Tag Archives: patriotism

osama bin laden is dead

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ok so i totally DO NOT appreciate the rest of tobin’s article, but here is one quote i DID really like (serves me right for quoting liberals, i know, i know ;)

Americans are united this morning by a sense that justice has finally been served. The killing of Osama bin Laden in Pakistan is not the end of America’s conflict with Islamist terrorism. But it proves that those who thought they could murder Americans with impunity they were wrong. Dead wrong. This was not the first time in our history that evildoers have made that mistake, but this long-awaited retribution illustrates that American resolve is alive and well. It is not just the idea that the man who plotted the 9/11 atrocities was hunted down yesterday that Americans are cheering. The chants of “USA! USA!” that are resounded at the White House and elsewhere—and repeated in homes throughout the country as the news spread—is a reaffirmation of our collective will to survive as a free nation. Those who hate that freedom did their worst and Americans not only survived, they triumphed. – Jeffrey S. Tobin, Commentary Magazine

i agree with that more than i can express. last night, in the flurry of tweets and facebook status updates, i found so many heartfelt thanks to our service men and women, sentiments of a unified nation, and blessings and gratefulness. i also found a few snarky comments about the GOP losing it, and Obama setting his political stage. i resent that. i think in that hour, regardless of who got the credit, it was a moment of triumph for Americans. why sully the accomplishment of those who completed this job–and of all those who tirelessly (and at so much cost to themselves) worked towards it for the past decade–with political barbs and snide comments? it was a moment to celebrate the resilience, determination, and strength of the american character–not a time to deride our future with political rhetoric. that time will, i know, come later. no need to rush it. really.

made in america

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abc’s world news with diane sawyer is running a segment this week called “made in america,” and it’s got me thinking. for the segment, abc took a middle-class american family and went through their house to see how much stuff they owned that was actually made in america. almost nothing, much to the family’s surprise. (and to mine–i know there’s a lot of “made in china” goods out there, but i thought there must be a lot of american goods, too. but in the end, the only made-in-america things in this family’s house were the kitchen sink, a glass vase, and some sleeping bags.) the next few days of the segment will document the family’s attempt re-furnish their house with only american goods–and it doesn’t look easy. some stores couldn’t even tell the family where their goods were made; other stores claimed they’d never been asked.

in the report, abc uses some stats from moody’s analytic, which say that if we would each spend $64 a year (that’s about $5.35 a month) on american goods, that would create 200,000 american jobs today. seriously. for the price of a fast-food meal or a fancy coffee once a month, 200,000 americans could be at work again. (imagine what could happen if we spent more than that over time).

obviously, refurnishing a house with all-american goods is not that financially feasible in real life; buying american goods will almost always cost more. i don’t think i could “buy american” for everything–plus, i trust the free market and all that (and i don’t think we even make certain stuff here, and did i mention the power of the free market?). but i’m not talking about anything extreme or unreasonable. i’m talking about something very, very do-able. i’m talking about getting  a couple of american-made items this year. about being aware of where the goods we purchase come from, about asking at stores, raising the collective focus. about helping our fellow americans for about 18 cents a day. doing a little bit to help put our economy back on track. isn’t this exactly the kind of thing america is all about, anyway? ordinary people pitching in to help their neighbors out.

the fourth of july

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I love the 4th of July. I always have, and I always will. I love the festivity of it, the fact that we celebrate something that is both monumental and fundamental; that we have a holiday to remind us to not take for granted that which once we were denied; that Americans are the sort of dreamy, cheesy people who will wave flags and cheer in the bleakest of years, when the dream seems to be no more than a memory. Nothing could have prepared me for the absolute delight, though, that is the Boston 4th of July. I am truly amazed.

Because I’m heading to London tonight, I won’t be able to attend the actual Boston 4th celebration, but they held a “dress rehearsal” last night that was open to the public, and a friend and I went. Truly magnificent: the Boston POPS, along with Toby Keith, the Tanglewood choir, Middlesex Fife and Drum Volunteers, and easily over a thousand enthusiastic members of the audience. It was truly inspiring. Since it was the Boston POPS, the music was phenomenal of course, and the spirit of patriotism was high, too.

One thing I will miss about Boston is the fact that it’s not a hater town. Bostonians LOVE things. They love the Sox, they love the Celtics, they love being the cradle of freedom. Just like they deck themselves in bright green for the Celtics, proudly displaying their loyalty, on the 4th of July they come out in reds, whites, and blues. They wear sparkly Uncle Sam hats, wrap themselves in flags; they sit on American flag towels, eating American flag popsicles. They rise to the national anthem without fail, hands over hearts, voices ringing out. They know the words. And last night, every time the veterans were saluted or remembered, the audience took to its feet with smashing applause, whistles and cheers. At first, they reminded me so much of Texans, and I was strangely comforted. And then I realized, it’s not so much that they are like Texans — it’s that they are Americans.

