What Line Do You Have to Cross in Order to Be Called Anti-American?

Ok, so there has been a lot of "Throwing-around" of the phrase "Anti-American". A lot of it is by conservatives who see certain liberals as anti-American. Now, I understand that someone disagreeing with the current administration can hardly be used as a reason for calling someone anti-American, but where do you draw the line? It seems that some liberals use "You're a typical neo-con evil hypocrit for calling me anti-American just because I disagree. Let's all get self-righteous and fight back!" as a guise or front to enable themselves to say ANYTHING they want against America, and get away with it. People, for example, that are against just about everything America stands for, can say all they want and the rest of us can't say anything or else we're typical neo-con, close-minded hypocrits. Where do you draw the line? The other day I saw, on the news, people dressed up AS TERRORISTS marching down the streets of New York protesting Bush, and there were many people supporting them! This-is-anti-American. Supporting and standing up for the people behind the 9/11 attacks, and the people killing our troops and suicide-bombing cities is simply Anti-American! I've heard of Michael Moore refering to the terrorists as minute-men, and viewing them as heroes! Doesn't anyone else see anything wrong with this? I mean yeah, we can't just go around calling everyone who's anti-Bush anti-American, but many people are. Again, where do we draw the line?

The label known as "anti american" is thrown around so often I considered it to be BS much like the term "liberal." Both sides let there beliefs get in the way of reality. Many valid criticisms can be made of the Bush admin yet these are often lost amogst some of the more extreme and lurcdis criticisms. Bush supports are no better rather then exam there beliefs if all "the liberal medias fault" or "you dont agree with me your a traitor."

[edit on 11-8-2005 by xpert11]

Actually participating in party politics is un-American...

Putting your political stance before your country is un American....

Just look at her (beautiful america) she's been abandoned and abused, but we're all to busy to tend to her and her core (principles) because political affiliation bloats ones mind (with self-righteousness) and blinds people from the true problems.

To get a good understanding of real Americanism, one should open their history books to the roots of what made America, America.

It's time for some serious introspecting, and meditation of the constitution, of which has been since poo poo'ed on by both parties..

I understand people need a leader to follow, I understand that people need objections from their leader's to arm themselves with in times of debate, I understand all this, but when your countries core principles are at stake (the ones that make this country special), it's time to stop what your doing, shut your god damn pie holes, and seriously listen to the words that were set out by your founding fathers, and WASHINGTON'S WARNING OF POLITICAL PARTIES IN HIS FAREWELL ADDRESS, because I know for god damn sure they would be furious to the point where they would probably die of a stroke due to high stress levels.

These beautiful men were true Americans, many of today's American's take these things for granted, live in a dream world, thinking that the constitution isn't really being perverted and chisled at, but it's still very much in tact the way it was in 1776.

Know what is Un-American?

Putting your head in the sand about all of this but only lending one ear up for your chosen political party leader so he can tell you how to think (make your mind bloated and self-righteous) and let you know that there are no problems on your side but rather they are all on the other...



[edit on 11-8-2005 by TrueLies]

anti American where u hate America and everything about so u decided to join a terrorist group to destroy that country and the people who lives there. thats anti American.

Vote straight Democrat.

*Ducks cover* INCOMING!!!!!!

Great post, TrueLies.

I get called Anti-American all the time because I'm against this war and this administration. I am actually pro-American. I strongly believe in the Constitution.

The other day I saw, on the news, people dressed up AS TERRORISTS marching down the streets of New York protesting Bush, and there were many people supporting them! This-is-anti-American. Supporting and standing up for the people behind the 9/11 attacks, and the people killing our troops and suicide-bombing cities is simply Anti-American!

This is where you draw the line and I think everyone has their own line. I wouldn't protest as these people were doing, and I may not agree with what they're saying, but it's their right to peaceably assemble and express their beliefs. That's a very cornerstone of what America is! Like it or not, the way in which these people were behaving is very American.

You can hate it, you can think it's despicable, but buddy, it's freedom of speech. I don't know that they were supporting the terrorists, more likely just protesting the president. But still. whether we like it or not, making a peaceable statement is a very American thing to do.

It may be offensive; it may not be pretty, but speaking our minds (as long as we take no action) is a right we enjoy and part of what makes America great.

Many people confuse dissent with disloyalty. I disagree with a lot of things this administration is doing, but I am totally loyal to my country. That's why I speak out when I think things are messed up.

Anti-American to me would be:
- Someone who stands against the principles on which this country was founded. (All men created equal, freedom of speech, etc.)
- Someone who performs a physical action to harm the country or its people.
- Someone who hates Americans simply because they're Americans (prejudiced).

Really, that about covers it for me. There may be more that I just can't think of right now.

I've been labelled anti-American on these fair boards too.

(The real irony to me being I actually choose to live here; I wasn't born here and thus don't suffer from any congenital form of patriotism)

What's anti-American?

The willful decision to persecute or otherwise attempt to demean and/or victimize someone, just because you disagree with their politics.

That's anti-American.

Refusing to see the other side's point of view (nobody is asking you to agree with it).

That's anti-American.

And what Deltaboy and Benevolent said; both of whom expressed far more ably anything I could have managed myself.

Originally posted by Tinkleflower
(The real irony to me being I actually choose to live here; I wasn't born here and thus don't suffer from any congenital form of patriotism)

Which is the best reason one who is not a native of this country should be president. We're having enough problems with internationalist prez's like Clinton and Shrub, and these idiots were born right here!

Which leads me to idly wonder....will they ever amend the Constitution to allow naturalized citizens to run for President?

