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Why I hate America.
Sep. 23rd, 2005 08:58 pmI hate America.
This is said despite the fact that I was born and raised here.
Despite the fact that I, until very recently, grew misty-eyed when singing the national anthem.
This despite the fact that I as a kid felt a surge of loyalty and pride when reciting the pledge of allegiance (even if I didn't believe in God).
The Fourth of July never ceased to remind me that we as a country were a freed colony, that we now had the right to do create a government of our own choosing. That we had the nerve to abandon the models of the time - kings and federalists - to create a country where everyone had a voice. It was America that drafted a Bill of Rights, was the first colony to break away from the British Empire just as India was the last.
Raising the stars and stripes reminded me of what it represented: freedom and democracy. I knew how to take care of that flag, how to fold it properly, and I treated it accordingly as a symbol of how I value those ideals.
So why do I hate America?
Because of Iraq.
We conquered and occupied a foreign nation out of greed for oil. You know what? I'm glad the insurgency's strong enough to drive us out. May we crawl out of there with our tail between our legs soon. Almost 2,000 (largely poor) soldiers dead, and 10-12 thousand Americans have lost their limbs -- all for nothing. One word: Greed.
Because of the abuse of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanimo Bay.
Bill of Rights? We can't even follow the Geneva convention. And then we lie about it to add insult to injury. Yeah right, the Human Rights Watch is twisting facts out of political agenda. What a crock of shit. Three words: Abuse of Power.
Because of Katrina.
Look at the demonstraion of rampant racism and poverty, the huge widening gap between the rich and poor. We won't even take care of our own -- hell, they're black and from the projects, what do we care? Then we cover up the body count, give excuses, and hand over contracts to Halliburton to make a buck. Worse yet: we won't pay the victims of Katrina a fair wage as workers to help repair the region. Instead of prevailing wage they're going to get minimum wage. One word: Greed.
Because we have a majority of prejudiced, close-minded and bigoted types who voted for Bush -- twice -- out of anti-gay, anti-abortion feelings.
Never mind the war. Never mind the lies about WMDs: he had the pro-church lip-sync down and that's all America cared about. Human rights? Ha. (And I'm both religious and against abortion but there's more to a vote than just one issue.) One word: Ignorance.
Because of outsourcing.
Companies send American jobs overseas to China, saying they can't stay competitive without paying substandard wages. But "not competitive" is just a euphemism for excessive profit margins of 20% and more. It is just greed that's driving outsourcing. We're becoming a nation of Wal-Mart greeters as the jobs disappear. One word: Greed.
Because US price inflation.
Corporations then bring cheaply made goods back to the US and charge Americans three times the value. Medicines in Canada cost half what they do in the US. Food is over-priced by 30% (the Asian markets with their fair mark-ups charge 30% less just down the street from Safeway). To protect profits corporations lie to Americans and say the Canadian drugs are "substandard" and the Asian markets are "health risks." One word: Greed.
Because of massive tax breaks for the rich and tax increases for the poor.
We've spent our budget surplus and are borrowing money from the U.K., Japan, Denmark and China to pay for Iraq and our huge tax give-aways to the wealthy few. The government seeks to destroy Social Security that millions of elderly depend on. One word: Greed.
Because we do not have a free press.
The press is not allowed to print photos of Iraq that aren't vetted by the military. Through massive mergers, networks, radio stations, and newspapers are now owned by a small number of wealthy people: the spin on the news is for the owners and wealthy. To make matters worse, there is now an effort to limit political bloggers under Federal Election Commission. Bloggers, National Public Radio, and small local papers are our last remnant of a free press. Three words: Abuse of Power.
This rampant Greed and Abuse of Power is fed by Ignorance and I am fed up. Tomorrow I'm going to protest the war in Iraq.
But what I hate most of all is that we as a country have become the sort of place that would elect the man who's done all of this.
I'm sick of the ignorance and greed.
I'm disgusted and angry with Bush. I'm disgusted and angry with his cronies. I'm disgusted and angry with greedy, rapacious corporations. I'm disgusted and angry with Republicans. I'm disgusted and angry with the Christian right. But most of all, I'm disgusted and angry with America. We're responsible: the majority of this country voted for this.
I'm turning off comments because I don't have time to reply and I'm too pissed off to listen to any shit. *sharpens claws and prepares angry chants*
ETA: WG asked me what brought this on. The lies the Pentagon tells at the end of this report on abuse of prisoners and complete abandonment of the Geneva convention. We are no longer a civilized nation.
