As we Americans approach the 4th of July, our day of nationalistic overindulgence, I sense a desire by many of my friends and acquaintances to ignore the reality of what we have become as a nation and a people.
On this day, more than any other we must appear like a messianic cabal to the rest of the world as we drape our bodies, our houses, our lawns and our public buildings with "Old Glory" the red, white and blue, our symbol that represents freedom and democracy to us but that has brought utter devastation and disaster to a large part of the rest of the world and the situation we are now facing in the middle east is just a fraction of what we have wrought.
As we try to obliterate any thoughts of who we really have become with blinding, mind numbing displays of fireworks, trumpets and drums and here in Boston, the Pops orchestra playing the Star Spangled Banner at the Hatch Shell on the Charles, I suggest that on July 5th, we will all be suffering with the same headache, like a bad hangover, the reality of the Bush administration, will still be with us, and the legacy of their policies will still be with us for years to come.
On July 5th, as you lower the flag on your lawn to half mast to honor the latest dead soldier coming home in a casket in your town (it's OK to do this now as the government, in a bill sponsored by Michigan Democrat Bart Stupak, has finally made it legal when a governor of a state declares the flag must be lowered to honor a single dead soldier, even federal offices must comply) I suggest you take the rose colored tint off your glasses and take a good hard look at what it means to be an American in George Bush's country.
There is no better place to start your re-education to the new America, the America that now no longer respects the rule of law, the America that condones torture in the name of our own self-righteousness, the America that invades other countries to "teach" them democracy, the America that turns a blind eye (other than slapping an American flag and a 'support our troops' bumper sticker on ourSUV's ) to those troops who come home limbless and traumatized, the America that floods the world with our cheap, calorie laden fast foods exporting our own obesity and gluttony, then to start reading some of the excellent books that are now, finally, being published, that give us a clear, unadulterated vision of the New America. Only when we recognize what we have become, like an alcoholic when he attends his first AA meeting, will we be able to change course.
As a first dose of reality medicine, I strongly suggest you get a copy of the new book by Glenn Greenwald A TRAGIC LEGACY: How A Good vs Evil Mentality Destroyed the Bush Presidency. I was pretty astounded to see a quote on the dust jacket from Alan Colmes, of Hannity & Colmes, FOX NEWS: "This is the best book about the worst president. Glenn Greenwald is to this administration as they've been to the country: devastating. This is more than a book: It's an act of patriotism."
So tomorrow, instead of marching down main street, mindlessly waving a flag, swigging a few beers and belching up some hot dogs, I suggest you log on to Amazon.com and get yourself a copy of Glenn Greenwald's book and remind yourself of how much work lies ahead before we can all feel good again about calling ourselves Americans.
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Comments: 23
Miguel
I completely agree. It is ridiculous to ignore our nation's recent past and the arrogance with which we paint our country "most impressive", "most powerful", "most righteous". I am dreading tomorrow's display of "patriotism". No one ever gives a thought to the real cost paid in lives for our patriotism. Can anyone say Trail of Tears? Running through your enemies at top speed is not what makes a country great. It only makes it bigger.
I think evangelism for the American Way, goodness, and right thinking has always been a strong thread in American foreign policy, particularly in war. European countries who were used to thinking of diplomacy and war as pragmatic i.e. do what's necessary to preserve the national interest, have always laughed at the US need to wrap their actions in idealism. Even WWII, a clear-cut good guys vs. bad guys conflict, was promoted here as a fight against the forces of evil while in other countries it was seen as a war to stop Germany and Japan from conquering them.
Lite beer, chips and salsa.... the American Way? I hope you were being sacastic. We are a much more diverse and complex people.
Yes I agree, the idea that American character is defined by it's "goodness" goes way back. My parents both have an unshakeable belief that this is so...