If you enjoy your freedom, thank a protester; thank a dissident, because dissent protects democracy. Be it a stingy two-party democracy, it is still better than a really stingy one party totalitarian state. False patriotism, flag waiving and unquestioningly supporting your government is not defending freedom, it's opening doors for fascist minded folks to eliminate our freedoms right from under our collective nose.
The extreme right has been drumming up all sorts of McCarthy era attacks in the past weeks including cries of "unAmerican activity" and "anti-American" and "socialist."
I find it rather odd that these same folks who don't miss a beat to run the rhetorical bits about "The Land of the Free" and "Defending Freedom" are the very same folks who would attack and limit our freedoms.
America was founded on the notion of freedom from persecution. How can someone who claims to defend freedom propose to limit it for certain groups of citizens. The real unAmerican activity is the work of those who would eliminate a women's freedom to control her own reproductive health, those who would discriminate and deny a couple the right to get married because of sexual orientation.
Puritans and Protestants, and later immigrants from all walks of life fled their home lands to come to America to seek freedom. Should women, LGBT folks, people of color and other minority groups make an exodus? There is nowhere else left to go, no more "uncharted land." This is what we have folks and who we are. We'll just have to start getting along and excepting each other for who we are. Period.
And one more bit, Obama is no socialist. He is a fervent supporter of Free Market ideas that exploit the many in order to enrich the few. Just look at his advisers and likely future cabinet...we're talking University of Chicago Economics. There are many socialist political parties in this country and none of them are backing Obama for President. In fact, The Socialist Party, USA has it's own candidate; Brian Moore, who is an eligible write-in candidate in CT. The PSL has Gloria LaRiva and The Peace and Freedom Party of CA have chosen Nader.
Just some food for thought from a Monday morning ranting socialist. :)
Peace,
Todd
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1 comment:
I think people are slowly starting to wake up and start questioning things, especially during our new crisis. Although they may be few and far in between.
I think there will always be people who think they are the moral authority and need to police the masses out of "sin" and call it patriotic. I get frustrated and find myself day dreaming about holding a few books to their heads and witnessing a tiny morsel of truth finally sinking into their narrow self-righteous brains, then watching the shock on their faces when they realize the unkind world they have promoted. I can dream, can't I? Although, the way things have been going pretty soon dreaming will be illegal too.
Wish I could vote for you but I'm in district 5 :(
Still, I'm glad I have the opportunity to at least vote for Moore. Keep fighting! ;)
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