Same song, different verse...
May I add to yesterday's election-coverage fueled rant that I am sick of being told that I am not a "real" American. Apparently, you can't be a "real" American if you are any of the following:
1) from the northeast (especially if you're a Massachusetts liberal, forget that without Massachusetts liberals we'd be singing "God Save the Queen" before cricket matches)
2) both willing and able to think
3) in possession of a college degree (especially if it's from some snooty private college, even if 70% of the school was on financial aid)
4) willing to concede that the second amendment, as written, does not in fact guarantee an individual right to bear arms and that it hasn't been applicable to anything in its original sense since the civil war proved quite decisively that no combination of state militias would be able to resist the might available to the federal government. your actual position on gun rights and responsibilities is irrelevant. Mine is quite nuanced, btw, because my sister works with wolves, in the wilderness. You bet your ass I want someone in her group to have a rifle loaded with something beyond tranquilizers. Doesn't mean I think handguns in our cities are a good idea.
5) able to speak and/or read any language other than English
6) capable of acknowledging that the American dream is not yet available to all, even though we have made remarkable progress in the last half century.
7) believe the government can and should be part of the solution to our country's myriad problems (not to mention willing to acknowledge our country HAS problems)
8) realize that this country has no "left" on its political spectrum - anywhere else in the world the "left-wing" of the democratic party are moderates or maybe (for the really left wing) just left of center. Socialists? Here? Please. We've never had a viable socialist party. So stop it. Now.
9) willing to concede that disagreements may be based in different ways of thinking about problems and not solely in personal flaws or deficits (ok, sometimes I have trouble with this one, but have you heard some of the republican ads recently?)
Sorry. Some folks at the next table were talking about how Sarah-I-am-so-not-qualified-Palin represents "real Americans" and how refreshing it was to see "real Americans" represented in presidential politics. Instead of beating their heads into their table, I am subjecting you to this rant. Thank you for the outlet. I appreciate the not going to jail.
Please let this election be over soon.
1) from the northeast (especially if you're a Massachusetts liberal, forget that without Massachusetts liberals we'd be singing "God Save the Queen" before cricket matches)
2) both willing and able to think
3) in possession of a college degree (especially if it's from some snooty private college, even if 70% of the school was on financial aid)
4) willing to concede that the second amendment, as written, does not in fact guarantee an individual right to bear arms and that it hasn't been applicable to anything in its original sense since the civil war proved quite decisively that no combination of state militias would be able to resist the might available to the federal government. your actual position on gun rights and responsibilities is irrelevant. Mine is quite nuanced, btw, because my sister works with wolves, in the wilderness. You bet your ass I want someone in her group to have a rifle loaded with something beyond tranquilizers. Doesn't mean I think handguns in our cities are a good idea.
5) able to speak and/or read any language other than English
6) capable of acknowledging that the American dream is not yet available to all, even though we have made remarkable progress in the last half century.
7) believe the government can and should be part of the solution to our country's myriad problems (not to mention willing to acknowledge our country HAS problems)
8) realize that this country has no "left" on its political spectrum - anywhere else in the world the "left-wing" of the democratic party are moderates or maybe (for the really left wing) just left of center. Socialists? Here? Please. We've never had a viable socialist party. So stop it. Now.
9) willing to concede that disagreements may be based in different ways of thinking about problems and not solely in personal flaws or deficits (ok, sometimes I have trouble with this one, but have you heard some of the republican ads recently?)
Sorry. Some folks at the next table were talking about how Sarah-I-am-so-not-qualified-Palin represents "real Americans" and how refreshing it was to see "real Americans" represented in presidential politics. Instead of beating their heads into their table, I am subjecting you to this rant. Thank you for the outlet. I appreciate the not going to jail.
Please let this election be over soon.