I think I am
perhaps posing a false choice. To me,
the words seem all too often to act like synonyms. To get our biased truth from right or left
wing media is to join the lemming reality.
A patriot is the result of an accident of one’s location of birth on the
globe and neither position is based in wisdom.
.
Dan Rather
recently wrote a book on his vision of American Patriotism. He has a pretty unbiased view of the events
he has seen and reported on in his career, as well as an excellent grasp of the
nation’s history. He doesn’t delude
himself into thinking it is a pretty story, but keeps bringing his overall
judgements back to the fact that America is his place of birth. A person born in Australia, or China, or
Canada, or any other nation will pretty much do the same. Patriots all.
“America First” is a very patriotic sentiment, as is “My country, right
or wrong, my country.” Neither has much
to do with wisdom or justice.
.
On dollars
and cents, we live in a nation guided by dollars, but very little sense. The dollars that guide our democracy care
little for the general welfare, but care greatly for the wellbeing of the
wealthy few. A simple and obvious
example of this is our healthcare system.
It is primarily designed to benefit healthcare insurance and
pharmaceutical corporations, not patients.
The nations that lead in healthcare, in our world, protect the health of
all of their citizens. They see
excellent healthcare as a right of citizenship.
And …. Why not? The recent Corona Pandemic is taking a
disastrous path in our country partly because of the basic design of our
healthcare system. It is inordinately
punishing the poor. We should be better
than that.
.
Is President
Bonespur a patriot? Does waving a Bible
over his head make him a Christian? Are
the brave young men and women who fly half way around the world to murder
someone that they have never met … patriots?
As a pacifist, I would say the act is better described as one of a
psychopath. To me, the citizens marching
across our country to protest racial injustice and try to make our nation a
better place are our true patriots.
These caring people would do that born in any nation. “Our country can be right or wrong. Let’s make it right.”
.
A choke hold
or any act to stop breath should be prosecuted as an assault with a deadly
weapon, be it done by a policeman or a civilian. An unarmed peace officer, as works so well in
England, would be a welcome change in America.
The public would see the officer as being there to help, not to exert
deadly force. The new officer would be
handed a badge, but no gun. Many a “bad
apple” would consider other employment.
A readily available swat team with one sniper armed with a bolt action
rifle and scope is adequate for back up.
Scores of officers armed with automatic assault weapons, with large
capacity magazines, are counterproductive, resulting in excessive rounds being
fired as well as possible collateral damage.
.
There are
only two kinds of people who carry a gun, cops and cowards, but since the
uniformed officers in England don’t pack, perhaps there is only one. I don’t fear walking through my life without
one. I have never needed a gun. Most people don’t. Most who employ one, wish in a calmer moment
that they hadn’t.
.
The lemmings
move forward without much thought as do many patriots. I don’t see much difference. Is there a better way?
.
Cheers, Old
Buz 6/4/2020 iambloggerbuz.blogspot.com
