Being An American

by bee

i heard . . .

in the gym yesterday ... on Faux News ... Bill O'Reilly conducting a 'discussion' on Obama and stating how affirmative action is cow manure because blacks are losers who procreate like bunnies and don't take care of their kids. The next screen had CNN which, of course, had more important issues to discuss, like Angelina Jolie.

Even though you've disconnected Cable, it's impossible to escape 'fair and balanced' TV.

i had . . .

someone ring my doorbell this morning to ask me if I wanted to go to Paradise. His job is life is to 'get others to see the light' by converting them to his faith. He knows what's best for everyone else. He asked me where I was from. When met with stony silence, he told me how lucky I was to be in the 'most free country on earth'. Then he got a door slammed really hard in his face.

Then,

i read . . .

this. And this.

i am . . .

American and try to think it's an egalitarian place, but from time to time I am reminded that it's not. I'm female, not white. I don't discuss my 'religious beliefs' - not even with family, just with close, non-judgmental friends. So, of course, I'm game for preaching. Occasionally I need to be reminded of how lucky I am to have escaped the 'third world'. And since I 'look different', I need to be accosted in the mall or in my own porch for some salvation sermons.

And of course, if you oppose the War or government policy, you are being ungrateful for the privilege of being in 'the free-est place on earth'. The democracy I was born in and the other one I lived and voted in before coming here don't count. Some people assume that if you want to live in this country, you should relinquish your own opinions.

I wanted to rant about it, when

i remembered . . .

something my friend Cynic sent me last week.

The Washington Post pointed to this anonymous letter written in 1976 to celebrate the 4th of July.

Cynic annotated it for 2008.

i concur

(his comments in brackets in italics)

What am I?

I am a free man -- a good and decent man -- a man of compassion,
generosity, and understanding -- a true friend, a steadfast ally, and a
bitter foe.

(But I reserve the right to deny that freedom to homosexuals in
matters of their heart and those who I designate enemy combatants. I
have no compassion for the poor brown immigrant (perhaps illegal) who
bakes under our sun picking our vegetables)

I owe my allegiance to a government founded in the belief that among
the rights of man are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Indeed, I would acknowledge no other. (But only for people who look like me. For others, I have Gitmo where their liberty is at the mercy of my say so)

I can redress my government for injury; (unless it is telecom companies illegally spying on me) not satisfied with redress, I can elect a new one. (who might well do the same thing as the previous one) I have watched my government function smoothly during periods of transfer of power caused by re-election, (except in 2000) assassination, and resignation.

While other nations have a distinct race, religion, and/or
geographic denominator, I live among people of my home without fear of
intrusion by anyone -- citizen or government designee -- unless they
have my personal invitation or a duly authorized search warrant. (or a letter from the Attorney General)

I have a press to keep me informed -- a press free to write, without
inhibition, the truth as they see it. A press that needs fear no
repression, no retaliation, no censorship so long as it prints the
truth. (Hmmmppppffffflt! Sorry, need to change my keyboard now)

I live under a system of justice, merciful and fairly administered,
where I am assumed innocent until proven guilty -- a system which
provides me appellate privilege while denying it to the power of the
state. (except during times of war when I will surrender habeas corpus, which is all the time)

I am free to go anywhere I want, earn my living in any way that
suits me and, based on that freedom, I have created a standard of
living unequalled in the history of man and envied the world over. (which I have now completely pissed away by borrowing like crazy from the Chinese)

I have suffered in humility at the consequences of my mistakes --
economic deprivation, social injustice, unequal opportunity and racial
prejudice to name a few -- but, once aware of these mistakes, I have
set out to right the wrongs they created. (What? You think I am made of keyboards?)

I have faced challenges to my way of life. I have fought and died
countless times from Lexington and Concord to Vietnam. I was humbled at
Valley Forge, Pearl Harbor, Corregidor and Malmady. But these
experiences gave me the character I needed to go to Yorktown,
Gettysburg, Midway and Normandy. I cherish my freedom above all else --
I bow to no tyrant. (except the one I call my President and now I die all the time and surrender all my rights because otherwise the Terrorists win)

I am two hundred years old today. I have never been so proud of my
ancient heritage, so grateful for my present situation, and so
confident of the future. Today, I reaffirm my allegiance to, faith in,
and love of my country. To the proposition that government of the ( rich ) people, by the ( rich ) people, for the ( rich ) people, shall not perish from the earth, I do humbly pledge my life (in Iraq and Afghanistan) , my fortune (to Wall Street ), and my sacred honor. ( to Guantanamo Bay)

I am used to be an American.

i suggest ...
you read this last bit before posting a comment.

If you want to have a constructive discussion, you are welcome to. If you want to start a flame war, it's not going to happen. We don't believe in deleting comments here unless they defame or are injurious to someone else. We will display them as proof of your idiocy, but really, this is Cynthia's blog and mine. We do not respond to flames. It's not worth our while. I've had the oddball try to be nasty at my other blog, and have realised that ignoring them pisses them off more than any retort.

If you want to flame, I suggest you get your own blog. I've made one for you. It's called I Wanna Flame. Login: iwannaflame. Password: getyourownblog.