Dear God: Please do not fool me with this Attorney General candidate. Please let him follow the things he said today about the Constitution. My hopes are up. Please do not crush them. Amen.
The thing I hate about the Bush administration most is not that they have involved us in an endless war. It is not the lies, the crimes, the tax breaks for the very rich, the fact that they are on the wrong side of almost every issue. No.
The thing I hate MOST is that I am no longer proud to be an American. That kills me. It honestly brings tears to my eyes.
I have always been a dissenter, a protester, a screamer. But I was a PROUD dissenter. When I marched in a parade protesting the first Iraq war, my sign said "Protest - it is the American way." I was proud of my right to protest.
As an Amnesty International supporter, I knew that there were so many countries in the world where people didn't have basic human rights. The right to speak freely. The right to cast a meaningful vote. To be free from torture and detention without charge or trial.
I wrote hundreds of letters to dictators and other bad folks urging them to release people who were being tortured or held for expressing basic human rights. I was SO proud that the US didn't do these things.
Well, pride comes before a downfall, as they say.
Now we torture.
Now we hold people without charge.
Now we hold people without trial.
We have mercenaries (we call them "contractors") who are apparently above the law, and who can kill innocent people without being subject to any laws whatsoever.
I feel hopeless and helpless and sad. Not at all proud. I have an empty flagpole on my front porch. I haven't flown a flag since the "Patriot Act" was passed, and at this point I can't imagine flying one again.
Please, someone, step forward. Do the right thing. Make me, and America, proud. I miss that feeling.
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17 comments:
My fingers are crossed, but I don't really have much hope. I did get a chuckle from this, though. "...dictators and other bad folk..." is a great.
Amen. Amen.
When I meet people from other countries, the first thing outta my mouth is "please don't judge my by the president" and most of them seem to understand that Bush does not actually represent a lot of Americans.
But I still like Vancouver as a refuge if I need one...
I was listening to him on the radio yesterday, saying all those nice things about the constitution and about separation of the justice dept from the White House. And i thought "how can he be the Bush candidate for AG."
I completely agree with you. So much has happened that really makes me ashamed to be associated with President Bush, he has done a lot of very UN-American things and he is the one person who is supposed to represent what America stands for. I think he representing a single American in this country.
I agree with everything you said. I was watching a show on Frontline the other night about the AG position over the last 7 years (here). The single biggest problem seems to be this "Signing Statement" that Cheney's staff member adds to all bills signed by Bush. It says, in short, "I agree with everything I've signed, but I'm invoking my executive privilege in that I don't necessarily have to obey any of the laws I put into effect."
So I have little hope for the efficacy of a new AG, because apparently our Pres and VP are above the law.
It really makes me sad to hear you say that.
I will never be ashamed - I will always be proud to be an American.
And - I think president Bush and other conservative representatives - represent a lot more people in this country than you think.
I have my own form of dissent apparently.
Hear hear, Suebob.
The fact that you love this country enough to protest and expect better makes me believe you a true patriot, Suebob. I'm still/always proud to be an American; an American who can't wait for this term to end so that f-ing incompetent administration can get the hell out of the people's White House. Chin up... He's screwed up so much, how can it get any worse?(heavens please don't make me eat my words later on) (knocking on wood) I dare anyone to call me un-American to my face for saying so too. The failed policies in the past 7 years have been un-American. Not dissention.
When K and I were backpacking this guy in Nepal said, "why can't the U.S. be the world leader we're all looking for? One that we'd love to follow?"
Ugh.
Why, indeed.
I don't have much hope at all. I haven't had since about 5 minutes past Bush's inauguration lo these many moons ago.
Excellent post, SueBob.
I agree with BetteJo... I'll never be ashamed of being an American. My husband was active duty with the USAF for 13 years. He's been in the reserves for the last 7. Just because our President, his Commander-in-Chief, says and does things we don't agree with doesn't mean our country is shameful or worth loosing hope for. That's what presidental term limits are about. Hang in there... its almost over.
Oh, and I'll add I'm not ashamed to be American. Just ashamed of the decisions made by the leaders I did not choose. (I'm not ashamed to be a girl, but I am ashamed that P.Hilton and others are ugly representatives of what we are.)
BetteJo, you're right. Bush represents my in-laws, my neighbors across the street, a few of my husband's coworkers, but he doesn't represent me, my family, my close friends and, apparently, the majority of the country. I will not disrespect those that disagree with me (and neither did you, I appreciate that), because without disagreement there is no progress.
There's a lot to be proud of if you're an American and a few things to be not so proud of. America has done many amazing things for the world and has done quite a bit of harm as well. It's not perfect, but it's your country and the fact that you can still protest and work to effect change and speak out and discuss what's wrong -- leaves you way ahead of many other countries.
Wow. I am so out of the loop newswise. I'm ashamed to admit that I had no freaking idea there was a new AG candidate. I need to do some catching up.
I'm so sorry that you have to feel this way, SUEB0B, but like Notameangirl says, this is exactly why there are limited presidential terms. Soon!
Good Post.
It amazes me that those feeling that BushCo somehow "represents their views" continue to be so deluded.
This Administration represents only the tiniest proportion of super-rich America. No one else, and by their standards it has been a very successful Presidency.
Be proud to be American .... you should be. But it might also be appropriate to be deeply ashamed of many things that have been done in the name of America in the last few years.
http://stevebsjournal.blogspot.com/2007/06/is-bush-worst-president-ever.html
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