Fifty years ago, JFK called our nation to service. Here is the speech.
Since that time we have become a nation of violence and a nation where service to others is scoffed at. “Compassionate conservatives” spent 2008 denigrating “community organizers” like our President.
We have come a long way…and it has not been all for the positive by any stretch.
The big thing across the South is to pretend that the Civil War had nothing to do with protecting slavery from being abolished.
The New York Times began the most recent focus on the issue, pointing out some BS crap across the south this month such as a Secession Ball in South Carolina, a Treason-Lovin’ Parade in Alabama (not sure what it was called so I just named it), and a re-swearing in of Jefferson Davis to boot.
Yeah, I get it, you want to honor your ancestors service. But remember, they didn’t just fight for Virginia or Georgia or Arkansas. They were traitors to the United States of America.
The Daily Show did this dishonest racial bullshit it’s due: Comedy Central video link.
The point is, however, how and why are these cretins allowed to celebrate both treason and slavery? You can’t fly a Nazi flag or call for the genocide of Jews in Germany. You can’t look west, fly the Rising Sun and lick your lips hoping to rape Korean women in Japan. It’s not just uncivilized, it is illegal in both places.
Here? You can have a treasonous battle flag on your state flag and have everyone from Trent Lott to Newt Gingrich to Haley Barbour lament the loss of an age where you could be as racist as you want to be.
These folks should be breaking rocks for these thoughts, not constantly elected to public office. Also, they should be reminded that they LOST the Civil War. It wasn’t a draw, nor anything close to it. And honestly, we should have sat on that place for three generations if this was how it was going to turn out.
Oliver Willis has some views on the subject worth reading. Here is another perspective that has WAY more merit than that of the White South/GOP.
Virginia’s history texts are full of outright lies. They aren’t alone. For all the stuff about Texas’ attempted changes, even back in ’80s we got a really slanted view of the “Second War of Independence” and other such crap told about the Civil War.
E.J. Dionne checks history and finds that it was very clear that the South fought to protect and maintain slavery. Case closed.
Sadly there is more on this. To be covered later.
Another interesting bit from this week’s Sunday Morning:
I’ve been meaning to post this story on the continuing relevance of Mark Twain for awhile.
Give it a read.
Some interesting facts about Labor Day. I didn’t know a couple of these so learning stuff is nice too.
Another homage to what we all lost in Hurricane Katrina.
Tea Baggers don’t know much about history. You already know this.
They are convinced we are living in a theocracy. Ask a Tea Bagger and this is the Christian form of Iran…not that they’d say it like that.
Now they are proving they know nothing of literature, or political writing.
Without getting too much into it – the article does a good job of explaining itself – Tea Baggers are incredibly unaware that George Orwell was a socialist. Not like Barack Obama, savior of capitalism, is a socialist, but an actual one. Here are their increasingly incorrect stances concerning George Orwell.
But don’t stop there! They also – or at least Glenn Beckkk – has no clue about Thomas Paine. To the nitwits who listen to that fake-teared sociopath, they are unaware that Paine was anti-royalty and, more importantly, anti-religion. Well, at least, anti-established Church, which is a difference many can’t make. Plus he fought for things like a woman’s right to vote and other things that make Rethugs squeamish.
So how is he their hero? No clue.
Same reason Reagan made “Born in the U.S.A.” his anthem without caring about what the lyrics meant. Same reason Tea Baggers get offended when you associate them with a sex act – even though THEY came up with the label. Same reason the phrase “compassionate conservatism” usually means you’re about to get screwed out of money or freedom or possibly both at the same time.
