Americanism

[disallusioned]

I'm going to bring up a topic that is going to rub a lot of people the wrong way.  But I think it needs to be brought up.

Why does it take such a grusome attack on American soil to get our attention, as Americans and as a world?  Yes, this is a tragedy, but what a travesty that we don't honor all those who have died due to terriosts the same honor we have lately.  What a shame that we so soon forget those other Americans who died without a single person standing and singing the National anthem.  What about those soldiers who were asleep in their dorm when the building was bombed?  What about the Navy ship that was attacked, and those who lost their life there?  Where was the flag waving, the crying, the singing, the support when these occurred?  It's a little too little, too late to make our Armed Forced feel that we are supporting them now.  Where were these folks waving flags and declaring freedom when the Armed Forces were living on Food Stamps because the salary they received for protecting us wasn't enough to even provide the basics for them and their families?  And how soon are we all going to forget them when they go off to do what we're calling for - protection and ensuring our security?  How long will it take before we move from supporting their efforts to condemning them once again?  Are we only supportive of America and what it stands for when tragedy occurs on our shores? Or will we now include those times when she is protecting herself, democracy, and freedom on other shores as well?  My plea is for each of us to remember not only those heros who have died during this tragic event, but all those unsung heros who have died here and everywhere due to terrorism, and to continue waving our flags proudly for ever more.  

[tnvolgalcps]

Well said, Disillusioned. I've felt the same way and hope that this tragedy (being on our shores and involving many more causulties) will be an eye opener and that we will again wave our flags and appreciate our military and what this country stands for and not take so much for granted.



When the bombings happened in Lebanon and, more recently, to the U.S. Cole, I just don't think that the American people were as concerned because it didn't happen here or to them. Sure, they may have been angry but not the out-pouring that has happened the past two weeks. But isn't it strange how this attach seemed to touch everyone. Everywhere you turn, you hear about someone who knew someone who knew someone... In my own church family, one of the ladies who sings in the choir with me...her oldest daughter is a flight attendant and is usually on the Boston to LA run...she switched off with a close friend because it was her birthday and one of her brothers was going to be in town...she lost a whole crew of friends and still has trouble sleeping because she feels guilty.



Anyway, what I guess I am trying to say is that I hope that this spurt of patriotism isn't short-lived but sustaining throughout the country for ever and ever, Amen.

[execsec]

I understand what you are saying and agree with you.  However, when people join the military, it is somewhat understood that there is an element of danger, and that they may, at a moment's notice be called to duty to serve and defend.  And there's the possibility that they might die while performing this duty.  When regular people, like me and you go to our office and fix coffee for the morning, there isn't always that element of danger lurking in the shadows. It's not in our job descriptions to be on the alert and be ready to go out and serve and defend our country. When innocent people die while performing their normal everyday office duties, it just seems more horrifying.  It shouldn't, I know, but it does. I don't intend to offend anyone, it's just my own opinion.

[msmarieh]

Well I probably don't represent the typical American. My husband was in the Navy when we met and married. My brother fought in Vietnam, my father in WWII along with all his five brothers, my grandfather in WWI, and on down through the family. We have always been slightly more patriotic than some families I see.



My husband and I laughed at the run on flags. We have had a flagpole in our yard flying the stars and stripes almost since we moved in. It went in the same day as our mailbox!



I agree, few people really think about the sacrifice of our military. For those of you that would like to do something about that, check out adoptaplatoon.org - and consider adopting a soldier - as a pen pal or with goodie boxes, or if you are really ambitious - adopt a whole platoon!



Marie

[countrigal]

My thughts... so the military knew the risks when they signed up... but you know the risks for carple tunnel as a secretary.  If we're so big on getting respect and wanting a thank you, is it so much for our military to ask for and receive the same thing?



My husand appreciates every thank you and God Bless You that he hears, and he appreciates it more when it comes from kids and non-military members when there hasn't been such a huge tragedy.  But even if they should expect to be put in harms way, should we ignore their loss when one of their's dies?  Or should we stand proud and say thank you, that they were/are willing to put their lives at risk to protect us and our way of lives?



Let's not belittle the loss of one life, whether American or British or German or Russian... let's stand up and demand an end to this type of tyranny, the tyranny of fear and terrorism.  Let's be proud to be Americans, but aso proud to be humans, and unite as a world to stop these types of actions.  And let's say thank you to all of those people who are out there trying to protect all of us, our militaries, our governments, our police, etc...



