Michelle Obama made an appearance this week at the City Auditorium in Colorado Springs. I did not attend the rally, but know a reliable source of good authority that did. Sen. Ken Salazar apparently made a statement to the effect that Michelle and Barack Obama are two of the most patriotic people he knows.
Colorado is home to a very large military population. If Sen. Salazar was comparing patriotism of our resident soldiers and their families to that of the Obama's, the anger his comment ignitied among many is well placed.
The old-fashioned and most commonplace definition of being a patriot and patriotism generally center around being devoted to one's country, supportive of it's authority and interests. Maybe the 'change' we are being encouraged to embrace includes redefinition of a patriot's heart and love of country.
Personally, I find no comparison between an American that volunteers to protect and defend this country against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that of some of the Obama's friends, such as the Ayers' and the Khalidi's. I am obviously outdated and naive to think that the teachings of Black Theology and racial divide being taught in churches such as the one the Obama's attended for 20 years is not in keeping with patriotism as I believe it to be.
If the Obama's are to be categorized as great patriots of this country, why would Mrs. Obama state that until her husband ran for president, she was never proud of her country, and that America is a downright mean country in 2008. Why would Sen. Obama dismiss media from his campaign entourage that happen to support Sen. McCain? Why would his campaign refuse to conduct further interviews with a TV station whose reporter asked Joe Biden tough questions? Why would his campaign demand that NRA commercials that reveal his actual voting record and clips of his statements on gun laws and rights not be aired? Does patriotism now embrace the restriction of free speech? A common man, known now as Joe the Plumber asked a simple question, just as anyone conducting a job interview is entitled to do. The response he got for putting a voice to the concerns of millions was a trashing of his reputation, inappropriate scrutiny of his personal background, tax records and marriage status. I dare say the common folk that appeared on Obama's info-mercial the other night did not face the same vetting and scrutiny, all because their political leanings are in agreement with Sen. Obama. These folks also had no plan of how to help themselves or to improve their lot in life. Only the election of Barack Obama will cure their ills. Joe the Plumber, on the other hand, has a dream of applying his own resourcefulness, integrity and work ethic to make his way in life a little better. He's only asking for some breathing room away from the government to do it. Yet, he's ridiculed in the media and even by Sen. Obama and Sen. Biden, along with the media. Great patriotism?,
Sen. Salazar will probably be on hand as the Obama's fly in and out of Colorado over the next few days, making that final pitch to try and convince Coloradans that they are, without question, devoted to this country and have it's authorities and best interests at heart. Humans, Americans in particular, are always looking for heroes; patriots with a great love of country; strong leadership underpinned with the courage and grit of a soldier's heart. As for me, I'll take the old-fashioned brand of patriotism any day.
The time has come for us to re-establish the rights for which we stand---to re-assert our inalienable rights to human dignity, self-respect, self-reliance---to be again the kind of people who once made America great. J. Ollie Edmunds, poet
A government big enough to give you everything you want is strong enough to take everything you have. Thomas Jefferson
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