patriot acts
I've been hearing more and more remarks from friends in the concert community who are coming under fire for making "political" comments in front of their audiences and/or their ensembles. None of these friends are using the stage as a soapbox or a pulpit, but in these galvanizing times, it is difficult not to develop strong opinions, and for those opinions to color one's self-expression. For this post, I want to put my own beliefs aside and express my views as non-partisan as I possibly can. I want to speak of being an American Patriot, not of being an American Liberal or an American Conservative. Oh -- and if you do manage to divine my own political leanings from this post, you're not clever -- you're missing my point.
It is an American's right to hold their own opinion of their government. It's not a God-given right, as we see demonstrated in so many less-fortunate countries, it's an AMERICAN RIGHT. It is an American's right to express that opinion in public -- positive or negative. Our founding fathers did not fight and die for the belief that one day, some gangsta rapper should be able to brag about how he likes to "smack his b*tch up". Their concern was for society-at-large, not a handful of Eminem fans -- they were thinking much bigger than that. (yes, I know it's a paraphrase of a Prodigy lyric, and Prodigy is not gangsta rap, but allow me some creative license here, folks). Their intention was to allow public opinion and the free press to be the watchdogs of our political process.
It is the priviledge of an American to agree or disagree with what is expressed. By an artist, by a politician, by anyone they wish -- that is their priviledge. What follows is a choice: one can choose to be tolerant, or one can choose to be intolerant; one can choose to consider or to rule out; and one can choose to listen or not listen. Intolerance is not un-patriotic. Our country was founded on intolerance. And once it was founded, no one tried to silence the newly-arisen intolerance. It IS patriotic to have an opinion about our government. It IS patriotic to express it in public. But in this extraordinary civilization that we have created, an act of intolerance must be met with tolerance, or conflict inevetably arises. Our America is open and able to encompass both, and it is the hope that with grace, consideration, and intelligence, we choose which conflicts are significant to us, and which ones are merely a passing annoyance.
On November 2nd, our government asked for our opinion, and that day, our nation spoke. The results were tallied, and our government was reformed. And while some might feel that our government only listens to our voice once every 4 years, as an American Patriot, one does not have to wait until then to speak. It is our right. It is our honor. And whether you agree with the means or not, here we are -- and it is the hope of every honorable soldier, and of every honorable patriot, that it is THIS right that the Iraqi people will enjoy for the first time in their lives today.
In the midst of constant dissent and intolerance, our system of government has prevailed far longer than our founding fathers ever imagined. Let's have faith in this lesson that history offers us, and allow one another the chance to express ourselves freely and confidently. For it IS a demonstration of American patriotism to take a stand for one's ideals, in whatever form that may take. It is NOT a demonstration of American patriotism to mindlessly or passively follow the current regime, or to stiffle the voices of those who choose to be intolerant.
It is an American's right to hold their own opinion of their government. It's not a God-given right, as we see demonstrated in so many less-fortunate countries, it's an AMERICAN RIGHT. It is an American's right to express that opinion in public -- positive or negative. Our founding fathers did not fight and die for the belief that one day, some gangsta rapper should be able to brag about how he likes to "smack his b*tch up". Their concern was for society-at-large, not a handful of Eminem fans -- they were thinking much bigger than that. (yes, I know it's a paraphrase of a Prodigy lyric, and Prodigy is not gangsta rap, but allow me some creative license here, folks). Their intention was to allow public opinion and the free press to be the watchdogs of our political process.
It is the priviledge of an American to agree or disagree with what is expressed. By an artist, by a politician, by anyone they wish -- that is their priviledge. What follows is a choice: one can choose to be tolerant, or one can choose to be intolerant; one can choose to consider or to rule out; and one can choose to listen or not listen. Intolerance is not un-patriotic. Our country was founded on intolerance. And once it was founded, no one tried to silence the newly-arisen intolerance. It IS patriotic to have an opinion about our government. It IS patriotic to express it in public. But in this extraordinary civilization that we have created, an act of intolerance must be met with tolerance, or conflict inevetably arises. Our America is open and able to encompass both, and it is the hope that with grace, consideration, and intelligence, we choose which conflicts are significant to us, and which ones are merely a passing annoyance.
On November 2nd, our government asked for our opinion, and that day, our nation spoke. The results were tallied, and our government was reformed. And while some might feel that our government only listens to our voice once every 4 years, as an American Patriot, one does not have to wait until then to speak. It is our right. It is our honor. And whether you agree with the means or not, here we are -- and it is the hope of every honorable soldier, and of every honorable patriot, that it is THIS right that the Iraqi people will enjoy for the first time in their lives today.
In the midst of constant dissent and intolerance, our system of government has prevailed far longer than our founding fathers ever imagined. Let's have faith in this lesson that history offers us, and allow one another the chance to express ourselves freely and confidently. For it IS a demonstration of American patriotism to take a stand for one's ideals, in whatever form that may take. It is NOT a demonstration of American patriotism to mindlessly or passively follow the current regime, or to stiffle the voices of those who choose to be intolerant.
1 Comments:
I very much like your thoughts on patriotism. The time we lived abroad brought to both of us a sensitivity for the uniqueness of our heritage and I commend you for your views.
I might take exception (if you will permit me to pick at semantics) with your use of the term "intolerance" for I don't believe intolernance is the same as dissent or disagreement. Our forefathers built their new form of government not on the basis of INtolerance but on the basis of tolerance for ALL forms of opinion so that everyone would be able to have their opinion and freely express that opionion without fear of retribution (Your point exactly, with which I fervently agree). Concurrent with your freedom to express yourself, however is my freedom to disagree with your opinion. For both sides of this arguement to exist freely without fear or reprisal we must have tolerance for each side.
It is precisely this intolerance that has created the divide in our legislature which polarizes our government into self-serving factions rather than productive governors seeking the best for the people. It is precisely this intolerance that pits the religious right with the self-rightous left in a pointless pushfight. The inevitable result of intolerance is polarization and paralysis.
See if you can find another word for intolerance in your very poignant and correct piece on patriotism. I would like to think that Sam Adams and Thomas Jefferson would agree with your piece if you did.
Thanks for the good read.
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