it's been a while. i'm aware. but, i'm glad. i hope the silence up until this post will cause more people to read it. i hope i can cause some to think, to be angry, to be sad, to be inspired. some may disagree, but i hope it'll be tough. i hope it's as tough to disagree with as saying john mccain is a war hero or barack obama is a gifted speaker.
anyone that knows me even slightly knows that right now, specifically in this election season, international issues are of utmost importance to me. foreign policy/diplomacy is right near, if not at the top of my list of important issues. but in this time of "country first" and american flag lapel pins, i've decided to look inward a bit. to this country. to our country. my country. the country i live in. that i was born and raised in. the country that, chances are, i will spend the majority of my days in. and even if i leave, it is the country i will always represent. and will represent me.
patriotism is a non-partisan issue. every candidate says 'god bless america.' (for example, what if a candidate said 'god bless the world' instead? i think we know what would happen. but, i know, i know, s/he's running for president of the US, not the leader of the..."free"...world. sorry, wrong post.)
back to my point--both conventions were ripe with old glory and red, white, and blue balloon drops. every candidate has worked to prove his/her love for the USA. a lack of patriotism would not only result in a lost campaign, but would be liable to get your future phone calls and emails tapped.
i just went to see a movie called "trouble the water," a documentary about new orleans and katrina, as filmed by a couple who was living in the 9th ward and fought through the storm and are still very much struggling today. i believe every american (and every one else, for that matter) should see it. i wont say much about the details, because i honestly want everyone to see it, but it's exactly what you would imagine--horrible, horrible tragedy. in this country. our country.
and as i watched, and listened (hearing--although some anger--mostly 'this is the lord's work, and he will provide'), i couldn't help but think of both parties' message of "country first" and ask "what country?"
the country in which citizens were told by their federal and state governments to write their social security numbers on their arms so their corpses would be easier to identify?
the country where a group of about 15 people, 6-7 of them children, one disabled, 1-2 elderly, floated themselves to an unused navy base, as directed by the national guard, to get shelter for the night, and had m-16 rifles pointed in their face and told "we have orders not to open the gates. you're on your own. and if you don't leave, we'll shoot."
the country where an american citizen child is separated from his/her 'illegal' mother working 18 hours a day for less than minimum wage because she is classified as a national security threat.
the country where, in some parts of some cities, such as the southside of chicago, the life expectancy of black males is 58. 58 years old.
the country which spends $720 million a day on a war that, at it's most noble cause, is aimed at freeing the citizens of a different country, which comes to $262.8 trillion a year, while the money simply 'committed' to katrina relief was $85 billion, very little of which seems to have been actually provided.
that is this country. that is our country. is that the country we put first? either party, any candidate? what country are we really talking about? a country where all are free? all are given the same opportunities? every life is valued?
i've heard a lot recently, "thank god for the founding fathers for creating the system they did. for creating a system of balance, of freedom." it's tough to argue with. but let's remember that they are the same founding fathers that wrote "all men are created equal," yet owned--bought and sold--human beings.
that is the system they created. the system that still exists, whether we choose to see it or not. a system which may say, write, and even put into law some things, but many of which live in a quite different reality.
i heard an interesting quote by franklin delano roosevelt today in which he said something along the lines of, "you elected me, now organize yourselves and make me act." i truly believe that no matter who is elected on nov 4, he will do nothing drastic/controversial unless forced to do so by his "country." which 'country' that is remains yet to be seen. and i hope my sincere efforts to make this a non-partisan post have proved notable. of course i have my opinions, but to be honest, sometimes i think we all let ourselves get caught up in this argument that we think is of utmost importance, when there are other--much more toxic--things happening all along. as if we're being diverted...
i believe we are in an era of a new red scare. terrorism is the new communism. say you're not proud of this country and you are 'one of them.'
and i understand that some may say, 'you don't like it? get out.' but the fact is, i was born here. any where i go, i am an american. i am the american. i represent this country as much as it represents me. and to leave might be too easy. rather than leave this country because i can't, in good conscience, be proud of it, i'd rather make it a country to be proud of.
i guess my point is recognizing what country it is that we are fighting for. what country our sons and daughters are dying for. is it for you? probably.
but check your arm for your social security number to make sure.
'
as i just biked home from the film, the air was unusually misty/foggy. i couldn't help but recognize it as a very tangible symbol of two things: 1)the fact that i will/would never know in the slightest what the experience of those in new orleans was/is and 2)everything i've grown up knowing is only a misty version of truth. disagree with me as you may (and i'm sure some will), but i mean EVERYthing.
may we find peace.
and god bless us all, if it is right that he should do so.