And let's let Freedom Ring, not just today, but everyday from now to eternity in the US.  Let's not forget ANY of those who have died tragic deaths, even those who are military.

[dragonladybug]

It's sad but true that most Americans don't remember to honor those who put their lives at risk to protect freedom.  Coming from a fairly military family that includes several career officers (one of whom died in Vietnam), maybe I (like MsMarieH) have a little different perspective.  We tend to fly our flags at all times - didn't have to run out and buy one.  Memorial Day is a little higher on our priority list than just a day off work and a picnic.



And yes, it's sad that our society seems to put more value on civilian lives - we should be outraged at any loss of life whether civilian, military, American, or non-American.  Our culture in recent years has not been one to honor the military - 30 years ago Vietnam vets were vilified as baby killers.  Imagine how they felt at the support the Gulf War received and how they feel now.



Public schools actively discourage any display of Americanism - it might offend someone.  We as parents and teachers haven't been teaching our children to be patriots - we're too busy making sure everything is "fair" and that children learn it's not fair for one person to have something that another cannot afford (regardless of the fact that they earned it) - that it's fair to forcibly take away from the "haves" to give to the "have-nots".  Our generation has spent all its time searching for our "inner child", trying to be a friend to our children instead of a parent and the result is spoiled, self-centered people who only think of things in terms of the impact on their own lives.



If we allow this indoctrination of our children to continue, there won't be a patriot left anywhere - there won't be anyone at all to defend freedom.  Schoolbooks teach re-written history that's been sanitized so as not to offend, or to salve our collective conscience.  The true meaning of what America stands for is falling by the wayside - a victim of political correctness.  Kids don't even know the vice-president's name, much less the fact that the US is not a true "democracy", it is a "Democratic Republic"; and there is a big, big difference between the two.



I'll get off my soapbox, now - maybe I'll go and write a letter to my cousin in the Army or my cousin in the Navy and thank them again.



 

[msmarieh]

I heard on a radio station that shortly after the attack, teachers at a university library in Florida were wearing either flag pins or stickers (I forget which) and the head of the library told them to stop as it might offend the non-American students.



Interesting philosophy in my opinion.



Marie

[execsec]

Offend the non-American students?  Excuse me, but they ARE in America.  But if the American students were doing this  to "taunt" the non-American students, then I think I would have said something to the American students too. That's just plain rude.

[dragonladybug]

Yeah - can you imagine citizens of any other country taking down their flags to avoid offending any foreigners?  I don't think so.  The political correctness in our current society is so overboard that ordinary citizens are afraid to express an opinion - they may be labeled a racist, a sexist, or whatever.  I'm not talking about deliberately insulting someone, that's not only rude, it's just plain wrong.  I mean simply expressing a different opinion, or paying a compliment to a woman.



We've got the class warfare people, the race card players, anybody with an agenda.  These people won't be happy until you can be punished for having bad thoughts - or punished for anything somebody else doesn't like!  Non-discrimination is not a guarantee that nobody can hurt your feelings ever again, but some people take it as such.



Just because some people don't like something or think something is wrong doesn't mean there should be a law against it - but the special interest groups and lobbyists spend all their time and money making sure politicians make those laws.  Then the law gets tested, pushed, stretched to the point where it is actually accomplishing the opposite of what was intended - what was meant to bring us closer actually pushes us farther apart.

[sinatrafan]

Being pro-military isn't and shouldn't be a litmus test for patriotism.  There are military veterans dangling all over the place on my family tree, but that doesn't make me (or them) more "patriotic" than a pacifist-Americans.  Nor should the "my country right or wrong" philosphy define a patriot.  Heck, any fool can wave a flag.



I was at a naturalization ceremony last summer where people from 65 differrent countries became American citizens. they had to pass a test prior to citizenship that I'll bet a lot of the neo flag-wavers couldn't pass. The new Americans can name the Supreme Court justices, can explain the Electoral College and they understand what each branch of our government does. They know about Jim Crow laws, Japanese internment camps and about the McCarthy hearings. They know the name of the man who shot Lee Harvey Oswald.  Would that everybody born here could do the same.



I think George W. Bush is in over his head with a catastrophe of this magnitude.  I think he is too vulnerable to his advisors because he lacks the intellect and emotional maturity to be a decisive leader.  Whoa!   How unpatriotic!!!  On the other hand, since so many fought and died to protect my freedoms, I better use them. And use them I will. Peace, everybody.

