The opening bars of Lee Greenwood’s classic “Proud to be an
American” begins to gently massage their conservative ears.
A single alligator tear rolls slowly down their cheek …
♫ I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me ♫
I don’t doubt their passion and conviction for one minute.
These feelings run deep into their souls and manifest themselves
as patriotism to the tenth degree.
My question is do they really know what it means to be an American?
Well according to Webster,
(The dictionary not the child star)
A·mer·i·can
[uh-mer-i-kuhn]
noun a citizen of the United States of America.
That's still a little ambiguous. Let’s break it down some more.
Cit-i-zen
[sit-uh-zuhn, -suhn]
noun
a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government
and is entitled to its protection.
Now that somewhat clears it up. A citizen is a native or naturalized
member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is
entitled to its protection. We are all part of a team. We’re members of a national
community that looks out for each other. I get it now.
So the next time you see a flag waving conservative belting out
a sweet rendition of Proud to be an American, ask them a couple of questions.
1. Are women citizens deserving of the government’s protection? Republicans voted
against the Equal Pay Act that would have closed the gender gap when it comes
to compensation. They try to block access to health care to hundreds of
thousands of poor women by threatening Planned Parenthood whose vast majority
of services consist of basic women’s health, cancer screening, STD Testing, and
contraception. Republicans want to criminalize abortion to the point where if a
woman gets pregnant from rape she would go to prison if she got an abortion.
Invasive and unnecessary procedures are being forced upon women who are already
in a horrible situation through no fault of their own.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/what-planned-parenthood-actually-does/2011/04/06/AFhBPa2C_blog.html
2. Are senior citizens really citizens? The right wing has nothing but praise for the
Paul Ryan budget. This budget would have slashed and privatized Medicare. Their
voucher system would raise health care cost for seniors by thousands of dollars
a year. People who are living on a fixed income would be pushed further into
poverty by their brutal plan.
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/24/739271/seniors-will-pay-60000-more-for-medicare-under-romneyryans-plan-report-finds/
3. Do minorities deserve the protections of citizenship? In a blatant attempt to
steal another election republicans across the nation were, and still are, pushing a plethora of
new voter ID laws that amount to nothing more than voter suppression. It’s a
nostalgic trip back to the Jim Crow days. Voter fraud is virtually non-existent
yet red state legislators are pushing for laws that make it harder for the
elderly, the young, and minorities to vote. Basically they want to block anyone
who tends to vote democratic. It’s not just voter ID. It’s tightening up on
absentee ballot times, shortening early voting periods, and making it extremely
difficult for third party voter registration. Thankfully this tactic failed and Corporate Ameica was taught a valuable lesson. Our democracy is not for sale.
http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/policy_brief_on_the_truth_about_voter_fraud/
4. What about those less fortunate than us. Are the poor not worthy of citizenship?
Should they be left behind simply because apportunity or luck didn't come knocking?
This horrid economy has left millions without jobs. People want to work. People
want to be self sufficient but opportunity simply isn’t there yet. The right wingers insists it’s
because people are lazy and expect handouts. Corporate America closes factories, lays off
workers, then outsources our jobs to China then they have the nerve to turn
around and blame the government.
http://truth-out.org/news/item/12321-sensata-illegally-threatens-
5. Is the LGBT community worthy of citizenship? A gay soldier was booed at the Republican
National Convention and attitudes haven't changed much since. This behavior is
outrageous yet not one main stream republican came out to condemn
that behavior. Republicans have been fighting tooth and nail to prevent
Marriage Equality. All just to pander to a radical religious right wing base.
Marriage equality is a matter of civil rights and everyone should be treated
equally under the law regardless of who they love.
http://www.hrc.org/the-truth-about-mitt-romney#.UI3MtxyRPBQ
So the next time you see a flag waving, hym singing, right wing deciple, ask
them a few of these questions. Ask them exactly who qualifies as an “American”
and deserves the rights and protections that come with citizenship.
The true America is an inclusive America. Since our
inception we are a people of varying backgrounds and beliefs. We came together
to build the greatest country in the world. Our diversity is our greatest
strength. Don’t let a few closed minded, elitist, racist, homophobes who have
never known what it is like to struggle, take over our country and alienate its
most vulnerable citizens. keep up the good fight.
American” begins to gently massage their conservative ears.
