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Neo-American Patriotism
Before you get the rope and call me a terrorist I must clarify something. It is not the idea of patriotism that I find to be a bubbling puss filled cyst on the genitals of modern man. Rather, I find the new American version of this age old value to be quite warped and twisted. In modern American patriotism, we are expected to except at face value everything that is told to us by the media, government, or any other “legitimate” source. If for some reason a person chooses not to believe this or except it as fact and chooses to look a little deeper and expose more, then this person is looked down upon, especially if the subject is controversial. These people become labeled “conspiracy nuts” or “lunatics”. One little fact that I think that most Americans fail to remember, is that this country was founded by such lunatics. If George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, or Thomas Jefferson were alive today and in politics, I bet you dollars to doughnuts they wouldn’t last 10 minutes. They would be ostracized and stripped of all credibility for their patriotic “heresy”. No, sadly the form of patriotism that America was founded on no longer exists. It is now more of an anxiety fueled concoction of fear, testosterone, and adrenaline shoved straight up the ass of the American people. The form of patriotism I see often is large angry men driving large angry trucks with stickers that say “Nuke their ass and take their gas”. Patriotism was never meant to be a cloak to simultaneously protect the government and blind the citizens. Patriotism has never meant blind allegiance to anyone or anything. True patriotism is having enough pride and love for your country to question your government and hold them accountable for the things you feel are wrong or are mishandled. It in no way suggests that you sit idly by and accept everything at face value. But no that’s way too hard for most people. Its way easier to navigate through life being told what to think and say, how to behave, and what is right and wrong. It’s been said that “eternal vigilance is the price for freedom”, but it seems that the people that choose to engage in this vigilance are condemned by those that choose to sit on their fat lazy asses. Mark my words, this is the single most important factor that will contribute to the downfall of this mighty nation. Distract the rats and the cheese is yours. Well sir we have been distracted and our fucking cheese has been stolen! I will not be too surprised to hear that I have already been judged by some of you as “radical” or “anti-patriotic”, but let me ask you one question. What have you done today for the good of the nation? That’s what I thought. I bet everything you named (if anything) has attached to it a self-serving element. I could go on and on about this issue but I believe I have made my point. Below are a few of my favorite patriotic quotes. “Enlighten the people, generally, and tyranny and oppressions of body and mind will vanish like spirits at the dawn of day.” “I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies.” “I do not take a single newspaper, nor read one a month, and I feel myself infinitely the happier for it.” “Shake off all the fears of servile prejudices, under which weak minds are servilely crouched. Fix reason firmly in her seat, and call on her tribunal for every fact, every opinion. Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason than that of blindfolded fear.” “The spirit of resistance to government is so valuable on certain occasions, that I wish it always to be kept alive.” “We in America do not have government by the majority. We have government by the majority who participate.” “An honest man can feel no pleasure in the exercise of power over his fellow citizens.” “All tyranny needs to gain a foothold is for people of good conscience to remain silent.” “All, too, will bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression.” “Every generation needs a new revolution.” “Experience hath shown, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny.” “Great innovations should not be forced on slender majorities.” “I am mortified to be told that, in the United States of America, the sale of a book can become a subject of inquiry, and of criminal inquiry too.” “I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them.” “I hope we shall crush in its birth the aristocracy of our monied corporations which dare already to challenge our government to a trial by strength, and bid defiance to the laws of our country.” Does this sound like the ranting of a lunatic? Does it sound like something Super Patriot Bill O'Reilly would approve of? Well fuck Bill O'Reilly and the pompous assholes at Fox News. In case you are not all as educated as most, every single one of these quotes comes from Thomas Jefferson, 3rd President of the United States of America and primary author of the declaration of independence, one of the biggest patriots this country has ever known. He warned us about the current state of affairs. We have no one to blame but ourselves. If I had told you that these quotes were from Michael Moore’s new movie or some liberal democrats book, how different would your reaction be? If it would differ at all then you are a confused person indeed. I agree with Mr. Jefferson in his claim that revolution is healthy for a democracy. Much in the same way that arguments are a healthy part of personal relationships. It helps clear the air and solidify the entire foundation of what’s really important. I’m not advocating a violent or bloody revolution, but the stronger the power gets, the bloodier it has the potential to be. It will happen if this country expects to make it. You can deny that all you wish but it’s not something I say with any kind of joy, I’m simply stating a fact. To the extent of that revolution is entirely up to the citizens. It can be a gradual political revolution happening slowly over time in a civilized and legal manner or it can be something a lot uglier. The fact is that we can either sit around and bitch about this shit or we can do something about it. It’s up to us. I do not want to give the impression that I am an America bashing hypocrite (although I will fully own the fact that I am a hypocrite). You better believe your ass that if tomorrow I woke up and found out we had been invaded, I would be on the next plane, train, or bicycle to wherever I am needed. I am fully willing to fight and die for my country in the name of American Freedom. I will gladly defend my country. I will not however be expected to fight in a war under false pretenses for some ghost agenda cloaked under a shroud of bullshit. If you call that anti-patriotic then maybe you should do the world a favor and go to your local Wal-Mart, purchase a hunting rifle, stick it to your head, and pull the trigger because it’s idiots like you that are dragging the rest of us down. -= Bagoda =- |