[goldenearring]

At least George W. Bush, had he lost the election, would have had enough emotional maturity and intellect not to skulk off into the woodwork and gain 50 pounds or more like Mr. Gore (Gorge?)  Funny we saw only 1 or 2 pictures of that, but if it had been GW, I'm sure it would have been smeared across every media format available.  My impression of Al is he would have been decisive all right; he woulda just nuked 'em.  Would that have been decisive enough?  No thank you, Al.  Dubya is doing a *great* job, and I'm 100% behind him.  Slow and steady wins the race.  Usin' my freedom, too, since you bring up the topic.  

 

[dragonladybug]

I agree with SinatraFan about the Naturalized Citizens - many, many Americans born here would fail that test.  Heck - I'd probably have failed it myself 10 years ago   - but as I've matured, I educated myself about our Constitution, our history and our political system - I certainly didn't learn it in a public school.



And I agree that being pro-military doesn't make you a better American - but it DOES make you a little more aware of those who fought and died to protect freedom, and members of military families tend to show patriotism more consistently because they have very often suffered a loss of a loved one to the cause of liberty.  A lot of us take our freedom for granted; we don't know the difference between what is a Right and what is only a Privilege.  And these are the very ones who have just jumped on the patriotism bandwagon after the terrorist attacks.



 

[diamondlady0102]

Have to add my .02 cents here as well.  I think George W. is doing an excellent job considering the magnitude of these current attacks on US soil.  Unfortunately it takes something like this on US soil to get American's attention and am happy to see so many flags all the time and everywhere I go.  Not to forget all those others who have died (I have several military folks in my family too) so that we can have the freedoms we do, but, to die because you were at the World Trade center at the wrong time, or in the wrong airplane at the wrong time, this person has no regard for human life, and needs to be taken care of in the correct fashion, which I believe George W. is doing.



As for the Americanism issue, I say we should fly those American flags as much as possible, this is a huge event, bigger than Pearl Harbor, and learning more about the sequences of events that led up to 9/11/01 it is definetly bigger than Pearl Harbor.  We now have to rely on our military on US soil instead of shipping them out to some border in some mid-eastern country, its here and we now have to deal with it.  Let them see we are united and let them see that all these other coutnries are backing us up and offering help, it warms my heart that everyone has been so helpful in that regard.  Also warms my heart to see bypartisanship (sp) put aside with this issue and protecting American's is the primary goal here, George W. you have my 100% support and believe you are doing the right things.  I was never more happy to hear George W's voice on the radio that day so quickly and the events thereafter closing the airports down and stopping several more attacks.



I saw Al Gore at the service and I didn't recognize him until DH pointed him out to me, and to be honest I think he looks good.  Grant you he is not in the public eye anymore and does not have to deal with that issue, so why not put on extra pounds, he's getting older, nothin wrong with that, and I personally like the beard.  Not that I like Al Gore, but I think it looks good on him.



diamondlady0102



 

[whitesatin]

Everyone in our country has a right to be patriotic, or not be patriotic.  Just because someone becomes patriotic at a later stage in their life than you did, does not make them less deserving, or less of a patriot than you are.



If they weren't patriotic, thank God they saw the light and made the decision to become patriotic.  That is a wonderful thing, though very sad that our brothers and sisters had to shed their blood for our freedoms.  It's not a contest to see who is more of a patriot, or who was a patriot first.



Don't forget that old patriots die, and we NEED new patriots to take their places and hold those flags high.  Don't judge them because they just joined our forces. Welcome them with open arms and don't let this be a flag waving contest.



WhiteSatin  

[msmarieh]

I don't think the point was so much whether they are "deserving" or not... I just think several of us agree that it is sad that it takes an event of this magnitude to make people demonstrate their patriotism. We are happy to welcome them with open arms, we just wish (rather wistfully) that they had been there all along.



Now, granted I am not always proud of the way America acts. I think we are arrogant and often bullyish and we push our moral code on other countries. But I believe that this is one of the greatest countries in the world and I am proud to live here as one of its citizens.



As for Bush, well I have mixed opinions on him. Many of his initial decisions scared the heck out of me. I have heard from more than one commentator that he wasn't allowed to make his own statements on the tragedy until the end of the week because his press corps didn't trust him enough that he wouldn't put his foot in his mouth. I think that probably speaks volumes. Overall though, I think he has handled this "no-win" situation as well as any president is likely to have handled it.



Marie