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If you love wealth greater than liberty, the tranquility of servitude greater than the animating contest for freedom, go home and leave us in peace. We seek not your council, nor your arms. Crouch down and lick the hand that feeds you; and may posterity forget that ye were our countrymen.
~Sam Adams
I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every
form of tyranny over the mind of man.
~Thomas Jefferson
How soon we forget history ... government is not reason. Government is not eloquence. It is force. And like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.
~George Washington
Originally posted by RSF77
Nothing is funnier to me than reading westerners complain about the west taking action against other nationalities. It's like going to a sports event and seeing a guy rooting for the away team, because he thinks hes smarter than everyone else on his side of the stands.
Originally posted by Illusionsaregrander
Why are the people spending money we dont have on wars we dont need "the home team?"
And maybe some of us DO think we are smarter than many in the stands. Because maybe some of us can do math. And "spend more + cut revenue (taxes) while already heavily in debt and having just had your credit downgraded to a C = stupid. "
Originally posted by RSF77
Because the "home team" is the culture and society our grand/fathers and mothers created (in my case anyways), it is up to us to fix it.
I'm not prepared to give up on my ancestors legacy and civilization because of conflict and death in another part of the world, in another society that someone else's people already screwed up. I could care less about them, I know typical ignorant American right?
To me, America means a lot more than the arrogant, untrustworthy faces of our politicians. It hurts me deep seeing it thrown away and the citizens of this country turning their backs instead of trying to right the wrongs. I confess though, I am insignificant in the grand scheme as well, I can't figure out what to do to help.
I believed I was smarter than everyone else once too, but it is what it is and we all have our ups and downs. You may be a pretty smart person, congratulations.
Originally posted by Illusionsaregrander
We dont disagree on our love for America. And I strongly resent the implication that we do.
We disagree in that we think "America and Americans" are the driver of what is happening over there, and here. I believe that our politicians are no longer serving the interests of our nation, or her people in any real way, and instead are allowing themselves to be used to promote an international agenda that serves some few multinational banks and corporations. Our entire democracy is being subverted by corporate influence, and our economy as well.
I can be patriotic and not want my nation acting in ways that are detrimental to my nation and to the benefit of some few who in some cases, are not even American at all.
Originally posted by Illusionsaregrander
I dont think I AM criticizing the "home team" when I am criticizing the drivers behind this war, and speaking out against it. Those people are ruining my home team as well as Libyas.
Multinational bankers and corporatists are buying (or bombing into place,) political control of nations all over the world, including my own, which I love dearly and would do anything to protect. Including facing ridicule on ATS for having the gall to point out that what is going on over there is NOT in America, the nation, or American (the people) best interests.
I have never and WILL never give up on America, we just seem to disagree in that fighting for America means you have to shut up and support whatever the foreign interests who are taking over my country have us do.
Originally posted by RSF77
I was saying that in order to make the changes that the majority of Americans obviously want (like and end to these wars), we probably have to start here in our country with us as citizens, not concern over what is happening in Libya. Libya has already happened and so has Iraq, there is nothing we can do about that, but we can try to make the future better.
Originally posted by RSF77
So what can we do as citizens? I think about this over and over again, but I don't have much pull and I can't figure a way to accomplish a betterment of this country myself.
Originally posted by RSF77
The only thing I can think of is something that catalyzes interest and unity in the American people, perhaps a better educational system would be a good place to begin?
Originally posted by Illusionsaregrander
No. Libya is "happening." Not happened. Its not over. We need to make it known that we want it to stop. That includes everything from talking to friends, neighbors, posting argument on ATS, Facebook, to letters, protests, strikes, boycotts, whatever.
We need to start where we ARE. In the middle of yet another unjust war. But this time, we havent yet killed the leader who can rebuild the country.
Originally posted by Illusionsaregrander
We need to become active at every level of government. We need to sit outside our local politicians offices with signs on our day off. We need to make our opinion known and demonstrate to others what needs to be done, by doing it ourselves. In addition to the educating other, speaking out, etc. I mentioned above.
We do not have time for that. Nor the money. We need campaign finance reform that effectively eliminates corporate money from campaigns. We need to regulate lobbyists and PACs. We need, in short, to prevent the further corporatization of the US first. Stop the flow of blood first. Its triage. No doctor educates a man on diet and exercise while he is having a heart attack. First, you stabilize the patient.
Originally posted by RSF77
Look I am lazy too, what are we to do?
What do we do, we are the last remaining bastion of the American dream. Are we? What is with our country? They need a leader?