September 11, 2001 was a day that would live in infamy for all of us. On our TV screens we were reminded of some of the many faces of evil. For at least those moments in time after the smoke cleared we were all proud to be Americans. All of a sudden questions about what really happened to Building 7 of the WTC. There was doubt as to what really cause the terrorist attacks on 9/11. There were those even willing to exploit such a tragedy for political gain.
That patriotic juice is one powerful drug.
There's this attitude of "Love it, or leave it" that prevails in our country. What I'm suspecting is that the "Love it or leave it" crowd is wanting those that "don't love the country" to leave so that America can continue in its actions without being held accountable by its people. Sorry folks, but I DON'T RUN AWAY FROM THE PROBLEM.
If we're going to personify a piece of land, then we ought to give it its proper roast.
Rev. Jeremiah Wright had the courage to call America out on its B.S. The only thing mainstream America heard was "God damn America," but what you didn't hear was THE TWO MINUTES BEFORE. He called America out on its mistreatment of its minority citizens yesterday AND today, this bully foreign policy that says we can do whatever the hell we want around the world without blowback because "these colors don't run," a criminal justice system that only criminalizes rather than redeems, for trying to play God in many cases, etcetra, etcetra. It disgusts me that Barack Obama would denounce such an American hero for speaking truth to power just because the electorate can't handle the truth.
Maybe "God damn America" was a poor choice of words, but it's one thing to love your country, but another thing to be ignorant of its actions just to maintain innocence. Evil doesn't just exist in the middle East; it exists here too. These colors don't run the world.
It's called TOUGH LOVE of country, and there's a term for this notion that America can do no wrong no matter what...INFATUATION.
Another thing, for too long the media has done a great part in teaching us that there are certain rituals that you have to perform to show you love your country, and that failure to go lock and step with the program will render you unpatriotic. What a slap in the face to the individualism that has made this country as unique as it is. It's not enough to stand in reverence anymore when they fly Old Glory; you have to wear a flag pin now, pretty soon if you don't do the chicken dance you're not patriotic. It's getting silly.
Again, it's one thing to carry that love for country in your heart and another thing to just make a bunch of noise about it. Remember those pagans out in the street corners being talked about in the book of Matthew who pray as loud as they can but they're really just putting on a show. I'm not saying don't do the motions if that what you really feel in your heart, but don't go forcing other people against their will or ostracizing them for not being patriotic in YOUR fashion.
In a nutshell, there's a difference between pride and arrogance. However you show your love for this country is up to you. Don't let society dictate what motions you need to go through in order to prove your love to America if it's not really in your heart. You don't have to prove your love for this country to anyone, but love for country also includes tough love where it, or she, may fall short.
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5 comments:
I agree with you on Wright. Put aside the intemperate language and his controversial sermons boil down to two ideas: The U.S. has treated its minorities badly; The U.S. has rushed into unjust wars with other countries. As a libertarian, I agree wholeheartedly with both sentiments.
Did American mistreat minorities in the past? Absolutely. Have we come light-years from that time? Of course. Just the fact that Rev. Wright can say the things he does is proof that we are a changed country.
Many isolationist/libertarian types (I'm a libertarian for the most part but disagree here) also love to hark on the strings of "blowback" being the cause of everything bad that happens to us. Is it true that our involvement in the Middle East had something to do with 9/11 or terrorism. Yes, but the whole truth is more complicated. To assign it to one reason is oversimplification. The best way to reason this is by observing what is happening in Europe today. Many countries are having problems with their growing Muslim populations (many of whom aren't assimilating). Muslims constitute the majority of immigrants in most western European countries, including Belgium, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, and the largest single component of the immigrant population in the United Kingdom.
Not "maybe", "God damn America" is a despicable choice of words. Especially for a man that goes home to a mansion driving a nice car.
I think calling the good reverend an "American hero" is a stretch. He has some controversial opinions, but he hasn't really done anything to classify him-in my opinion-as a hero.
Some of what he says has validity and I have to give you credit for pointing this out. Also, even though he is showing us that free speech is alive and well. I'm sure he has felt a lot of negative feedback/death threats. I think I remember hearing something about him fearing for his safety for a little while there-could be wrong.
I agree with you that America has quite obviously been hypocritical in the past and even today, with politicians saying one thing and doing another (i.e. Bush saying just a few months ago that there would be no bailouts...and seeing how much conviction that had). Indeed, we also have a history of treating our minorities badly. I agree with you there.
That's where I stop, however. Jeremiah Wright, in my opinion, is a terrible excuse for a human being, lumping legitimate commentary on our flaws and failures to treat minorities and other groups fairly with slanderous and hateful accusations of us creating AIDS to kill black people and that we deserved September 11th. People like him deserve far more reprimanding than the simple rebuke Obama gave him.
Well...as silly as it may seem, it's politics. Candidates, as well as, campaign strategist understand that the perception of image (whether based of truth or not), plays a dictating roll in voting behavior. I suspect that if the same incident happened on the McCain ticket, the same action would have been taken.
We live in a multi-cultural country, but not everyone is up to speed with "post modern thought," and critical thinking. Breaking things down to the simplest form in a campaign (wearing a flag pin, etc.) may be the easiest way to express a "universal" idea based on a social-stereotype.
As for Rev. Wright, he is not the first person taken out of context in the media, and I am sure he won't be the last. Based on the complexity of societies interpretation, Obama's move to disconnect from Rev. Wright was probably the most effective move he could make concerning public perception. I also suspect that Rev. Wright understands this action taken, as well.
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