Surreality TV

This post has sort of been percolating in my head for a while leading up to Independence Day, and I'm still not sure I know how to say what I want on the topic, but I guess I have to try, as I'm already late with it.

America is not a place. It's not a people. It's not a thing that can be pointed to or grasped in your hand. It never has been. America is an IDEA. The idea that all people are equal, deserve to be free, and that they are to be left alone to seek out health, wealth, happiness, whatever...so long as they doesn't impede the rights of others in doing so.

The implementation of this idea isn't perfect. It never has been, but that's no excuse for not trying to work towards the day when it's as close as we can achieve.

The enemies of America aren't terrorists, communists, fascists, capitalists, socialists, zealots, foreigners, or any other single group. The enemies of America are those who would chip away at the core idea, no matter what cause, no matter WHERE they come from. Whether you're some half educated third world jihadist who hates us for whatever reason, middle class right wing zealot screeching your bigotry and hate, art house left wing nanny stater thinking people are too stupid to be allowed outside without a leash, or an Ivy League educated legislator engaging in the politics of fear, when you take measures towards curtailing our liberties by enshrining your twisted view of how people should behave in matters that don't concern you, you're attacking that idea, and YOU are an enemy.

It's the idea that's important, and if we destroy the idea to save the nation, what was the point?

The men who signed that little bit of paper telling George III to go to hell put their fortunes, families, and futures, in short, everything they had and were, on the line in doing so. Despite our having won, many of them still died poor and broken men. They did it for an IDEA. The founding of our nation was merely an expression of that idea, and a way of keeping it safe and alive.

That idea still matters as much today as it ever did.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html

This post has sort of been percolating in my head for a while leading up to Independence Day, and I'm still not sure I know how to say what I want on the topic, but I guess I have to try, as I'm already late with it.

America is not a place. It's not a people. It's not a thing that can be pointed to or grasped in your hand. It never has been. America is an IDEA. The idea that all people are equal, deserve to be free, and that they are to be left alone to seek out health, wealth, happiness, whatever...so long as they doesn't impede the rights of others in doing so.

The implementation of this idea isn't perfect. It never has been, but that's no excuse for not trying to work towards the day when it's as close as we can achieve.

The enemies of America aren't terrorists, communists, fascists, capitalists, socialists, zealots, foreigners, or any other single group. The enemies of America are those who would chip away at the core idea, no matter what cause, no matter WHERE they come from. Whether you're some half educated third world jihadist who hates us for whatever reason, middle class right wing zealot screeching your bigotry and hate, art house left wing nanny stater thinking people are too stupid to be allowed outside without a leash, or an Ivy League educated legislator engaging in the politics of fear, when you take measures towards curtailing our liberties by enshrining your twisted view of how people should behave in matters that don't concern you, you're attacking that idea, and YOU are an enemy.

It's the idea that's important, and if we destroy the idea to save the nation, what was the point?

The men who signed that little bit of paper telling George III to go to hell put their fortunes, families, and futures, in short, everything they had and were, on the line in doing so. Despite our having won, many of them still died poor and broken men. They did it for an IDEA. The founding of our nation was merely an expression of that idea, and a way of keeping it safe and alive.

That idea still matters as much today as it ever did.

http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html