|
06 July 2010
After all the fireworks have been fired and all the charcoal grills in America likewise, and even after a federal holiday which does not fall on its official commemorative date, I believe there is still time to reflect upon what it means to be an American. It occurs to me that perhaps the best definition can be found in the lyrics of Lee Greenwood's great song, "God bless the USA".
From the lakes of Minnesota,
to the hills of Tennessee.
Across the plains of Texas,
From sea to shining sea.
From Detroit down to Houston,
and New York to L.A.
Well there's pride in every American heart,
and its time we stand and say.
That I'm proud to be an American,
where at least I know I'm free.
And I won't forget the men who died,
who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up,
next to you and defend her still today.
‘Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land,
God bless the USA.
I know places and events where the people stand and sing this enthusiastically, and I believe they mean it; the words are simple enough. I have no doubt that those who sing it do believe it, but... what nags at me about this patriotic holiday just past is that, based on this simple test, I do not believe that the President of these United States is an American. Consider:
His wife Michelle said she was "finally proud to be an American" only after her husband was elected. That's not the reason for being proud. Barack Obama has essentially apologized for the United States at every opportunity, and bowed before foreign leaders as if he was ashamed to be an American. We can recognize our faults and still be proud to be Americans. We apologize and bow to NO ONE for that fact!
We basically acknowledge as Americans anyone willing to call themselves an American and stand up for America. Obama seems unwilling to allow us to unite like that, constantly dividing us according to whatever side of the current divisive issue we are on. We are either the oppressed or the oppressors, all the time, and by his definition alone.
Obama denies American exceptionalism, telling NASA to forget about returning Americans to the moon and to concentrate on making Muslim nations proud of their scientific achievements. What??
Barack Obama won't stand up, won't defend this country, doesn't care about the men fighting to preserve our freedoms and, in many ways, doesn't seem to give a rodent's rear about our freedoms at all. Perhaps all we are seeing is a masterful incompetence, but the result is exactly the same.
It's a terrible thing to say, but on our uniquely American holiday, exercising what used to be our freedom of speech, it needs to be said. Barack Obama isn't un-American, but he isn't a Fourth of July American like the rest of us. God bless [and help] the USA.
| Next > |
|---|
