Citizens of Where?

For so long in my life I have been proud to be an American. I hold dearly the image of the John Wayne movies, the baseball and apple pie, the fighting spirit that says we know we're right, and then plays philanthropist to people of other nations. We were so good, at least that was what we thought. We didn't really see the back-room deals that politicians and corporate hit men did on our behalf, to ensure that we could continue in our opulent standard of living. We would not have accepted any truth that showed up that contradicted this glorious ideal, and every time that the light dawns on one of us, and we try to pass on this epiphany? Every 'prophet' is smeared, denegrated, rejected. We haven't wanted to see the truth.

What is left of our American ideal? If lying, cheating, stealing, bribery, rendition and incarceration without due legal process, torture, and even murder and executions are now considered 'OK' then what do we have left? There is nothing left but our memories and, our flag.

I love our US flag. I love the stars and stripes, and what it used to mean. But everything changes.
You see, I was born in San Antonio, Texas. Same town as the Alamo. I'm very proud of my southern heritage, the bravery of our men, and even Dixie. To me, although we lost the civil war, we bravely fought for our independence from the North. I can't help but be proud of this, our southern spirit, our identity.

But what does 'Dixie' (the Confederate flag) mean to most people nowadays? African Americans and most progressive folks look at that flag and, rightly so, see hate. That flag didn't represent hate years ago, I'd swear to it. But it does now, which saddens me. Because I reject racism and hate, and because I desperately want to bring peace, I dare not fly that flag. That flag no longer represents the good things that it used to, for us of the South.

There used to be a people of a very strong industrial nation, who valued all the same good values that we say we do. And they loved their country. Their flag, to them, did not represent hate, or genocide, as the Nazi flag now represents. When they looked at their flag they saw patriotism, positivity, connection, faith. Now for the whole world, the Nazi flag represents nothing admirable, only hate and destruction.

How long will it be before our dear Stars and Stripes become a symbol of hatred? You think accidentally letting the flag touch the ground dirties it? What about when the meaning of the whole thing becomes despicable? Where will we be then? Who will we be then? How long will the whole world put up with us, before we are 'taken out?' How long will God just let us trample and stomp and grab and use and digest and pollute and kill, before stepping in? How much can we eat? How much gas can we burn today? How many trees can we cut down? Can we buy another house, another all terrain sport recreational utility vantrucksportscar? Hmm, should I get the 22" wheels or go with 25"? What if I could get 40", or 80"? Hey homies, check my shoes! Some kid got 20 cents for making them, and I bought them for $200!

Our dear flag is already muddied. Our dear flag is already acting on those of other countries as a red flag to a bull. By allowing corporations to rule us in their worship of money, and by our worship of convenience and comfort, and money, we have become hypocrites to the nth power.

When I looked around for information on the Statue of Liberty, I found this:

"By the time the Union France-Americaine got around to delivering the statue, Napoleon III was gone. And again, the statue served the purpose of French liberals, in emphasizing that France was now "a Republic, not an Empire"…as the saying goes.

Some Americans sardonically wondered why France, which had a shortage of Liberty, should be exporting it to the U.S., which had plenty.

"I will try to glorify the Republic and Liberty over there, in the hope that someday I will find it again here."

-- Frederick Bartholdi to Édouard Laboulaye, 1871

I submit to you that the entire Statue of Liberty has changed meaning. We were to light a beacon of hope for all the world. But we no longer have liberty to offer. Our country as we knew it, is gone.

I am so ANGRY at the rest of you people who call yourselves American. Where are the people that regret the demolition of Native American peoples? Where are the people who sincerely regret enslaving Africans? Where are the people who are so desperately sorry for internment of Japanese Americans during the 2nd World War? Can't any of you see that we are now committing ALL NEW CRIMES, things that we can NEVER atone for?

When a theif steals, he is caught, the stolen items recovered, and he is punished. We, or our representatives, have stolen on our behalf. What do you think will happen, in the natural order of things? HOW MERCIFUL DO YOU EXPECT OTHERS TO TREAT US?

I believe we can yell and scream and plead until we're blue in the face, and it won't change a thing. What will? I think there will be many more troops that will give their lives for their country that started this unprovoked war. Halliburton, Kellogg Brown and Root, and a few other companies will make billions more. There will be less and less outcry as our freedoms disappear, until the tipping point, where people have had enough. Then there will be many protestors shot by riot police. Entire cities will be locked down with martial law. Some will disappear in the middle of the night, spirited away to detention facilities built or renovated by Kellogg Brown & Root. Then, because there is no other way of protesting, many will go on hunger strikes, and many will starve. Eventually the thing that brings change may come down to a business decision, because all this can't go on without these greedy corporations losing profits.

Is it too late? Are we caught in a trap of our own making?

Ultimately, for those of faith in God, we have to keep reminding ourselves that we are just passing through, that we are really citizens of a heavenly nation. The greatest commands say nothing of political reform, but instead say to love God and your fellow man. If all we can do is act out our love, supporting each other, that is enough.