bullshit that masquerades as patriotic fervor. When it's transposed onto a situation where people's lives are at stake, maybe entire cultures, it becomes a dehumanizing force, a divisive and corrosive acid washing over the essential humanity of all of us as individual citizens of our country and our world. We're better than that.

Yes, we're going to go kill the very bad people responsible for the atrocity inflicted against us last week.

Yes, we're going to keep killing the very bad people like those who committed that atrocity, those who were not involved, those who would do the same to us or our friends had they the choice.

Yes, many innocents will be killed, many of our people too, and the people that belong to the countries who will aid us in this eradication effort.

But we can't do it in ignorance and the kind wild-eyed hatred that so often through history has masqueraded as "patriotism". Such would render almost meaningless the sacrifices and deaths suffered by all those - all of them - who will be immediately affected by the coming killings.

The whole thing is scary and sickening and has to be done.
Doesn't mean any of us should be ignorant about the reality of what we're doing while it's happening.

And it doesn't mean we should ever stop questioning the decisions our lawmakers make because such is forever our privilege and our duty as citizens and patriots of this country.

 

[Styphon]

Just seemed necessary to say, and i was definitely in the mood to say it. I detest rabid, unthinking, foaming-at-the-mouth, rattle-brained reactionary bullshit that masquerades as patriotic fervor.

I have to agree. Bush and Co don't do their cause for justice much good spouting phrases like "Dead or alive" and "Head on a platter", really. It makes the quest for justice seem like a lynching to some of the countries who have yet to pledge support.

That said, even before foolish comments like these, Europe doesn't seem to be exactly falling over themselves to help - apart from us Brits of course. It doesn't take almost a week or more to decide to help against terrorism on this scale!

Styphon

 

[miles]

That slogan originated during the Vietnam War. Supposedly if you were against the war you didn't love your country. A Love/Leave It bumper sticker identified the driver as an intolerant slug.

I hated the slogan now as much as I did then.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

"America - Love it, or not, either way we'd rather you help us make it better without becoming complacent or a quitter, and by the way, John Wayne was a reactionary putz."

Think that would fit on a bumper sticker?

 

[sexy-girl]

the best people are the people that dont love thier country blindy that are willing to change their country to make it better


on another note i think the people that are looking forward and enjoying the idea of war are dishonoring the memorys of people that died

 

[shadowsource]

Yes!

the best people are the people that dont love thier country blindy that are willing to change their country to make it better

on another note i think the people that are looking forward and enjoying the idea of war are dishonoring the memorys of people that died

You can say both of those things again, and again, and again.
A lot of Americans - particularly the ones insisting that we rebuild those two death traps - look like they're willing to fight to the last New Yorker.

 

[miles]

Dixon Carter Lee

Don't know - I don't understand what you're trying to say

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Which part? About not having a blind "We're Number One!" attitude about America which prevents you from helping improve the place, or the fact that the Duke was a Dick?

 

[Guest]

UUUh-HUH!

You better take that back Pilgrim. I might havta make ya eat those words.

 

[Guest]

Fill your hand!

That's might tough talk for a one-eyed fat man!

 

[Thumper]

I am not sure...

on the phrasing.. but isn't there a wise old saying that goes something like:

Patriotism is the first refuge of the tyrant/despot/dictator.

 

[Guest]

Don't make me kick your ass, old man.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Besides, you didn't kill Liberty Valance, I did.

 

[Thumper]

But...

Who shot the sheriff?

Barney got away.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

on the phrasing.. but isn't there a wise old saying that goes something like:

Patriotism is the first refuge of the tyrant/despot/dictator.

"Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel". Samuel Johnson

 

[Thumper]

Boy do I feel dumb!

Thanks Dixon.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

No prob.

 

[shadowsource]

Re: I am not sure...

on the phrasing.. but isn't there a wise old saying that goes something like:

Patriotism is the first refuge of the tyrant/despot/dictator.

Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.

 

[Dixon Carter Lee]

Oh yeah, that's right.

LOL