American--And Not Proud Of It . . . .

[LensmanZ313]

I'm an American.

And, right now, I'm not very proud of it.

See, I'm fed up with the president. He's not my president--I'm Libertarian and I didn't vote for that bastard who's sitting in the White House; true, I have to admit that I did support Bush during the beginning of the Iraq war. Hey, I fell for the lies and I ignored what my fellow Libertarians were saying. It wasn't until I saw the pictures of children blasted to bits, Afghani and Iraqi children . . . killed by Americans, by American weapons . . . that I had changed my mind.

Face it, many of my fellow Americans are stupid or they have rather convenient selective memories. They seem to forget that our government had helped Saddam, helped Osama . . . and the other tyrants and thugs that the government has supported and coddled over the years. My fellow citizens blissfully look the other way as heinous crimes are committed by these people, since the government looks the other way; but, when the American regime decides to interfer, intervene, impose or what have you, out comes the flags and the blind nationalism and patriotism. It's like that annoying Daryl Worley song, "Have You Forgotten?" It'll be the neocons' "Horst Wessell March" in years to come. Worley laments that people have forgotten the 9/11 attacks.

No, I haven't forgotten the 9/11 attacks. Nor have I forgotten our support of the Duvalier family, Marcos, Pinochet, Qaddafi, Saddam, Osama, Samosa; I haven't forgotten all the other bad things that our country has done--to others and its own citizens--over the years. From the treatment of Amerinds and blacks, to Chinese coolies and the Japanese-Americans during--and after--WW2, this country has done a lot of bad things.

Hey, I am all for patriotism and nationalism. But, I try not to let it blind me.

One night, watching a news story, I saw this piece on American troops in Iraq, and they were talking about the elections. Most said that they were voting for Bush?

Why?

Because Bush brought back "pride" to America, to the American military.

Hmmmm . . . .

I'm quite sure that some in the German military were feeling very proud about themselves as they marched into Poland.

The thing that America has to understand is that having the might doesn't make it right and that having the might doesn't give it the right.

I know that some people tried to connect Teresa Heinz-Kerry with supporting "questionable" Muslim groups; some even went as far as calling her a terrorist.

However, many ignore Dubya's grandfather, Prescott Bush, and his close ties to Hitler in the late 1930s. Yes, nothing ever really came of that--but, then again, there was nothing solid on the Heinz-Kerry issue.

American hubris and hypocrisy is growing old, tiresome. The government's foreign policy has caused much of the problems my country is now facing. We armed the likes of Osama and Saddam and ignored the brutal acts they committed; the American government intervenes and imposes, not giving a damn about the innocent people caught in the crossfire, only thinking of the American agenda. Ask the people of Central America and Southeast Asia.

I don't know how long the American empire is going to last; and, at its current rate, I hope it's not too long. The Bush regime, while touting America as being a bastion of freedom, is hell-bent of shutting down some freedoms. They want to ban same-sex marriages and already Oregon and other states with medicianl marijuana laws are being threatened; Oregon's humane physician-assited suicide law is also being threatened by the regime.

And, let's not forget that Bush has to be one of the dumbest men on Earth. His neophobic views on cloning and stem-cell research shows that. My wife suffers from Lupus and I have brother who has polycystic kidney disease. Both--along with mnay others--would greatly benefit from those new sciences. I heard many neocons (C'mon, let's be real: They are neofascists) mock John Edwards' speech after Christopher Reeve's death. Now, over a week ago or so, news came from South Korea where a woman, unable to walk for 19 years, is learning to walk again after being treated with stem-cells.

I have yet to hear a response from those mocking neocon whores and bastards.

While Bush and others warn my fellow Americans of the dangers posed by fanatical terrorists who've hijacked Islam, America is being hijacked by right-wing religious fanatics.

The Dubya Taliban.

Most of these whack-jobs profess to know and believe the Bible yet they embrace the concept of the End Times, which most of you already know that concept was never in the Bible. These are people who condemn homosexuality because the Bible says so; well, the Bible also says that you can sell your daughter into slavery but you don't see that happening.

The Dubya Taliban would love to turn this country into a theocracy and I worry more about them than I do that bogeyman Osama. Saddam was never a threat to my freedoms--but bastards and whores like Falwell, Hagee, LaHaye want are a threat to me.

They oppose science such as stem-cells and cloning. Think about this: The first commandment isn't really pro First Amendment, if you think about it.

America is a good place to live; it's not the greatest country, the bastion of freedom--but it can be. I do have hope for it. But, Bush and his regime are twisting it into something ugly, pushing an agenda of America imperialism. Just as imperialism toppled the Soviets, the same will happen to America.

