"I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
I remember as a kid in elementary school reciting that pledge every morning. I didn't know what it meant then and didn't really come to appreciate it until I donned the uniform of the US Army in 1984, even then I didn't really understand it's meaning. It wasn't until I was about twenty two years old when it's full impact became apparent to me when Iraq invaded Kuwait and you know the rest.
What is patriotism? At the risk over simplifying it, patriotism is an attitude and not a virtue. As much as it sickens me to write this, Nazi's were patriots, though for a disgusting and revolting reason. Suicide bombers are patriots, as well as the Irgun and Stern gangs during the pre-Israel days. But, patriotism wraps cause in its folds; if the zeal of your patriotism calls on you to take up a cause that is immoral and repugnant, then you face condemnation. If your cause musters your patriotism to defend the weak against oppression, then you are lauded for your efforts.
In America, patriotism also means to revere the Founding Fathers and what they created for us. No other country or culture in the history of mankind has done what our Founders did: To create a country that was based on an idea to be pursue life, liberty and happiness where its citizens are considered equal no matter what their social standing is, ethnic background or religion and to keep the fruits of their labor, and to speak out against the government without fear of reprisals.
In other words, to be an American is to be part of an idea.
What's not patriotic is when the will of the people are ignored by our politicians. Thomas Jefferson once said, "When the government fears the people, it's liberty. When the people fears the government, it's tyranny." This is what's going on today with our politicians and current administration, when the majority of the people are telling them that, yes, health care reform is needed, but not the way you're wanting to do it and are being ignored.
This administration has nothing but utter contempt for the Constitution. They see it as a roadblock to their path of creating a national government, rather than maintaining a federal one, like the Founders intended it to be. Remember what Obama has said in the past about the Constitution containing a negative Bill of Rights, yet, he's supposed to be a Constitutional lawyer and should know better. If you don't think so, consider the attempt by Rep. Louise Slaughter to change the rules for the Senate's version of the health care bill. This would have "deemed" the Senate version as passing without actually having to vote on it and it's a blatant violation of Article I, Section VII, clause II of the Constitution.
And don't give me that crap about the Republicans having done it. This completely untrue.
But, as the saying goes, "You are who you are by the company you keep", speaks volumes of Barry Obama and we don't need to go back down that road; if you don't know it by now, then perhaps this isn't the place for you.
Regardless of what happens with this health care bill monstrosity, Barry is a one termer and come this November a good, old fashioned house cleaning is in order. But, here's the key: If anyone running for office during the midterms doesn't have, as part of their platform, the repeal of this health care reform bill, they need to.
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