While on the way home from the market one Saturday morning , I noticed the words America , Love It Or Leave It , on the back window of a vehicle. I’ve seen these types of so-called patriotic messages on other automobiles over the years. I couldn’t help but wonder , was this guy a Trump supporter or a Republican? Many of those who display these types of statements on their vehicles , no doubt see themselves as true patriots , and are always conservatives , who believe America can only be great again when there are no liberals , no Muslims , no gays , and no illegal immigrants. They claim to love America , but adamantly oppose gay rights , and freedom of speech for anyone but themselves. They believe the civil rights group like Black Lives Matter to be a racist hate organization that assassinates white people , and police officers. They believe athletes who protest racial injustice , who take a knee during the National Anthem , are un-American , and they deny that racism still exists.
Many of them also believe that America is already great , with very little room for improvement. To the America right or wrong types , if you criticize America with a Republican in the White House , you’re unpatriotic. But if its a Democrat , it’s patriotism. Which is a bullshit argument. Criticizing America is an act of patriotism. Dissent is the highest form of patriotism. When our country does something wrong , we have an obligation to criticize our government , and redress grievances. They are supposed to represent the people , not special interests , not lobbies , not corporations. We can and should vote them out for not representing us.
America is already a great nation , despite its many imperfections : its failing educational system , infrastructure , healthcare , getting homeless Americans off the streets , providing jobs that pay a living wage that people are capable of living on without having to resort to food stamps just to feed themselves and their families , getting corporate money out of politics , and investing in cleaner energy sources while decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. When these issues are addressed and taken seriously by enough Americans who are sick and tired of the same old nonsense , and are willing to do something about it , then America will be an even greater nation. But it may take a revolution.
The Weekly Journal News 