Why do I care when other Americans are misunderstood and misrepresented?
I believe in freedom. And I believe in the value of truth.
In no way does that mean people who misunderstand and misrepresent fellow Americans who happen to disagree with their government are not believers in freedom and the value of truth. But what does that mean?
It means if American citizens disagree with their government they should have the freedom to say so.
And if segments of American society appear to be doing everything in their power to prevent people from freely holding expressing and acting upon certain convictions then that upsets me.
Moreover if said segments of American society appear to be doing this by misrepresenting the truth that also upsets me. This is not because I am somehow more noble. It is because I have a character flaw. It is called pride. When someone expects me to believe something that does not appear to me to be true I feel like my intelligence is being insulted and I react badly. When someone condemns me because I happen to have questions about something I feel like my freedom is being denied and again I react badly. Why can another American question the honesty and integrity of thousands of people but I cannot question the accuracy of something three people said?
So what do we have? A large number of American citizens who disagree strongly with their government and with significant changes their government is making to direction and nature of American society. It so happens that on this occasion we have an African-American president. Some conclude that these American citizens disagree with their government because the president is African-American and they are motivated by racism.
I am sure some are. Moreover it is both believable and probable that some persons who criticize this government and/or participate in these Tea Party or other protests have spoken words or displayed signs that are (a) racist or (b) just ugly. That is vile and unacceptable. It is imperative that those who criticize this government both denounce and dissociate themselves from that.
So what about everyone else? So far as I can tell the vast majority are not motivated by racism. So far as I can tell they are even more frustrated with the leaders of Congress who are predominantly white. They are motivated by concern for this country and for well being of everyone who lives here.
It seems to me that efforts are being made to paint all criticism of this government as racially motivated. With the goal being (a) to dismiss wholesale the concerns of these Americans and/or (b) to silence all criticism of this government because people become afraid or ashamed. Who wants to be accused of being a racist? Who wants to be accused of associating with racists?
Although the last few weeks suggest this effort has largely failed. Notice the change in rhetoric from raaaaacism to aaaaanger.
I have reached a point where I no longer want to express my political views. I have reached a point where I would rather cede the political discussion entirely to the other side no matter how much I disagree. A couple weeks ago someone told me that right now it is not safe to express our political views. Think about that. Does it make someone glad to know a fellow American would rather just shut up and be quiet?
I am not part of the Tea Party movement. I am sympathetic to its concerns. So when I see efforts being made to prevent Americans from exercising their freedom to hold express and act upon their convictions I take it personally. Because my own freedom to hold express and act upon my convictions at some point down the road is by extension being threatened. First they came for the Jews and all that. I am genuinely afraid that we are approaching a point where statism advances unchecked and there is not a thing I can say or do about it.
Again that sounds more noble than it really is. I am concerned about the future well being of my family. We are already experiencing negative financial repercussions from what this government has been doing.
Addendum 04/23/2010: Just saw this editorial “Liberals and the Violence Card” by Rush Limbaugh. For the record I have not listened to Rush Limbaugh since graduate school. Neither a fan nor a critic. Although I appreciate someone who has the nerve to stand up and speak up despite the efforts of the social-cultural-political elite to demonize him.
Let me just say it. The Obama/Clinton/media left are comfortable with the unrest in our society today. It allows them to blame and demonize their opponents (doctors, insurance companies, Wall Street, talk radio, Fox News) in order to portray their regime as the great healer of all our ills, thus expanding their power and control over our society.
A clear majority of the American people want no part of this. They instinctively know that the Obama way is not how things get done in this country. They are motivated by love. Not hate, not sedition. They love their country and want to save it from those who do not.