They are a people who, at least on this holiday, refuse to forget the cost of things. Freedom is not free, one banner read. The veteran in front of me wept for part of the ceremony, and his young friend — perhaps his son — decked in some sort of Ed Hardy-ish shirt, came over and sat behind him, rubbing his shoulders.

These days, I know, it’s sometimes hard to be proud to be American. We are told, with sneers, that Americans think they are better at everything; our errors and flaws are flaunted worldwide; our government’s complicated and often murky motives heralded as our only cause. And yet… what better time to wave the flag? If not in pride, then as a banner, a call. Surely a dark hour is the basic requirement for a dream — and ours is a dream by people in their darkest hours.

It is the dream of younger sons trapped by a classist society, religious men and women persecuted for their beliefs, tradesman seeking ownership of their work, explorers hungry for the untouched, visionaries who see a better life. It is the dream of people who do not fear their past or current limitations, who do not give up when the system seems unbeatable — the dream of people poised for change, for progress, a people secure in the knowledge of who they are and what a government owes them. Unalienable rights. It is the dream of men and women unafraid of work, confident in the immeasurable value of this investment’s return. It is a dream that begets a doing spirit, a dream that scorns idle musing without corresponding action. It is a dream with intent — the intent to be realized.

And because it is this kind of dream, it stands out in the world: unjaded, fresh, defiant. Foolish to the outsiders; young and naive to the naysayers. They would like us to lower our heads, to be buried under our failures and errors. But the real naivety is theirs — the belief that, though we were to reach even the lowest point, we could forget this dream. We gather on july 4th year by year, not necessarily in honor of what we are doing or what we have done, but to celebrate what we are, to remember where we have come from, and to declare that we ourselves, like the generations before us, will actively shape this dream into a reality.


currently, i am in: cambridge, ma

free and independent states

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i love america SO MUCH. i mean SO SO much. and, if you didn’t know, july 2 is actually the day that independence was voted on (not july 4). and in honor of that, NPR conducts a reading of the declaration of independence. it’s under 9 minutes long, well-read by a score of different hosts, and truly inspiring.

i’ll have more to say on patriotism and america and so on :) in the upcoming days, i’m sure. for now, just enjoy the link.

anotherpatriot

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I received an invitiation on facebook this morning to join a group called “If Obama wins, I’m moving to Canada.” (interesting tangent: Stuff White People Like: Threatening to Move to Canada) And I’m outraged. (Yes, I know the “move to Canada” thing isn’t real. But it’s a passive-aggressive idea and it upsets me that we even joke about it.)

Despite my previous post on what might be best for the country as a whole, I do have some strong qualms about the direction this country may take with so many liberal Democrats now in office. Nonetheless, I believe in this country, and I believe in the God who blesses her. I believe that we bow to the authorities given to us, and we pray for them. I believe in changing things, in taking action, in participating in government. I believe in not giving up. I’m an American, for goodness’s sake! And I certainly don’t think we change things or rebuild them by denoucing our leaders and giving up on them.

One of the most impressive things I’ve ever heard was when Jack Nicholson, a close personal friend of the Clinton family (and a person about whom I generally have mixed feelings), was interviewed about his political views. The interviewer tried to goad Nicholson into saying something negative about the Bush administration, and Nicholson shot him down point-blank: “I support every president. Period.”

That’s my stance. Period. I believe in this country, and I believe in our leaders. I believe that those leaders lead best when we cooperate with and for them. I also believe that our leaders are given to us by a Higher Authority. I have no doubt that the Lord’s hand worked in this election, and I hope and pray it will continue to work in the upcoming years.

So, yes, I am still Republican, and I still hope for a stronger GOP in the near future. I have some strong concerns about the nation’s moral direction, and there’s no chance I will be chanting “Yes we can” around town today. But I will not be fleeing anywhere either — and certainly not to Canada. I won’t be a part of any anti-Obama bandwagons. I will not join you in a self-righteous “I told you so” of Obama when he makes, as any president does, mistakes. I support every president. And Obama is mine for the next four years.

Last night, in his acceptance speech, Obama made several comments that touched me. He said: “So let us summon a new spirit of patriotism, of responsibility, where each of us resolves to pitch in and work harder and look after not only ourselves but each other… In this country, we rise or fall as one nation, as one people. Let’s resist the temptation to fall back on the same partisanship and pettiness and immaturity that has poisoned our politics for so long.”

And then Obama reminded us that, “Lincoln said to a nation far more divided than ours, we are not enemies but friends. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection.”

