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America
the Great
October
16, 2001
By A Concerned Patriot
What makes America, America? Or, to put it more bluntly,
what makes America the greatest country on Earth?
Is it our sense of normalcy? (Or as the President would say,
"shopping?") Is it the tall buildings, filling our skylines?
Our cars? Those beautiful gas-guzzling works of art & technology
- clogging our city streets (and our air)? Is it a 9,000+
Dow Jones Industrials average? Or could it be our renewed
sense of patriotism, unified by our glorious President?
Simple answer: No.
Our Constitution is what makes this country great. Our Constitution
is what makes the rest of the world green with envy. Our right
to speak freely. Our right to dissent. Our right to live free.
That's what makes this country great.
It seems lately, that the meaning of patriotism has changed.
Patriotism is no longer a term meant for those that fight
for their individual beliefs, and by doing so, defend the
beliefs of this great nation.
No, no. In the days since September 11th, patriotism has
come to be defined as, "Unifying behind the President, regardless
of personal beliefs/views/opinions/etc." In other words,
supporting the President, and whatever moves he and his appointed
administration make, even if it totally negates every one
of your beliefs. The beliefs which you, an American, have
every right, and OBLIGATION, to have!
This has totally baffled me. The arguments given are totally
ridiculous, and most of the time, complete hypocrisy. My favorite,
"We need security and peace, we must preserve freedom, at
all costs!" I ask, how do you expect, or even propose, to
protect and preserve freedom, by taking it away?
How does one, with a straight face and sane mind, completely
trample the Constitution, in the name of the Flag? Is that
even logically possible?
Simple answer: No. Yet it is what a good majority of Americans,
and the Government that is supposed to serve THEM, are doing
as we speak.
They have drawn a line. If you're not with us, you're with
them. And supposedly this is called, "Uniting Americans."
If you don't believe exactly what the President believes,
then you're a traitor, essentially guilty of treason.
This is not uniting! I know of no easier, and more effective,
way to divide people.
So I ask again, what makes America, America? What makes our
great country so great?
Is it the Constitution?
Simple answer: No.
It's the people. The Constitution is nothing without the
people. Liberty, freedom, and our patriotism, live in our
hearts. No judge, policeman, lawyer, government, or Constitution,
can defend them there, only the individual himself. And that
includes everyone!
Remember, it's "Power of the People," not "Power of
the Majority", and especially not, "Power of the Misguided
Majority."
The Constitution means nothing without the will of the people
to defend it at all costs. The government, derives ALL of
it's powers from the people, so FREEDOM IS NOT THEIRS TO TAKE!
Therefore, the only way to lose it is to let go of it.
I, for one, am not willing to do this. I am a real patriot.
I will do anything to defend my country, and the great, American
ideals it holds. But I can not, and will not, sacrifice those
ideals, in their defense. This is the ultimate form of treason.
250 million people, all completely disagreeing with each
other, practicing 200 different religions, working 10,000
different professions, from 130 different nations, teaching
their children completely different things, at completely
different times...but UNITED in one simple fact... that this
is precisely what makes this country America! It's what makes
us American!
That's what makes this country great.
Here's a small quote, which shows some of the real beauty
in our country...
"The view from my apartment... used to be the World Trade
Center, and now it's not. But you know what? Now... the view
from my apartment...it's the Statue of Liberty, and you can't
beat that." - Jon Stewart, The Daily Show
Look around for America's real beauty. It's not in our economics,
it's in our love. Our love of one another. Our love of freedom.
That's patriotism. And it's not only what makes this country
great, it's what holds it together.
I leave you with two of my favorite quotes, from another
Great American Patriot.
"Who ever would overthrow the liberty of a nation, must begin
by subduing the freeness of speech." - Benjamin Franklin
"They that would sacrifice a little liberty for temporary
security, deserve neither liberty nor security." - Benjamin
Franklin
I love you all.
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