One thing that seems to get people GOING, when it comes to politics, is the WHO LOVES AMERICA more argument: Liberals or Conservatives..Democrats or Republicans.
If Conservatives are blinded by love, then Liberals are blinded by hate.
Joel Stein pens a sort-of-comical article about this:
But I’ve come to believe conservatives are right. They do love America more. Sure, we liberals claim that our love is deeper because we seek to improve the United States by pointing out its flaws. But calling your wife fat isn’t love. True love is the blind belief that your child is the smartest, cutest, most charming person in the world, one you would gladly die for. I’m more in “like” with my country.
I think we ALL love America, but those on the Right not only love this country, they RESPECT it. They respect and admire the Constitution, the Founding Fathers, the idea of Freedom. Conservatives and Republicans have the pioneer attitude. They admire independence, hard work and personal responsibility. America’s front yard is the best, greenest, more awesome yard in town, in the eyes of many Conservatives. We don’t put blinders on however: We simply see no need to “improve” things that have little value to the nation as a whole.
Conservatives feel personally blessed to have been born in the only country worth living in. I, on the other hand, just feel lucky to have grown up in a wealthy democracy. If it had been Australia, Britain, Ireland, Canada, Italy, Spain, France, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands, Switzerland, Japan, Israel or one of those Scandinavian countries with more relaxed attitudes toward sex, that would have been fine with me too.
Heh…note he states “wealthy” democracy. Money ranks high to most everyone, regardless of politics.
When a Democrat loses the presidential race, real lefties talk a lot about moving to Canada. When Republicans lose, they don’t do that. Though, to be fair, they don’t have a lot of nearby conservative options. Not even Hannity is a committed enough conservative to yell, “If Obama wins, I’m moving to Singapore.”
I wouldn’t ever consider leaving this country no matter WHO is elected. It has nothing to do with a lack of alternative nations willing to host me; I like living in America and I know, history shows me, Presidents come and go. The political damage they inflict can be changed. America is a fluid nation. Nothing is ever written on stone walls that cannot be taken down.
This doesn’t mean I’m not fascinated by American history, impressed by our Constitution or don’t appreciate our optimism and entrepreneurial spirit. In fact, I love everything Hannity listed on his TV special other than Madonna. But there are plenty of things I don’t like about America: our foreign policy, our religious fundamentalism, our provincialism, our intellectual laziness, our acceptance of sweat suits in public.
Foreign policy, again, is related to politics. I think Mr Stein should be telling us he HATES President Bush…but being a typical liberal, he cannot separate the two- the President or the Country. I love freedom. If I wish to wear sweat pants in public, I should be able to do so without judgment. Mr Stein judges people on petty things- which to me, is intellectual snobbery, a form of intellectual laziness. It’s easier to mock others then it is to get to know them for who they are.
Despite Beck’s rationalization, I still think conservatives love America for the same tribalistic reasons people love whatever groups they belong to. These are the people who are sure Christianity is the only right religion, that America is the best country, that the Republicans have the only good candidates, that gays have cooties.
Not all Conservatives are religious whacks, Mr Stein. And yes, I believe those who push it into others’ faces are overstepping THEIR purposes here on Earth. And gays don’t have cooties. But, in the order of Mother Nature, (and not some God)- people, animals- are here on Earth to reproduce. Homosexuals cannot do that. I don’t believe being gay is natural. That doesn’t mean I HATE them. Some of my best friends are gay.
I believe all people should have the right to chose the groups they wish to belong to- religions, political parties, and so on. If this makes me a primal, tribal bitch, so be it. Freedom rules.
I love America. But, like liberals, there are things I HATE ABOUT THIS COUNTRY. And, ironically, it is Liberal Policy and Mindset that creates the things I HATE.
The Left, for the most part, love America but not as she is. Or ever was. Liberals and Democrats have little respect for the Constitution, the Fathers, and in spite of their high pitched denials, they have much disdain for freedom.
They prefer hand holding to independence. Only in America do we have entire classes of people who are protected from their own laziness-able to get government assistance for education, jobs, welfare benefits- all for little to no cost, while others bust their butts working three jobs, going to school AND raising a family at the same time, with no help. People will never appreciate what is handed to them as much as what they work hard for.
They keep the race card game playing on, and on. Only in America do we have racial divides that continue to exist- because the very people who call themselves victims blindly follow leaders who make a lot of cold cash keeping these people in that coveted role.
They don’t value HARD WORK. Which I do, every day, for a living. I earn every penny I make- and need those pennies to survive. It pisses me off to know I GIVE away a huge chunk of my earnings, to my government- who in turns gives it away to someone else who DOES NOT work hard, oft by choice. Where is the freedom there? I would MUCH prefer to determine where my money goes- and I would and have indeed helped others less fortunate than myself (if you can believe there ARE people more poor than me!)
I could go on and on, but this post would turn into a book. Liberal policies and the like RUIN the true spirit of America, which is FINE with liberals since they do HATE America.
No matter: This country will survive- the doubts arise as to who will be left standing. I say Conservatives will be: Because we have that trait called independence. And we love freedom. A winning combination that never fails.