What has become so frustrating is the length of this "debate" over who is a "real American". Looks at the pictures of that event, who do you see? The angry, disenfranchised white man/woman. I am not naïve enough to think that these people are not truly being given the back seat in this country. We all know they are. But what is happening in Government and in the media (I'm looking at you Fox News) is not an empowering of these people. They are playing to their beliefs and lying to them to the point of frenzy. Throwing a firecracker into a lions den, so to speak. I am afraid of the lexicon being used to stir this movement. Throwing God and a Christian Nation into the poor and uneducated. It has worked for centuries before, and it is working again. But it is dividing us. It's not just the poor white man being shat on; but the poor colored man, and the young people without jobs, and immigrants who have to be afraid of being stabbed in the neck while doing their job because of being asked their religious beliefs. What is happening to us? "We" are being pitted against each other so that the rich and power can continue to be so. What has this Recession come down to? The top 1%. It's never immigrants "taking jobs" and "stealing health care". Or having "anchor babies" to leach themselves into this country. How despicable that we even think so.
I read this article after looking at comments on NPR about the rally. And there was one specific comment on the NYT that really stood out to me.
Robert Henry Eller
Milan, Italy
August 26th, 2010
9:32 am
Al Gore lost his debates with George Bush, because, in essence, Gore refused to debate Bush. What did Gore do instead? Gore rolled his eyes and sighed.
Democrats and Progressives are losing the "debate" with Limbaugh, Beck and Murdoch because they are following Al Gore's example. It's "beneath them" to take on Limbaugh, Beck and Murdoch.
This is the worst manifestation of real elitism. It's also lazy. It's also cowardice. It's also stupid.
It's simple: A significant percentage of any human population will believe what they are told. If they are not told something otherwise, they will continue to believe what they are told. They may be being told what they want to believe (Yes, Fox is in the marketing, not the news, business.). But without a contradicting story, they are left comfortable in their ignorance.
For liberal, Democratic, progressive elites to allow this is the height of suicidal arrogance.
Either we fight fire with fire, or ignorance will win.
If we don't think we have an obligation to hand back to Limbaugh, Beck and Murdoch exactly what they dish out, and then some, we are tragically, cataclysmically, mistaken.
If we don't realize we are at war, we are already defeated.
Democrats and Progressives are losing the "debate" with Limbaugh, Beck and Murdoch because they are following Al Gore's example. It's "beneath them" to take on Limbaugh, Beck and Murdoch.
This is the worst manifestation of real elitism. It's also lazy. It's also cowardice. It's also stupid.
It's simple: A significant percentage of any human population will believe what they are told. If they are not told something otherwise, they will continue to believe what they are told. They may be being told what they want to believe (Yes, Fox is in the marketing, not the news, business.). But without a contradicting story, they are left comfortable in their ignorance.
For liberal, Democratic, progressive elites to allow this is the height of suicidal arrogance.
Either we fight fire with fire, or ignorance will win.
If we don't think we have an obligation to hand back to Limbaugh, Beck and Murdoch exactly what they dish out, and then some, we are tragically, cataclysmically, mistaken.
If we don't realize we are at war, we are already defeated.
This was my shinning bit of hope for the day. Education is a force to be reckoned with. So no Glenn Beck, you can't have Martin Luther King Jr. He is a man who fought for everything you rant and rave about. He was for the people, not for those who wear tin hats and believe that Muslims have no place in this country. His vision was for equality and yours is for disruption.
I am American. And I will not let you scare me any longer.
" A lie will travel around the world in the time it takes the truth to put it´s boots on". - Mark Twain
P.S. Today I also learned that Eric was never taught the song where you memorize which months have 30 and which have 31. That's Arizona education for you. You know which rhyme I'm talking about.
