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<DIV>Geez Louise!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Larry, Conrad, etc....</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"ANTI-AMERICAN" activities?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"UNPATRIOTIC?"</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Just what do you think patriotism is? Just what do you think =
it means
to be an American -- a good, loyal American?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Do you think our country was founded by docile sheep, who =
mindlessly
followed the dictates of King George and paid their tea taxes like good =
little
subjects? NO! Our country and government (like most =
countries and
governments) was born from a rebellion. Our founders recognized =
that their
government was unjust, despite the fact the "law" said otherwise. =
This is
how our founders explained themselves in a little letter to King George, =
with
bold facing added for emphasis:</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>"<STRONG>We hold these truths to be self-evident</STRONG>, that all =
men are
created equal...That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive =
of
these ends<STRONG>, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish =
it</STRONG>, and to institute new Government... But when a long train of =
abuses
and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to =
reduce
them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, <STRONG>it is their
duty</STRONG>, to throw off such Government..."</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Our founders did not look to the law to know what was wrong and
right. Nobody had to TELL them they were being treated unjustly by =
Britain. These truths were self-evident. It was therefore =
the DUTY
of these people to question unjust laws and policies and to rebel =
against
them. Why was it their duty? Very simply, they were morally
obligated to correct what they saw as being wrong with their state of =
affairs
and the state of affairs of their fellow colonists. They were =
morally
charged to right what they believed deeply to be a wrong. This is =
what it
means to be a patriot -- to love one's land and people enough to take =
the risk
necessary to improve it. Patriotism isn't about loving what your
government is doing, whether it is right or wrong. Patriotism =
isn't about
blindly and unquestioningly following laws that may or may not be =
just.
These are the qualities of sheep, not patriots.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Patriots are people like Rosa Parks, who refused to sit at the back =
of the
bus, knowing she would probably be arrested for defying authority. =
Patriots are people like the mayors throughout this land who have defied =
the
"Defense" of Marriage Act and have married gay couples because they =
believed the
law to be unjust. Patriots are people like the "right to choose" =
activists
and the "right to life" activists, who may be on opposite sides of the =
issue but
both believe fervently in their cause. Patriots are the citizen =
lobbyists
who stream constantly into Washington to try to change laws they feel =
are
unjust. Patriots are the conscientious objectors who refuse to =
pick up
rifles and march off to war, opting instead to go to prison if
necessary, because they feel war is wrong. Patriots are the =
young men
and women who enlist in the military, putting their lives on the line in =
service
to their country. Patriots are the Peace Corps volunteers, =
many/most
opposed to war, who often put their safety on the line in hostile lands =
in
pursuit of American ideals and for betterment of the world. =
Patriots are
the Habitats for Humanity volunteers who put in long, hard hours to =
elevate
the living conditions of the ever-growing ranks of impoverished
countrymen. Patriots are the people who run the soup kitchens for =
their
homeless countrymen.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Patriotism isn't simply waving a flag and mindlessly saying, "God =
bless
America." Patriotism isn't showing up at the Fourth of July =
parades.
Patriotism isn't voting Republican or Democratic.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>True patriotism is seldom easy, and it almost never comes without
sacrifice.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Certain things are UNpatriotic: It is UNpatriotic to "vote =
for one's
pocketbook" (i.e. vote out of self interest), without concern for the
ramifications for larger society. It is UNpatriotic to break the =
law for
personal gain. It is UNpatriotic to lie, cheat, and steal at a =
cost to the
well-being of one's countrymen. It is UNpatriotic not to =
vote. It is
UNpatriotic not to speak out when you feel something is wrong. It =
is
UNpatriotic to blindly obey laws you feel are morally wrong. It is =
UNpatriotic to hold a public office and not use that position to fight =
like hell
for the betterment of America. It is UNpatriotic NOT to question
authority. It is UNpatriotic not to consider the larger =
implications
of any issue. It is UNpatriotic not to think. It is =
UNpatriotic not
to act. It is UNpatriotic to be inert -- a "sheep." =
</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It is UNpatriotic to accuse a person of being UNpatriotic or
UN-American for doing whatever his heart of hearts -- his deepest
conscience -- tells him is the right thing to do. It is =
UNpatriotic to
accuse someone of being anti-American, just because he doesn't =
conform to
your point of view. (How DARE you?!)</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>John Kerry is anything but unpatriotic or un-American. =
There's more
patriot in that man than we've seen from either major party in a long, =
long
time! That is the thing that most stands out about him. He
passionately wants to make this land a better place. What better =
thing
could one say about the man? He's not in it for the money. =
He's not
in it to be ruler of the world. He's not in it for the power =
trip.
He's in it because he loves America with all his heart.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>John Kerry is the prototypical American, who would have found good =
company
with our nation's founders. He is the very essence of a =
patriot.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Peace,</DIV>
<DIV>Sarah</DIV>
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