Fear this
I was driving down a long and lonesome road the other day, when I noticed the back of a generic white van. Nothing particularly unique about it, but as many American vehicles have these days, it had a "patriotic" bumper sticker. I've become pretty numb to most of the "support the troops" or "god bless america" stickers, as banal and insipid as they are. However, this one took it that extra mile; it was an American flag with the words "Fear This" underneath it.
This sticker represents nearly all that is wrong with America in two short words. It's amazingly concise. America's fascination with itself at the expense of other countries and cultures is one of the reasons that we are the most hated country on the planet. If we weren't so busy exporting our culture and taking the natural resources of other countries, perhaps peace would be possible. Fear is never the answer; imagine if this decal got it's way. Fear would cause more anger, more violence, and promote war. War is not the best solution. I'll be the first to admit that war is necassary at times, but it needs to be the final option exercised. I actually am currently supporting the Bush administration's move to push democracy more forcefully than in the past, as so far it's being applied by diplomacy on countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. What I am afraid of is that it will set the groundwork for more wars, likely on Syria, or possibly Iran. Iran is already reforming itself, although slowly. These kinds of changes, done peacefully, will take a few decades. But the Civil Rights Movement in the USA (remember that backwards country?) wasn't exactly overnight either. Patience saves lives; both ours, and theirs.
Don't get me wrong, I love my country. I had better not forget to mention that, as I'm applying for a government security clearance. But there are some things that need to be changed, and that can be changed, if we just take a few moments to think about how the system should work. We have the power to change it; make your voice heard.
Don't get me started on the rest of the bumper stickers that some people have. Heh.
This sticker represents nearly all that is wrong with America in two short words. It's amazingly concise. America's fascination with itself at the expense of other countries and cultures is one of the reasons that we are the most hated country on the planet. If we weren't so busy exporting our culture and taking the natural resources of other countries, perhaps peace would be possible. Fear is never the answer; imagine if this decal got it's way. Fear would cause more anger, more violence, and promote war. War is not the best solution. I'll be the first to admit that war is necassary at times, but it needs to be the final option exercised. I actually am currently supporting the Bush administration's move to push democracy more forcefully than in the past, as so far it's being applied by diplomacy on countries like Egypt and Saudi Arabia. What I am afraid of is that it will set the groundwork for more wars, likely on Syria, or possibly Iran. Iran is already reforming itself, although slowly. These kinds of changes, done peacefully, will take a few decades. But the Civil Rights Movement in the USA (remember that backwards country?) wasn't exactly overnight either. Patience saves lives; both ours, and theirs.
Don't get me wrong, I love my country. I had better not forget to mention that, as I'm applying for a government security clearance. But there are some things that need to be changed, and that can be changed, if we just take a few moments to think about how the system should work. We have the power to change it; make your voice heard.
Don't get me started on the rest of the bumper stickers that some people have. Heh.