And, I tell you this: Speak of this with some people and you'll be called a traitor.

However . . . .

I know that not all Americans are blind and stupid. There are some smart people outh there. Maybe it's time we get out there and shake things up a bit.

Sure, we'll be branded as traitors.

But, so were Jefferson, Franklin, Paine, and others.

Let the Revolution begin!

Here ends my rambling rant . . . .

[LadyFel]

I take my hat off to you...

[hodor]

Man I feel the same as you in so many respects. I feel that americans, however, shouldn't be judged by their #&***@" #&**§ £€** leadership or "so called government". I am an american too. My wife was told she is not allowed to move to the USA for at least six years after her cancer treatment... thank you mr bush. I live in France and I cringe every time I hear my country's administration giving some sort of media speech on France. I, on the other hand, will have two nationalities in less than three months and I so choose to stay here. I know every country has it's problems and bad leadership; however, it is one thing to have this and have it affect only you, it's another thing to have this when your policies govern the policies of the world.

[Foxbat]

I think none of our nations are whiter than white. We Scots have our own reasons for shame - the Ku Klux Klan, for example, has its origins in Scotland. And religious hatred is still very real here in some areas.

I only know one American - and he's from Texas. My own prejudices made me assume he would be brash and loudmouthed. I was wrong. you could not meet a more thoughtful and intelligent person (he's also a well respected authority on Texas Swing).

What I'm trying to say is that there are many many ignorant Scotsmen just as there are many ignorant people of other nationalities. We just have to remember that there are as many good people out there (of all nationalities), stick to what we believe in, and hope that sense will prevail in the end.

[McMurphy]

Originally Posted by LensmanZ313

However . . . .

I know that not all Americans are blind and stupid. There are some smart people outh there. Maybe it's time we get out there and shake things up a bit.

Sure, we'll be branded as traitors.

But, so were Jefferson, Franklin, Paine, and others.

Let the Revolution begin!

Here ends my rambling rant . . . .

It was certainly an impressive rant (referring to some as "mocking neocon whores and bastards" was certainly level-headed )about your disappointment towards fellow Americans and the present adminstration, but you got utterly vague when addressing what exactly we, as Americans, should do about the problems. What does the "revolution" entail? How do we become righteous traitors? Maybe that should be the focus of the post, and the criticisms used instead as the supporting evidence for the master plan.

"And generally my generation
Wouldn't be caught dead working for the man
And generally I agree with them
Trouble is you gotta have yourself an alternate plan" -Ani DiFranco

[Lacedaemonian]

Bullets in heads people - you lack homegrown terrorism....

[Ashen Shugar]

There are aspects of every nation that cause offense -
The latest for me is not so much national, but possibly confined to the Sydney area & surrounds - our politicians have decided that putting up Christmas decorations could be offensive to our multi-cultural people.
Let me say this - I am not a Christian. I like Christmas however, and my kids love to see the big Christmas trees, bright tinsel etc. (Christmas pre-dates Christianity, eg Solar King, Atus, Mithra, Odin the list goes on) To say that the jolly old fellow in the big red suit could offend people from other cultures is ludicrous. Santa is a bigger seller than Jesus at this time of year. And J.C himself - if you are a non-believer, you must have some hefty insecurities about your own belief system if you are threatened by a group of Christians having a birthday party.
The sadest thing is this - it is NOT the multi-cultural people themselves complaining about Christmas, it is our bleeding heart politicians ASSUMING that someone might be offended, and pulling the pin on some decorations for fear of upsetting a minority group.
That's my rant for today - us Aussies are too little to kill many Iraqis, but we sure can kill the smiles off the faces of our children.

[Alexa]

Can we "kill the bleeding heart politicians" instead ? It seems they keep take wrong decisions all over the world.

[Maryjane]

just as there are many ignorant people of other nationalities. We just have to remember that there are as many good people out there (I gree with that 100%)

Exactly what the Amaricans should do about the problems? Well some are moving out like Odor and my love this coming summer and all the others that migrated to Canada.

It was already proven about the corution that Bush pulled with the Benladens including turning his back while the twin towers came down into a pile of smoke debrebies dust and ashes. What else can they do? Shoot the president?

[Alexa]

Originally Posted by Maryjane

What else can they do? Shoot the president?

This makes me think about Kennedy. As Bush Jr. is a very good puppet for those behind the political scene, he has good chances to be kept alive.

[TGirlPaula]

A few weeks ago I boarded the subway to go to work. The car was as full as a usual rush hour.

I was wearing a long scarf with a pattern adapted from the American flag. Someone asked me if I was a Bush supporter.

I asked him why he said that. He replied that it was because my scarf was patterned by the American flag.

