The forces of Pro-America vs. Anti-America
As admited several times before here on this blog, I am a political junkie. And in my personal opinion, this election just keeps getting dumber (although, apparently, not as dumb as some previous elections). Recently, there was a bit of a flap over “real”, pro-America and anti-America cities, congresspeople, and presidential candidates.
I don’t really get the whole pro-anti-America-patriotism thing. I mean…it implies being critical makes you anti-American. When in my mind, criticizing combined with participating in the political process makes you a “real” American. Generally, I don’t care what people say, just leave me to do my thing and live my life and I’ll do the same for you (now I sound Libertarian).
However, a recent Elkhart Truth newspaper article got me steamed enough to write a letter to the editor. Here’s the part of the article that steamed me, it’s talking about Ron Holland, a local GOP volunteer:
This is the first year Holland has gotten involved with anything political. He doesn’t feel good about ties Democratic candidate Barack Obama is alleged to have had with Louis Farrakhan and Jeremiah Wright. And he feels McCain would bring important leadership experience and American values to the office, in part because of his military service.<
“I’m anxious for our country to be pro-American without question, and I know that John McCain is a true American,” Holland said.
I think it’s great Ron is volunteering (he’s at the middle table in the photo), working hard for something he believes in. However, I don’t get how working hard for what you believe in if it’s not what Ron believes in makes you anti-American, as he implies. Here’s my letter to the editor, which was published Thursday:
What makes someone anti-American?
In the Oct. 18 story “On the right…more excitement for GOP ticket,” GOP volunteer Ron Howard says, “I’m anxious for our country to be pro-American without question, and I know that John McCain is a true American.”
Other politicians and candidates have echoed the same sentiment, most notably Minnesota Rep. Bachmann, who called for widespread press inquiry into the pro- or anti-American-ness of members of Congress.
My question is, and one I’ve yet to find a good answer to, what is the criteria for being pro- or anti-American? Gov. Palin implied that certain places of the country are more pro-American than others. Is Elkhart County one of these places? Are certain towns within Elkhart more or less pro-American? Middlebury better than Nappanee? Elkhart better than Goshen?
I believe in an America where any kid can aspire to be president, whether they’re male or female; white, black, Hispanic, or Asian; gay or straight; single or married; Muslim, Catholic, Christian or Jew; live in San Francisco, Elkhart County, New York City or anywhere in between; and identify with the Democratic, Republican, Libertarian, Green or any other party.
Does that make me anti-American? To believe that if a gay Asian-American Muslim Libertarian-leaning girl from Wakarusa wanted to, she could aspire to be president?
ERIC KANAGY
Goshen
I was going to list some of my online favorite responses (click on the feedback tab of the article to view all of them) but this one is simply my favorite. From the user calling themselves Infidel:” :
In Short, as Melanie Phillips said, this is the campaign where we learned a Marxisant radical who all his life has been mentored by, sat at the feet of, worshiped with, befriended, endorsed the philosophy of, funded and been in turn funded, politically promoted and supported by a nexus comprising black power anti-white racists, Jew-haters, revolutionary Marxists, unrepentant former terrorists and Chicago mobsters, is on the verge of becoming President of the United States. And apparently it’s considered impolite to say so.
According to his or her profile page, Infidel has posted over 5 times a day since joining the newspaper’s forums on Aug 8. I am glad that we have a country that allows him/her to anonymously express his/her anger and opinions 5 times a day.
However, I’ve already written my response to Infidel in the form of a letter to the editor which was published yesterday.
