Posted on 03/26/2004 11:40:40 PM PST by goldstategop
Liberalism Is Unpatriotic
Kyle Williams
During the dead heat of this election year, sharp criticism is in the air against President Bush, and this being a post-war time, critics are out in further attacks over the legitimacy of the war in Iraq. In return, these critics are being attacked by conservatives and by the administration; thus an all-out political war is ongoing.
These critics must concur with Hillary Clinton, who, in April 2003, shouted out to a group of supporters, "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration."
Primarily because of the war and further because of the Republican controlled legislative and executive branches, liberals have been attempting to take the side of the underdog, the victim.
In Hollywood, socialist actors complain of blacklisting and Tim Robbins carps about his lack of popularity. On Capitol Hill, politicians like Clinton are complaining about their standing as patriots, claiming another Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy is out to get them. A caller into Matt Drudge's weekend show accused President Bush of silencing her and keeping her from thinking. Many radical liberals are accusing the media of not criticizing the Bush administration and its war in Iraq.
Their whining is rather comical to hear, when it's unarguable that liberals have the courts, schools, higher education, news media, entertainment media and a billion-dollar political machines on their side.
Still, it's politically favorable to be presented as an underdog, because human nature dictates that people will cheer on the wounded. Like Clinton communicated, a major part of this effort is in accusing conservatives of characterizing them as unpatriotic.
Yet, what Hillary Clinton and the rest of her pals are missing is that no conservative group has characterized anyone as being unpatriotic. Liberal dissenters seem to mistake their severe lack of popularity with nonexistent accusations. Moreover, conservatives would not declare any dissenter unpatriotic for fear of being branded the title of demagogue.
But I digress.
The reason the term "patriotism" hasn't been used in any beneficial sense is because it has remained undefined. Following in line with the relativist attitude of late, patriotism is just another favorable word that politicians throw around.
So, what is patriotism?
I'm confident the standard of patriotism is not to be measured by whether you agree with George W. Bush and, unlike what the Patriot Act might communicate, patriotism is not a love of government. Patriotism is not about how many flags one waves or some sort of unfounded emotional feeling one has on Independence Day.
Patriotism is a love of country and can be strictly defined in two ways.
First, patriotism is a love of the people of the nation and a love of the land. America is home, and Americans are fellow citizens. Home is not France or Germany, and fellow citizens are not Germans or Frenchmen. We are Americans. This love of people and land leads a patriot to fight for and stay vigilant in its protection.
Secondly, patriotism is an allegiance to the ideas of a nation. The ideas of our country, contained within the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and writings of the founding era are our principles. These are not all-inclusive ideas, but are strict and exclusive.
Thus, logically, if patriotism can be defined, there are those who are patriotic and those who are unpatriotic.
Modern-day liberalism which is really socialism or eventually communism is unpatriotic. Those activists on both sides of the aisle who lobby for the implementation of liberalism are not patriots. They are enemies of the United States and will fight to stop America from being what it is intended to be.
Congress rarely acts patriotic, because they nonchalantly commit crimes against the United States by violating the Constitution. The executive, in its gaining power and tyranny of the bureaucracy are acting unpatriotic. The same goes for judicial activists in the federal courts of America.
These enemies of the United States who flex power in the three branches of government do so without regard for label or political party. Previously, parties and labels had some sort of significance, but now the cancer of unpatriotic liberalism rules everywhere, while constitutionalists have little say.
Patrick Henry, one of the greatest patriots seen by America, said in 1775, "Give me liberty or give me death." The generally uneducated populace of today leaves us with the words, "Give me government or give me death."
Unpatriotic, liberal politicians are happy to comply and continue to take us down a road of immorality and fiscal disaster.
Sen. Clinton, no mainstream conservative has branded you as unpatriotic. Yet, if patriotism is not just another demagogic word to throw around, then you don't have it.
Patriotism has meaning and it's important, but it's sorely lacking in American today.
Then I guess Ann's columns must be lousy, since they are not book-length and give liberals fuel to make absurd charges?
Lighten up, Qwinn, give the kid (Kyle) a break.
I'm with Qwinn on this one; Williams doesn't want a break 'cause he's "a kid." And he ordinarily doesn't need one. But in this case I think he went to the (correct) conclusion too fast.He lists specific, identifiable parts of what constitutes patriotism, but he skipped the step which gives examples of liberals opposing them.
