Celebrate Your Freedom
Happy Independence Day.
But as you celebrate our country, keep all of this in mind-
We live in a nation where our government taps our phone lines in the name of security.
We live in a nation that celebrates equality, but it only seems to apply to white, Christian, heterosexual males, preferably with money.
We live in a nation that stresses freedom of religion, as long as you don't call God "Allah." (I hear He hates that, as well as if you call Him Ned.)
We live in a nation that believes in free speech, as long as that speech isn't descent.
We live in a nation that gives tax cuts to the rich, while the poor remain in poverty.
We live in a nation that was built by people from other lands seeking freedom (while killing hundreds of thousands of natives, no less), yet we seek to turn away people seeking the same thing, but had the misfortune of being born 200 years too late (and speaking Spanish).
We live in a nation where is acceptable if we truly believe that those being tortured are evil.
We live in a nation that attempts to spread peace through war.
We live in a nation that recognizes enviornmental disaster, but refuses to do anything about it.
We live in a nation where it seems protest is limited to crappy blogs like this and crazy old ladies.
We live in the greatest nation on Earth.
I am not unpatriotic. This is not an unpatriotic statement. But we must recognize what is wrong with this country to be able to do anything about it. To fight injustice, we must first acknowledge it. I'm not trying to "rally the troops," but I do hope that this inspires some thought.
Now go watch some fireworks.
But as you celebrate our country, keep all of this in mind-
We live in a nation where our government taps our phone lines in the name of security.
We live in a nation that celebrates equality, but it only seems to apply to white, Christian, heterosexual males, preferably with money.
We live in a nation that stresses freedom of religion, as long as you don't call God "Allah." (I hear He hates that, as well as if you call Him Ned.)
We live in a nation that believes in free speech, as long as that speech isn't descent.
We live in a nation that gives tax cuts to the rich, while the poor remain in poverty.
We live in a nation that was built by people from other lands seeking freedom (while killing hundreds of thousands of natives, no less), yet we seek to turn away people seeking the same thing, but had the misfortune of being born 200 years too late (and speaking Spanish).
We live in a nation where is acceptable if we truly believe that those being tortured are evil.
We live in a nation that attempts to spread peace through war.
We live in a nation that recognizes enviornmental disaster, but refuses to do anything about it.
We live in a nation where it seems protest is limited to crappy blogs like this and crazy old ladies.
We live in the greatest nation on Earth.
I am not unpatriotic. This is not an unpatriotic statement. But we must recognize what is wrong with this country to be able to do anything about it. To fight injustice, we must first acknowledge it. I'm not trying to "rally the troops," but I do hope that this inspires some thought.
Now go watch some fireworks.