May 23, 2006
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I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO GEORGE WALKER BU…
I attended a high school graduation ceremony last night. The festivities began with a color guard marching in and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance. I don’t think I have recited the pledge since I was in grade school and I actually got a little choked up.
I tend to be blatantly sentimental about my patriotism. I get emotional watching fireworks displays, and I can’t hear that damn Lee Greenwood song without tearing up either. Don’t even get me started on the Mark Shultz song “Letters from War.” If I hear it when I’m driving, I have to pull to the side of the road because I know I won’t be able to see well through the clouded eyes that are inevitable when he reaches the final chorus.
As I recited the pledge, my mind drifted to an article I had read earlier in the day about the Dixie Chicks. CNN had reported that many country stations were still refusing to play their music because of Natalie Mains’ comments about Bush. They quoted station managers as saying they wouldn’t play music from such an unpatriotic group. Suddenly, instead of getting misty while I recited the pledge, I began to get angry.
When justifications are given for war, the word “freedom” is slathered on as thick as gravy on biscuits on a southern breakfast table. There is nothing I believe in more strongly than freedom. It is the basic concept behind every political belief I hold. I have nothing but respect, admiration, and sincere gratitude for everyone who has ever died or served our nation in the pursuit of, or defense of, freedom.
One of our fundamental freedoms, however, is the right to disagree with our President. When our government is doing something we think is wrong, it is our patriotic duty to voice our outrage.
I personally don’t think we should have invaded
Yes, like the Dixie Chicks, I disagree with our President. Does this make me unpatriotic?
As I recited the Pledge of Allegiance I thought about the new, underlying, meanings it seems to have for many in this age of right-wing ardor and religious fundamentalism. Perhaps the words below more accurately describe
I pledge allegiance to the flag, and to the practice of wrapping it around radical ideas so they cannot be questioned or seen for what they really are; of the United (Red only) States of America, and the Republicans for which it stands. One nation, under a Protestant, religiously fundamental God, wholly divided along partisan lines, with liberty and justice for all; unless, of course, you disagree with the President, or happen to be gay, or female, or Hispanic, or Islamic, or don’t speak English particularly well, etc..etc..etc…
Go ahead and call me a liberal. Go ahead and call me a left-wing, godless heathen, if you wish; simply because I refuse to give Dubya my rubber stamp. But don’t you DARE tell me I’m not patriotic or that I don’t love my country.
(Thanks to Mapmaker Jenny for the “Letters from War” Link)
Comments (21)
As I recall the incident, the Dixie Chicks didn’t merely disagree with the war. They told a London audience they were ashamed to be from the same state as the president. I thought at the time that was getting a bit personal… although as this administration drags on, I’m less inclined to care.
In any case, refusing to play their songs because the comments were somehow “unpatriotic” really is over the top.
I’m not so sentimental about my patriotism, but then I see us as inhabitants of a planet first and a country second. That’s my background as an environmentalist coming out, I suppose. Have you heard the Dixie Chicks new song, “Not Ready to Make Nice”? They played on David Letterman last night–I can’t help but think it’s at least partially a response to the backlash from their comments about Bush.
Radio, like politics, is all about Marketing. In states like Oklahoma and Texas, radio managers will get significantly more listeners if they make those statements than if they choose to play the song. It’s rediculous, but it’s a byproduct of emotional capitalism. I suppose this is where you would say, “They eat the sand because they don’t know the difference.”
You know well that I’m with you on this, and not because you raised me that way, strangely enough. The adoption of the Righteous Ruler dogma is perhaps the best rhetorical strategy the current administration has employed (though sadly, I’m not convinced it’s a strategey as much as it is a truly held belief.) The “Mandate of Heaven” is a frightening concept for democracy, and has traditionally limited freedoms exponentially, never granting them across the board (though the gentry often enjoy intense freedom – Enron anyone?)
Check the history of the God-Driven Dynasties in Europe and Asia. We don’t want that. Not even a little bit.
A-men.
It does not make you unpatriotic to disagree with your leadership. If anything, it makes you more patriotic than those who don’t complain.
Thank you for coming out and saying this. It’s about time someone did.
I am amazed at the de-evolution of thinking brains in a country rumoured to be so highly individual and educated. But fear does mysterious things to the mind, my friend, and this is what you are running into~~an abdication of critical thinking in exchange for the veneer of security. The Busheviks point to the atrocity of the September 2000 attack and cry “Terror”~while saying only they can save you from it. It is no matter they cannot prepare for a Hurricane that gave advance notice, but can save you from nebulous Islamic Extremists in a heartbeat. Yea right. But it is this kind of bizarre reasoning that fear constructs in the mind and people will jump on the bandwagon just to be part of the song they believe they are hearing.
