Liberty

Have you seen this bumpersticker?

Allthough our ability to freely express dissent is a cherished civil liberty and one absolutely crucial to a free and equitible society, it certainly is not The Highest (tm) form of patriotism. In fact, it barely even relates to patiotism at all, but I digress. More importantly, it is NOT a quote attributed to our esteemed forefather, Thomas Jefferson. Apparently this mis-attribution does not matter in the least to cry-baby liberal leftists who have wholly embraced it as a whiney credo of self-legitimization. It was coined by the "historian" Leonard Zinn. The highest form of patriotism is doing something in your community, state, society or nation which makes IT a better place for our heirs--not self aggrandizement in the name of patriotism. Dissent is fine--be glad you can express it. Use your dissent to motivate you to DO SOMETHING constructive to make your community or nation a better place (work & educate). For that matter, protesting, complaining and denigration of America does not improve our nation per se. Therefore, dissent alone, does not qualify as patriotism at all, let alone the highest form of it. Jefferson would roll in his grave!

In fact most of my family, and consequently my own existence, is a product of immigrants with a dream and a boat ticket. I also have a great affection for culture. Having grown up in the era of Whitebread-TV-Culture, I have always sought out and enjoyed the cultural flavor of others--especially Mexican culture. I love the food, the music, the family tradition, the language and art. But these are but fibers in the tapestry that is America. On some level, I don't even have a problem with "illegal" immigrantion, since I understand the motivation behind it and the general idea that these people come here to work. However, these protesters should hire a PR agency, because burning the American flag, chanting "viva Mexico" and waving that flag just plain looks bad. Also, this Mexica Movement/Aztlan-Reconquista movement is nothing short of seditious treason.

Here is my advice to the movement, sumarized by a quote from Teddy Roosevelt:

"In the first place, we should insist that if the immigrant who comes here in good faith becomes an American and assimilates himself to us, he shall be treated on an exact equality with everyone else, for it is an outrage to discriminate against any such man because of creed, or birthplace, or origin. But this is predicated upon the person’s becoming in every facet an American, and nothing but an American… There can be no divided allegiance here. Any man who says he is an American, but something else also, isn’t an American at all. We have room for but one flag, the American flag… We have room for but one language here, and that is the English language… and we have room for but one sole loyalty and that is a loyalty to the American people."

I never noticed it until recently (...becoming a dad myself), but I think my dad had a master plan in raising me. I'm sure it was something along the lines of "let 'em do what he wants; so long as he knows how to work hard, stay out of trouble and shoot well".

I filled in the rest, thanks to a supportive and loving home environment and good nutrition. Thanks Mom and Dad!

This is interestingly funny. I suppose there'd be no humor in it if it wasn't basically true in its enditement of the "Liberal Mindset"

I like this quote from Samuel Adams:

"If you love wealth more than liberty, the tranquility of servitude better than the animating contest of freedom, depart from us in peace. We ask not your counsel nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you. May your chains rest lightly upon you and may posterity forget that you were our countrymen.”—Samuel Adams

'Liberty' has become a mythical concept in this cosumerist-society.
It's not mythical; in fact each one of us lives and prospers daily
because of Liberty. You can do what you want to do in this country.
However, in the words of Wendell Phillips, " Eternal vigilance* is the
price of liberty"

* Note to the youth: eternal vigilance extends indefinitely. i.e. today, tomorrow and forever after. The vigil may not be forsaken during periods of peace, complacence or disinterest.