A single alligator tear rolls slowly down their cheek …
♫ I'm proud to be an American where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died who gave that right to me ♫
I don’t doubt their passion and conviction for one minute.
These feelings run deep into their souls and manifest themselves
as patriotism to the tenth degree.
My question is do they really know what it means to be an American?
Well according to Webster,
(The dictionary not the child star)
A·mer·i·can
[uh-mer-i-kuhn]
noun a citizen of the United States of America.
That's still a little ambiguous. Let’s break it down some more.
Cit-i-zen
[sit-uh-zuhn, -suhn]
noun
a native or naturalized member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government
and is entitled to its protection.
Now that somewhat clears it up. A citizen is a native or naturalized
member of a state or nation who owes allegiance to its government and is
entitled to its protection. We are all part of a team. We’re members of a national
community that looks out for each other. I get it now.
So the next time you see a flag waving conservative belting out
a sweet rendition of Proud to be an American, ask them a couple of questions.
1. Are women citizens deserving of the government’s protection? Republicans voted
against the Equal Pay Act that would have closed the gender gap when it comes
to compensation. They try to block access to health care to hundreds of
thousands of poor women by threatening Planned Parenthood whose vast majority
of services consist of basic women’s health, cancer screening, STD Testing, and
contraception. Republicans want to criminalize abortion to the point where if a
woman gets pregnant from rape she would go to prison if she got an abortion.
Invasive and unnecessary procedures are being forced upon women who are already
in a horrible situation through no fault of their own.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/what-planned-parenthood-actually-does/2011/04/06/AFhBPa2C_blog.html
2. Are senior citizens really citizens? The right wing has nothing but praise for the
Paul Ryan budget. This budget would have slashed and privatized Medicare. Their
voucher system would raise health care cost for seniors by thousands of dollars
a year. People who are living on a fixed income would be pushed further into
poverty by their brutal plan.
http://thinkprogress.org/election/2012/08/24/739271/seniors-will-pay-60000-more-for-medicare-under-romneyryans-plan-report-finds/
3. Do minorities deserve the protections of citizenship? In a blatant attempt to
steal another election republicans across the nation were, and still are, pushing a plethora of
new voter ID laws that amount to nothing more than voter suppression. It’s a
nostalgic trip back to the Jim Crow days. Voter fraud is virtually non-existent
yet red state legislators are pushing for laws that make it harder for the
elderly, the young, and minorities to vote. Basically they want to block anyone
who tends to vote democratic. It’s not just voter ID. It’s tightening up on
absentee ballot times, shortening early voting periods, and making it extremely
difficult for third party voter registration. Thankfully this tactic failed and Corporate Ameica was taught a valuable lesson. Our democracy is not for sale.
http://www.brennancenter.org/content/resource/policy_brief_on_the_truth_about_voter_fraud/
4. What about those less fortunate than us. Are the poor not worthy of citizenship?
Should they be left behind simply because apportunity or luck didn't come knocking?
This horrid economy has left millions without jobs. People want to work. People
want to be self sufficient but opportunity simply isn’t there yet. The right wingers insists it’s
because people are lazy and expect handouts. Corporate America closes factories, lays off
workers, then outsources our jobs to China then they have the nerve to turn
around and blame the government.
http://truth-out.org/news/item/12321-sensata-illegally-threatens-
5. Is the LGBT community worthy of citizenship? A gay soldier was booed at the Republican
National Convention and attitudes haven't changed much since. This behavior is
outrageous yet not one main stream republican came out to condemn
that behavior. Republicans have been fighting tooth and nail to prevent
Marriage Equality. All just to pander to a radical religious right wing base.
Marriage equality is a matter of civil rights and everyone should be treated
equally under the law regardless of who they love.
http://www.hrc.org/the-truth-about-mitt-romney#.UI3MtxyRPBQ
So the next time you see a flag waving, hym singing, right wing deciple, ask
them a few of these questions. Ask them exactly who qualifies as an “American”
and deserves the rights and protections that come with citizenship.
The true America is an inclusive America. Since our
inception we are a people of varying backgrounds and beliefs. We came together
to build the greatest country in the world. Our diversity is our greatest
strength. Don’t let a few closed minded, elitist, racist, homophobes who have
never known what it is like to struggle, take over our country and alienate its
most vulnerable citizens. keep up the good fight.
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