Disparaging the Democrats, threatening to leave the country, predicting Obama’s dire failure and waiting eagerly for that failure will not do anything for America. It will not do anything for the world we live in. United we stand.

God bless America. Guide the ones leading us. Your name be sanctified. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

heart-warming

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What follows is an email my old roommate forwarded to me from a military chaplain in Iraq. I found it really inspiring. Enjoy.

From a Chaplain in Iraq:

I recently attended a showing of ‘Superman 3,’ here at LSA Anaconda. We have a large auditorium we use for movies, as well as memorial services and other large gatherings. As is the custom back in the States, we stood and snapped to attention when the National Anthem began before the main feature. All was going as planned until about three-quarters of the way through The National Anthem the music stopped.

Now, what would happen if this occurred with 1,000 18-22 year-olds back in the States? I imagine there would be hoots, catcalls, laughter, a few rude comments; and everyone would sit down and call for a movie. Of course, that is, if they had stood for the National Anthem in the first place. Here, the 1,000 Soldiers continued to stand at attention, eyes fixed forward. The music started again. The Soldiers continued to quietly stand at attention. And again, at the same point, the music stopped. What would you expect to happen?

Even here I would imagine laughter, as everyone finally sat down and expected the movie to start. But here, you could have heard a pin drop.

Every Soldier continued to stand at attention. Suddenly there was a lone voice, then a dozen, and quickly the room was filled with the voices of a thousand soldiers, finishing where the recording left off: ‘And the rockets red glare, The bombs bursting in air, Gave proof through the night That our flag was still there. Oh, say does that star-spangled banner yet wave, O’er the land of the free, And the home of the brave.’

It was the most inspiring moment I have had here in Iraq. I wanted you to know what kind of Soldiers are serving you here. Remember them as they fight for you! Pass this along as a reminder to others to be ever in prayer for all our soldiers serving us here at home and abroad. For many have already paid the ultimate price.

Written by Chaplain Jim Higgins
LSA Anaconda is at the Ballad Airport in Iraq, north of Bagdad

liberty!

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even before moving here, i loved learning about the american revolution and all the history attached to the founding of this nation. first of all, its in the 1700s (best century ever), and secondly it’s just absolutely a breath-taking notion — to start a new world! i know it’s all been overly romanticized, and i feel like i’ve heard the dark parts as well as the golden, but that doesn’t completely dim its glory in my view. i just love that whole era.

today Peggy (at whose house i am staying for a few days before i move into my own place) had some errands to do, so i took off into town on my own. all this time, technically, i’ve been in cambridge and not boston. but today i ventured into the big city. and felt right at home, i have to say. its enough like london that i found myself completely unintimidated. not that i’m all that easily intimidated by places anyway, but you know.

i had a quick lunch with CC, and then headed off to take a Freedom Trail tour. If you don’t know about the Freedom Trail, you should read up on it – its super cool. Here’s my pics with a few notes — sorry there’s none of me. I went alone. Well not technically ALONE, cos I was in a group — but the people in my group included a girl who believes she is a fox and had a tail pinned to her skirt (whose boyfriend believes he is a cat, and a best friend who believes she is a wolf). I kinda kept to myself.

The Old State House - That's the balcony from which the Declaration of Independence was first read to the peopl

The Old State House - That's the balcony from which the Declaration of Independence was first read/proclaimed to the people of Boston. They celebrated by burning stuff in effigy. Feisty bunch.

Bronze Donkey

Bronze Donkey: Apparently most Bostonians were and are Democrats, so someone took some bronze and made this statue of a donkey to stand in front of one of the government buildings. I'll spare you all the oh-so-obvious jokes.

REply

Turns out, there were a few Republicans around. They got their own bit of bronze and fashioned these footprints, placed in front of the donkey as a challenge.

Like so.

Like so.

Paul Revere's Monument

This is a monument to Paul Revere, placed ostentatiously in the Granary Burying Ground (where Revere, Adams, Otis and many others are buried).

Grave

That lovely monument to Revere stands next to his actual tombstone -- a slightly less impressive work of masonry.

Omni

This is the (in)famous Omni Parker House (Hotel) -- which I had never heard of. But it's the home of several ghosts and good stories. Charles Dickens gave a famous reading of A Christmas Carol there once, and his ghost has been seen practicing the performance in the mirror. JFK's bachelor party was held here, and his ghost is still around. John Wilkes Booth spent the night here before he took his trip to the theatre in D.C. This is also the place where the Boston Cream Pie was invented. And, if that's not enough: Ho Chi Minh worked here as hotel staff while he was in school, as did Malcom Little (Malcolm X). Aside from the obvious HR issues, it seemed like a nice little joint.

Obviously we saw much, much more than that – and I only did half of the Freedom Trail. But it was a lot of fun and a GORGEOUS day. So far so good. More later.