This is said despite the fact that I was born and raised here.
Despite the fact that I, until very recently, grew misty-eyed when singing the national anthem.
This despite the fact that I as a kid felt a surge of loyalty and pride when reciting the pledge of allegiance (even if I didn't believe in God).
The Fourth of July never ceased to remind me that we as a country were a freed colony, that we now had the right to do create a government of our own choosing. That we had the nerve to abandon the models of the time - kings and federalists - to create a country where everyone had a voice. It was America that drafted a Bill of Rights, was the first colony to break away from the British Empire just as India was the last.
Raising the stars and stripes reminded me of what it represented: freedom and democracy. I knew how to take care of that flag, how to fold it properly, and I treated it accordingly as a symbol of how I value those ideals.
So why do I hate America?
Because of Iraq.
We conquered and occupied a foreign nation out of greed for oil. You know what? I'm glad the insurgency's strong enough to drive us out. May we crawl out of there with our tail between our legs soon. Almost 2,000 (largely poor) soldiers dead, and 10-12 thousand Americans have lost their limbs -- all for nothing. One word: Greed.
Because of the abuse of prisoners in Iraq, Afghanistan and Guantanimo Bay.
Bill of Rights? We can't even follow the Geneva convention. And then we lie about it to add insult to injury. Yeah right, the Human Rights Watch is twisting facts out of political agenda. What a crock of shit. Three words: Abuse of Power.
Because of Katrina.
Look at the demonstraion of rampant racism and poverty, the huge widening gap between the rich and poor. We won't even take care of our own -- hell, they're black and from the projects, what do we care? Then we cover up the body count, give excuses, and hand over contracts to Halliburton to make a buck. Worse yet: we won't pay the victims of Katrina a fair wage as workers to help repair the region. Instead of prevailing wage they're going to get minimum wage. One word: Greed.
Because we have a majority of prejudiced, close-minded and bigoted types who voted for Bush -- twice -- out of anti-gay, anti-abortion feelings.
Never mind the war. Never mind the lies about WMDs: he had the pro-church lip-sync down and that's all America cared about. Human rights? Ha. (And I'm both religious and against abortion but there's more to a vote than just one issue.) One word: Ignorance.
Because of outsourcing.
Companies send American jobs overseas to China, saying they can't stay competitive without paying substandard wages. But "not competitive" is just a euphemism for excessive profit margins of 20% and more. It is just greed that's driving outsourcing. We're becoming a nation of Wal-Mart greeters as the jobs disappear. One word: Greed.
Because US price inflation.
Corporations then bring cheaply made goods back to the US and charge Americans three times the value. Medicines in Canada cost half what they do in the US. Food is over-priced by 30% (the Asian markets with their fair mark-ups charge 30% less just down the street from Safeway). To protect profits corporations lie to Americans and say the Canadian drugs are "substandard" and the Asian markets are "health risks." One word: Greed.
Because of massive tax breaks for the rich and tax increases for the poor.
We've spent our budget surplus and are borrowing money from the U.K., Japan, Denmark and China to pay for Iraq and our huge tax give-aways to the wealthy few. The government seeks to destroy Social Security that millions of elderly depend on. One word: Greed.
Because we do not have a free press.
The press is not allowed to print photos of Iraq that aren't vetted by the military. Through massive mergers, networks, radio stations, and newspapers are now owned by a small number of wealthy people: the spin on the news is for the owners and wealthy. To make matters worse, there is now an effort to limit political bloggers under Federal Election Commission. Bloggers, National Public Radio, and small local papers are our last remnant of a free press. Three words: Abuse of Power.
This rampant Greed and Abuse of Power is fed by Ignorance and I am fed up. Tomorrow I'm going to protest the war in Iraq.
But what I hate most of all is that we as a country have become the sort of place that would elect the man who's done all of this.
I'm sick of the ignorance and greed.
I'm disgusted and angry with Bush. I'm disgusted and angry with his cronies. I'm disgusted and angry with greedy, rapacious corporations. I'm disgusted and angry with Republicans. I'm disgusted and angry with the Christian right. But most of all, I'm disgusted and angry with America. We're responsible: the majority of this country voted for this.
I'm turning off comments because I don't have time to reply and I'm too pissed off to listen to any shit. *sharpens claws and prepares angry chants*
ETA: WG asked me what brought this on. The lies the Pentagon tells at the end of this report on abuse of prisoners and complete abandonment of the Geneva convention. We are no longer a civilized nation.
