Thursday, September 28, 2006

I am ashamed

I have never been particularly patriotic. Being formed during the 60's no doubt contributed as did my understanding that as a follower of Jesus that my ultimate citizenship is not in any nation/state, but in the kindom of God. Still, I have always been especially proud of the values upon which this nation was founded. Certainly, we have not always lived up to them but we never (or at least seldom) outright rejected them. And always, someone would hold them up and call us to move towards our better selves.

A few years ago, Alexis was in the Balkans and was warned not to tell anyone she was an American. My first reaction was resignation but there was also a hint of surprise... "Don't they know what we stand for?"

Well, today I am ashamed. Yesterday the House voted for legislation that outright rejects everything that I thought we stood for as Americans. And immediately afterwards, the Republicans accused the Democrats who voted against the bill as being pro-terrorist. All of this following the release of the April intelligence estimate that concluded that everything we are doing in Iraq is making terrorism worse. Well, today I am ashamed to be an American. If this bill becomes law, I will truly be ashamed that we no longer stand up for human dignity or the rule of law.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Does all this mean that you'll be departing for another country that will value you and your opinions more?

roy said...

does one even dignify a comment like that with an answer? And anonymously posted...
well, I'll answer anyway...
no, I'll not be leaving. I will be speaking out and calling for our leaders to own the values they claim. I'll be voting as well to remove any traitor (and I use that word purposefully) from office who is compromising all that the USA is supposed to be.
How about you? Who will speak for you when they come to get you?

Anonymous said...

Does "anonymous" also think that Garrison Keillor should "be departing for another country"....

Please read his scathing commentary on the Senate actions (you can't get more "Middle America" than Garrison Keillor).

http://www.pahrumpvalleytimes.com/2006/Oct-04-Wed-2006/opinion/10023062.html

Keep the peace!
Mark