I told him that it is not Mr. Bush's personal flag, that it is my flag and it belongs to the nation, not the regime.

Nothing further said.

I am proud to be an American.

Hodor, I have no idea whatsoever as to why your wife would be barred from entering the States for six years after beating cancer, a non-communicable disease. It is revolting to me to know that is true.

Lensman, the battleground is in the mind. When the people see that "strawman issues" like gay marriage destroying marriage (hetero marriage ain't doing so hot, either, is it?) are just a distraction played on them because they are perceived to be narrow-minded dimwits by the perpetrators of the deception, things will change in an organized revolution at the ballot box.

The Declaration of Independence makes this our duty.

As for the Ku Klux Klan, according to the book, "The Invisible Empire", the KKK was founded in a law office in Pulaski, Tennessee in 1865.

Thank you again and a fulfilling New Year to all.

[Ashen Shugar]

Don't get me started on the bleeding hearts Alexa. The pre requisite to being one is to be totally out of touch with the sentiments of the majority and no working knowledge of how society is travelling as a whole or how to improve it. Grrrr.

[Alexa]

We are talking about politicians, right ?

[D6Veteran]

Ever since my daughter was born 17 months ago I've gone from being a liberal to a left wing radical. Well that is how the press and half of America perceive my views under the Bush administration. I don't understand how any American with a child can support an 85+ billion dollar budget to essentially kill and mame thousands of children.

You'd think 9/11 would have been a wake up call. You'd think it would have increased our nation's empathy. Nope, not a chance. I live in the 'liberal' northwest and still see bumper stickers like: "Kill them all and let God sort them out". I have co-workers that say we should nuke the middle east.

Repulsive. Ashamed. Losing faith in humanity.

Of course these same people so eager to exact 9/11 revenge on the children of Iraq are quick to donate to Walmart's tsunami relief fund.

It's because the press shows the dead children from a natural disaster, but the coverage of the war in Iraq is all sanitized and focuses on the American heroes braving the evil Iraqi rebels.

I've had it. And I'm not going to settle for some pathetic Democrat president either. I want a leader. I want a person who has the courage to think like a decent freaking human being and not be a talking head that would have us spend our futures away (trillion dollar deficit) on warfare. THINK about what we are capable of given our wealth. The wake of American foreign diplomacy (I use the term liberally) is nothing short of an atrocity.

I love America, the better half anyway, but I just don't think we'll be around in our current form much longer. All empires fall. And man are we acting like the fool of an empire lately.

[Maryjane]

I love America, the better half anyway, but I just don't think we'll be around in our current form much longer. All empires fall. And man are we acting like the fool of an empire lately.[/quote]
Dear D6Veteran,

I am writing on behalf of Maryjane and myself, Paula. I am an American and I posted my feelings last evening under the name of TGirlPaula. As I said then, the Stars and Stripes is not Mr. Bush's flag. it's my flag and it is the nation's flag and that is why I wear it.

Maryjane and I, we are very close. She is Canadian and is visiting with me. I have started the process to immigrate to Canada due to the hateful policies of this regime. For the reason that I have quoted above I shall always be proud to be an American. The president does not speak for me, nor has any president ever done that.

The effects of this regime's foreigh, domestic,and fiscal policies will be felt well into the future generations. Trillion dollar debt...such a huge amount that it exists only as an abstract concept on paper. To put it in perspective, if a person spent $1,000,000,000,000 at the rate of a dollar a second, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week it would take 3,167.8 years to do it.

Excluding debt service, how long will it take to pay that back, I wonder.

I do not believe that Mr. Bush is the "brains" of the outfit. I believe that Mr. Chaney, Karl Rove and Donald Rumsfeld are the "brain trust," and what a mess they have made.

Before soldier #1 entered Iraq Maryjane told me that she sensed that there were no waepons of mass destruction present. I recall that statement very clearly as we discussed the real reasons for the invasion: a grudge match between fools.

Saddam Hussein survived the Gulf war and boasted of it. He also called the president "Little Bush." Two stupid moves compounded by a bunch of stupid, prideful responses, revenge extracted with the lives of others, it makes no sense. How the American people could have elected "Little Bush" is beyond me.

Instead of being the world leader for what is right, decent, honest, good, and useful the sole superpower has taken the hate that has been sown within and spread it abroad.

Dear I feel the hurt in you as I do, such suffering and destruction over stupidity and the massacering of little children, that is the true shameful and sad part of the whole ordeal. Mourn the innocent and curse the offender, not the brave souldiers but the ones who sent them there, may thier souls suffer for their prideful hate and agressionb and their callous disregard for human lives.

Most sincerely,

Maryjane and Paula