Those examples do, of course, exist; he just didn't give any and he should have.
Well stated.
These critics must concur with Hillary Clinton, who, in April 2003, shouted out to a group of supporters, "I am sick and tired of people who say that if you debate and you disagree with this administration somehow you're not patriotic. We should stand up and say we are Americans and we have a right to debate and disagree with any administration."
I seem to recall that the previous administration spent 8 years claiming that anyone who was against the Clinton Administration was an "anti-government type". Opposing the Clintons' policies is not being "anti-government". Some conservatives, libertarians, and "extreme right wackos" were/are anti-BIG-government but even Clinton/Gore claimed to be "reducing the size of government". We never disputed the certified results of the election. We never claimed that since Bubba never got 50% of the popular vote he was not a "real" president. We were embarassed by his actions and felt he was a disgrace to the office of the presidency. The term "Clinton hater" was a media accepted way to immediately dismiss any charges against the then president. Today Bush Haters call their rallies just that and the media is all to willing to echo their talking points. Why is that activism to be cheered while conservative activism is to be jeered? I don't recall conservatives ever causing a riot in the streets like the black shirted Bush Hassers have done.
The black shirts are anarchist-socialists and they most definitely are "antiAmerican government" type. I will call a communist a commie, no regrets.
The Clintons used the IRS to audit their critics. I wish the IRS would be auditing all of the illegally political 501(c)3 non-profits that oppose President Bush this election. This is not a double standard, one is harassment, the other is defunding all tax cheats (I don't care if they are left or right; and for the record it will be many more on the left).
The far left protestors most certainly are unpatriotic.
Here are some examples:
(2003) (2004)
A better example is the hypocrisy of Tim Robbin's wife, Susan Sarandon.
She and her husband have railed against being silenced for their opinions. She has even said that Howard Stern should be allowed to remain on the air because people who don't like his program (like admittedly Susan herself) can change the station.
The only LIE in this whole matter is that she was very vocal in silencing Dr. Laura and seeing that her tv show never went on the air for comments she had made about homosexuals. She has even been singularly thanked for her efforts on the StopDrLaura.com website.
THANKS: There are so many people to thank for standing by us and helping from day one. We'll try to list some, but I'm sure we'll miss many. The StopDrLaura.com co-founders: John Aravosis, Joel Lawson, William Waybourn, Alan Klein and Robin Tyler. Our local organizers in over 34 cities, including Andy Thayer, John Selig, and Corey Johnson who did a lot of national work in addition to working in their local cities of Chicago, Dallas, and San Francisco. Organizations like the Horizon Foundation, Communication Works, TomPaine.com, Don't Panic, and the Human Rights Campaign (which gave us a generous donation). Celebrities like David Lee of "Frasier" fame, Susan Sarandon, Pat Schroeder, Christopher Landon, and Bruce Vilanch. Great reporting by Mike Signorile, GAYBC, the LA Times, Hollywood Reporter, New York Times, Variety, Access Hollywood, Broadcasting & Cable, Gay.com and Reuters (among many others). And the assistance of friends like David Goldman, Stuart Paul, and so many others who helped this campaign become a success.
Leftist view: "that smacks of nationalism and fascism and xenophobia, we are all one world and need to seek the understanding of our neighbors".
Secondly, patriotism is an allegiance to the ideas of a nation. The ideas of our country, contained within the Constitution, Declaration of Independence and writings of the founding era are our principles. These are not all-inclusive ideas, but are strict and exclusive.
Leftist view: "Don't start REQUIRING me to pledge alligience to George Bush's America (anyone remember the antiwar idiots version of the pledge?). The Constitution is a living document writen by dead white males who owned property. All property is theft and no one needs a gun these days. Freedom OF religion must be replaced by freedom FROM religion. That bit about bearing arms in the constitution was a fluke. They meant to say the right to infanticide and same sex sodomite marriage."
Modern-day liberalism which is really socialism or eventually communism is unpatriotic. Those activists on both sides of the aisle who lobby for the implementation of liberalism are not patriots. They are enemies of the United States and will fight to stop America from being what it is intended to be.
BINGO. This is why they are called "Stalin's Useful idiots" or "useful idiots" for short. Some don't realize who they are serving in going to these rallies which are funded by global socialists who wave Stalin banners.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.