Off-topic, I know. Sorry.

And panic ye not...President Tinkleflower would be a very, very bad idea. I'm fully aware of that

Where are the slingers of this epithet? Where are those who so quickly lash out with the 'hater' and 'anti-american' label?

Tell us what you mean by Anti-American. If you're going to hurl the moniker at us, the least you can do is let us know what it means. This is your opportunity to really be clear.

Thanks, Herman for opening this up.

I don't expect that they will change it. I could be wrong; I'm surprised to see howmany people would want it changed so that Arnold could run. I'm surprised there are that many who would want him to run.
I know, I shouldn't be so easily surprised, anymore.

Originally posted by Benevolent Heretic

This is where you draw the line and I think everyone has their own line. I wouldn't protest as these people were doing, and I may not agree with what they're saying, but it's their right to peaceably assemble and express their beliefs. That's a very cornerstone of what America is! Like it or not, the way in which these people were behaving is very American.

You can hate it, you can think it's despicable, but buddy, it's freedom of speech. I don't know that they were supporting the terrorists, more likely just protesting the president. But still. whether we like it or not, making a peaceable statement is a very American thing to do.

Yeah, I get what you're saying, but this is where it gets tricky. This is where it gets more into semantics rather than politics. If there were a bunch of people marching down the street, shouting "Death to America" and holding up Anti-America signs, would that still be pro American? Yeah, expressing your mind is an American thing to do, but the protest would literally be Anti-American. And what if a group of stupid rednecks were marching down the street demanding that white people be delcared the superior race, with KKK costumes on and chanting something about white Americans being the only good people on this planet. Would that still be American? I mean I'm not disagreeing with you, I completely support freedom of speech. I guess it starts to get tricky at that point though, haha. An oxymoron almost... It's a very American anti-American speech... Maybe that's not an oxymoron, ironic maybe?

And yeah Truelies, great post.

[edit on 11-8-2005 by Herman]

Originally posted by Herman
If there were a bunch of people marching down the street, shouting "Death to America" and holding up Anti-America signs, would that still be pro American?

I would think they would be covered under:
- Someone who hates Americans simply because they're Americans (prejudiced).

They're saying "We're Anti-American" with their "Death to America" and Anti-American signs. Yes, they're Anti-American, they're saying it themselves.

And what if a group of stupid rednecks were marching down the street demanding that white people be delcared the superior race, with KKK costumes on and chanting something about white Americans being the only good people on this planet. Would that still be American?

And they would be covered under:
- Someone who stands against the principles on which this country was founded. (All men created equal, freedom of speech, etc.)

But the people in your first post example were protesting the administration or the president, not America. We can't be certain what they were saying with the costumes.

I know of someone who dressed up as a terrorist last year for Holloween. Many people thought that was Anti-American. Others thought it was tasteless. It may have been tasteless in some's eyes, but his heart was not Anti-American, so I don't think the gesture was either.

ever since the 9/11 attacks i dont think there is such a thing as anti-american............ your either an american or a terrorist.... thats what bush belives.............and then he dosent think you can trust another country.. i think he is the anti american and terrorist

Originally posted by shadowstriker
ever since the 9/11 attacks i dont think there is such a thing as anti-american............ your either an american or a terrorist.... thats what bush belives.............and then he dosent think you can trust another country.. i think he is the anti american and terrorist

In that case, I'd be labelled a terrorist.

I'm not American.

I just live here.

Ah, the trials of being a non-citizen.

(I'm female too - think I could be a double-threat for Election 2012, assuming Arnie gets us that little Amendment sorted out?)

Originally posted by shadowstriker
ever since the 9/11 attacks i dont think there is such a thing as anti-american............ your either an american or a terrorist.... thats what bush belives.............and then he dosent think you can trust another country.. i think he is the anti american and terrorist

Where'd you get that idea!? "You're with us or you're against us" has suddenly turned into "You're either an American or a terrorist"? So following your logic, anybody who's not American doesn't agree with Bush?

and then he dosent think you can trust another country..

Again, where did you hear this? He trusted plenty of countries to go to war with us. We shouldn't trust other countries!?!?

Uh I would say being republican/conservative to be Anti-America.

Think about it, killing anyone who speaks out goes against the First Right of Americans. Also killing anyone who isn't a christian does to. Killing everyone who isn't a Rich/White/Republican/christian/Male or their wife goes against Freedom For All Mankind.

Originally posted by James the Lesser
Uh I would say being republican/conservative to be Anti-America.

Think about it, killing anyone who speaks out goes against the First Right of Americans. Also killing anyone who isn't a christian does to. Killing everyone who isn't a Rich/White/Republican/christian/Male or their wife goes against Freedom For All Mankind.

Why is it status quo to go around saying rich white male and their wife? Why can't a woman be independant and rich without having to be a 'wife'??
ughhh.

My party has a few extremists on the far side that I wish to disavow. You of the other Party should forgive me for them. And, loathsome as these nuts are, and as detrimental to the fine good principles my Party is based upon, I find them just barely - and I mean to the most slight degree - less disagreeable than the extremist and hateful nuts that cling on to the shirttails of YOUR party. They really are, I must point out, vile.

Try stepping out in your front yard and set an American flag on fire and see what happens. Then you will know if you crossed the line.

I think anti-American is a catch all phrase used for so much that it has come to mean nothing. I also think people tend to confuse anti-gov't and anti-American. You can love your country but not be overly thrilled by the folks that run it. Most people that I know that are against the war are not against the troops. I think most Americans support each other, even those in the military but would like to see the boys in Washington grow a brain.