(no subject)

[hatman]

What's all this nonsense about the "real America"? About small towns and small town people being somehow more real, more patriotic, more "pro-America"?

We're all Americans. Diversity is one of our country's greatest strengths. The mix of people with differing ideas and backgrounds.

And patriotism? It's about more than waving a flag and shouting "We're #1! The greatest country in the world!" It's about loving your country, about wanting it to be the best it can be. Part of that is recognizing the flaws and shortcomings. About finding what needs to be improved, so that we can make our country stronger and better.

And "pro-America"? Tell me, how many US citizens are anti-America? How many people want to trash and tear apart their home? How many people who run for office do so out of a need to tear down what they're helping to govern?

How about working with minorities? (Link 1, Link 2) How about protecting the rights of people with a different lifestyle, or at least not actively working to quash them? (Link 3) How about working for all Americans, wherever they come from, whatever they believe (or don't believe), wherever they live? While we're at it, how about protecting our world rather than selling it to short-term corporate interests? (Link 4) How about being truly patriotic and looking out for all of America... red, white, and blue?

Comments

[orangebeaver.livejournal.com]

I'm David. Pleasure to meet you.

[pgwfolc.livejournal.com]

Hello David. I'm Paul. Nice to meet you. I see that we share political views and the friendship of the inestimable alliegee. Seems like a good start.

So what drew you here? And what's the story behind your username? (Nothing to do with MIT, is it?)

[orangebeaver.livejournal.com]

No. I'm from Oregon.

[pgwfolc.livejournal.com]

That doesn't preclude your involvement at some point with a school on the other coast.

But I'm curious about why you friended me, and why I'm having trouble getting to know you. Am I going about it wrong? I'm not quite sure how to interpret reticence, particularly in someone I don't know.

[orangebeaver.livejournal.com]

Hmm. Frankly, I'm not sure why. I liked your lj and icon. We must have some friends on lj in common where I saw a comment you made!

[pgwfolc.livejournal.com]

Our only common friend is alliegee, so that kind of narrows it down. ;)

Makes sense, though. As good a reason as any. And thanks.