Be Well~it may get worse before it gets better~
Peace~
Hi Mark – did the harassment ever stop
I can’t help but get scared at how people define “patriotism” now. Not scared. Freaked out is more like it. I’m unpatriotic because I decide to exercise my right to Free Speech? Really?? I’m un-American because I speak out against the nation’s leaders? Wait a second, isn’t that what the “founding fathers” did when they voiced their anger against their government? The fact that we choose to speak out against what we believe is THREATENING our nation and all it stands for makes us ALL THE MORE patriotic, don’t you think?
Meanwhile, it’s so funny to me how quickly this administration rewinds to September 11th to justify what they’re doing now. Iraq war? September 11th. No civil liberties? September 11th.
Hold on, Mr. President. What about that one guy? No, not Saddam Hussein. The other one. The 6’4″ Islamic cave-dwelling extremist with the kidney condition? Remember him? You should. He’s the guy you were warned about but ignored.
I guess all Islamic extremists look alike.
Hooray for you for speaking your mind. I’m afraid I was one of the idiots who believed what we were told at the beginning of the big fiasco. Boo-hoo.
Where I am – same problem. Not sure if you saw my old protected post about my thoughts on the political/ government make-up (and for that, I’m not even a political person to begin with) it seems like in so many countries, if you don’t agree with the government then you are unpatriotic – nevermind if the government is wrong about something or driving the country to shit-pit. There are definitely a handful of governments which are doing that and the strain it felt much more.
Hey liberal, left-wing godless heathen !! You write one hell of a piece. Have I ever mentioned that ?
I believe the D.C.’s new disc is available now. A godless heathen like you might want to pick it up.
Very good post. I agree that everyone should have their own political opinion…..but I can’t stand those people that think their opinions are the ONLY right ones! GRRR!! lol I used to work with a gal that was hardcore about her political party and it about drove me nuts because of course, everything she said was the “right way” things should have been done. I am like you when it comes to the teary eyed situations. I have this thing with the Star Spangled Banner being sang at events, Pomp and Circumstance at graduations, parades or the sound of fire engines with their sirens blaring. It all makes me tear up. yep…..I am pretty much a moron. lol Hope your doing great.
Well, 69% of Americans disapprove of President Bush right now. I guess the Chicks were just ahead of their time.
the most patriotic thing we can ever do is speak truth to power, regardless of consequence.
RYC: Actually, he even has a girl in the cubicle across the way. But we’ve decided that they’re actually twins instead of the same guy. It makes us feel a little better.
I don’t know the whole controversy between the Chicks and the Prez, but my opinion is that they are most likely taking their “fame” (or notoriety, at this point….) just to emphasise their own personal beliefs. If we were to say things like what they did, we might or might not be called unpatriotic, but to be of such standing and publicly announce at our concerts in front of thousands in DIFFERENT countries…..I think that they should have just sung their music and that should have been it.
If they want to air their personal beliefs, they can just take out a blog. Isn’t that what these things are for?!!
When I first heard about blogs, it was when one of our foster girls told me about them. They most definitely weren’t “web logs” to her, they were Bitch LOGS ….*SO*……!
Anyway.
Just my 5 cents.
Dixie Chicks not speaking out in London? Imagine (pun intended)… if the Beatles had stuck to political commentary only in their own country!
I’ve served my country for those freedoms that you speak of… the ones that are being eroded away by those in power. I’ve come full circle, and (realizing this will likely cause a heap of backlash) I’ve become a believer that we will never have peace in the world as long as we support the war machine.
Those freedoms are precious, but not perfect. Just because we have more freedom than most other countries, we still have far to go. And we are quickly losing much of the freedom we have to think and act as individuals. But in all, our greatest freedom is the freedom to speak out against our government. If we lose that, then all is lost.
RYC: OMG, I loved the old SNLs and I cracked up when I read your comment! I remember that! Thanks for the great laugh!
Great choice of picture for your profile, Mr. Professional Piano Player Man (also kinda like SNL, I think)!
At my son’s graduation, everyone sang the National Anthem – in ENGLISH! I would like to have had the pledge, too, but maybe I shouldn’t be greedy.
I love hearing the Star Spangled Banner. I know I sound ancient when I say this, but I’m not so sure the kids today are as emotional about such things as we were. You’re very patriotic – just not a patriotic sheep.
Kathi
At my daughter’s alma mater, the kids audition for the chance to sing the National Anthem. Nell is very patriotic which doesn’t seem to be the norm for her generation. My family has been fortunate. The majority of the males have served this country and returned to talk about it unharmed. My sister, in her cult, has taught her children that our country wants our blood in the name of political favoritism. It’s all in the perception of the individual. Like you, I have a tendency to tear up; especially on the fourth of July during the fireworks with all those Sousa songs blaring out of the loud speakers.
Proud to be an American!
I love your new profile pic! Looks like you’re about to break out playing “Letters from War” That’s one of my all time favorite songs, and yes everytime I hear it I tear up too.