May 26, 2008 6:48 AM

Because only "real" Americans deserve to celebrate today

Ah, Memorial Day...when good, God-fearing White Folk get to decide who a "Real American" is...because true patriots don't ask questions when they're engaged in some serious flag waving.

I respect the rights of whoever had the bright idea that Neal Boortz, Karl Rove, and Rush Limbaugh are true "patriots", while Gen. Wesley Clark, VoteVets.org, and "phony soldiers" are not. Hmm..."phony soldiers"? Would these be the same soldiers who've actually chosen to exercise their freedom of speech (you know, the same freedom they fought for) to criticize Our Glorious and Benevolent Leader © and his Excellent Adventure in Iraq © ? Apparently, to some folks and their way of thinking, American soldiers are only "real" if they keep their mouths shut and let the politicians do the heavy lifting involved in crafting both policy and propaganda. That's right; we support you when you're doing the fighting and dying, but if you can't keep your mouth shut....

I don't know about you, but where I come from patriotism doesn't hew to a specific, narrow ideology. Loving your country and being proud to be an American isn't something limited to only Conservative Republicans who believe in God and guns and hate Gays and Libruls. And it sure as Hell doesn't mean believing the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth mindset that belittles any sacrifice that doesn't originate on the Far Right side of the ideological spectrum.

When you're honoring those who've fallen in service of their country, you might try remembering that bullets and IEDs don't respect ideological boundaries. Liberals and Conservatives fight, bleed, and die the same way, because they're all Americans and they all love their country and what it stands for. It's just too bad that far too many Chickenhawks who get no closer to combat than the six o'clock news can't see their way clear to recognizing that truth.

We all deserve to be able to celebrate Memorial Day for the same reasons. Xenophobia, nationalism, and ideology should no more play a role in honoring our war dead than anything else. They were Americans like you and I; they bled and died as Americans, and they died believing that they were doing their part to make this country safer for ALL Americans, not merely Americans who happen to pass an ideological litmus test.

Enjoy your Memorial Day....wherever you may be and whatever side of the ideological fence you happen to occupy. This day of all days should be cause for celebrating the fact that we can disagree so completely and still life safely in one of the greatest countries in the world. We're ALL Americans.

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This page contains a single entry by Jack Cluth published on May 26, 2008 6:48 AM.

You don't get paid to think.... was the previous entry in this blog.

Remembering the fallen. Brought to you by Burger King. is the next entry in this blog.

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