patriotism

It seems like everywhere you look these days, someone’s trying to spread...The Fear.

All around us...in every town...on every corner...a massive Army Of Fear is standing by, according to the Messengers, ready at a moment’s notice to obey the dictates of some unappointed Czar or another.

Just ask Glenn Beck: concentration camps for the white people, jackbooted stormtroopers ready to snatch the guns from your cold dead fingers...Socialist Government-Controlled Healthcare That Threatens Your Not Socialist Medicare...it’s all coming, my friends—and unless we organize, as a community, to return to the values of the Founding Fathers, The Government, meaning that awful Obama and Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid and George Soros and all the other Evil Community Organizers, will win.

There’s no government, we’re told, like no government.

You know who would find all of this fear of self-government just entirely bizarre?

The Founding Fathers.

In today’s conversation we’ll consider the fundamentals of American patriotism, we’ll ask one of those Founding Fathers how he saw the role of Government—and we’ll toss in a few words from Abraham Lincoln, just for good measure.

I recently read a good post over at CommonDreams.org. It was written by David Potorti who lost a brother on 9/11 at the WTC. David remembers Howard Zinn and reminds us what it means to be a patriot. That with a few words Howard Zinn could affect the life of David Potorti, and so on, should give us hope that ideas and commitment matter. Like a pebble striking still water, our words can spread like ripples to touch the distant shore.

-b
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Cross-posted from The Progressive Pulse.
There are few things I dislike more than being called unpatriotic because someone disagrees with my politics. Allow me to introduce you to John Locke Foundation blogger Jon Ham, who can apparently determine your patriotism by what yard sign you display. Here is Ham's 4th of July offering:

Not questioning their patriotism, but …

Let's face it: there's way too much flaming that goes on in internet forums and in local newspapers over Reverend Wright's sermons.

It generates a lot of heat, but no light.

So how about if we back up a little and try to do what Barack has asked us to do: sit down and have a quiet conversation and try to understand one another?

In which we meet Billy and Lillian Gobitas, who fought the law...and eventually, the law didn't win.

If we do not focus on the neocon media all the blogs in the world will not stop American Fascism.

stolen from http://commonsense.ourfuture.org/sirius_satellite_radio_doesnt_think_youre_patriotic
By Rick Perlstein on July 14, 2007 - 7:19pm.

I just was a guest on Mike Feder's show SIRIUS Satellite Radio show and learned something deeply, deeply offensive.

The liberal channel is called "SIRIUS Left."

The conservative channel is called "SIRIUS Patriot."

SIRIUS Satellite Radio doesn't think you're patriotic. This is an obscenity.

SIRIUS's media relations representative for talk radio is Hillary Schupf. Her email is hschupf@siriusradio.com. Her phone number is 212-901-6739. Let's start with her. Share what she says in the comments. This cannot be allowed to stand.

(Dear Reader, this is not my story. I am merely passing it on and proud to do so. Brenda)

Bringing a Soldier Home

Last week, while traveling to Chicago on business, I noticed a Marine sergeant traveling with a folded flag, but did not put two and two together. After we boarded our flight, I turned to the sergeant, who'd been invited to sit in First Class (across from me), and inquired if he was heading home.

No, he responded.

Heading out I asked?

No. I'm escorting a soldier home.

Going to pick him up?

No. He is with me right now. He was killed in Iraq . I'm taking him home to his family.
The realization of what he had been asked to do hit me like a punch to the gut. It was an honor for him. He told me that, although he didn't know the soldier, he had delivered the news of his passing to the soldier's family and felt as if he knew them after many conversations in so few days. I turned back to him, extended my hand, and said, Thank you. Thank you for doing what you do so my family and I can do what we do.