General Discussion

Savannahmann

(3,891 posts) Mon Mar 17, 2014, 11:29 PM Mar 2014

If he is bad, we must be.....

I've seen a number of posts from the usual members trumpeting Presiden Obama since Putin has in essence invaded the Crimea.

Just because Putin is bad doesn't make us good. We are right or wrong based upon our own actions, not based upon comparisons with anyone else. This isn't a lame assed fantasy baseball deal where you win or lose based upon the errors of the other guy. This is our nation, with our President and our future on the line.

When we devolve to "At least our leader doesn't suck like him" we are grasping at straws to say the least.

I as an individual and part of a group am powerless to affect a single individual in the Ukraine. I can't force Putin to pull back, and I can't offer words of comfort to those suffering.

What can I do? I can keep pushing my country to be better. I can keep striving to make my nation live up to the promise, the principles I hold dear in my heart. It is not because I hate my country, or President Obama. It is because I love it, and the President, that I demand we be better than we are.

I want to see the day when a child can achieve to the limits of their ability in well funded schools. I want to see the day when we respect one another with all our differences and live in peace together. I dream of the day when police serve the community and don't abuse those who have entrusted the power with them. I fantasize about the day when we are all truly equal and are all assured of our individual rights.

I dream of the day when the NSA, CIA, FBI, and DHS are reigned in and put on the shortest leashes possible. I ache for the day when the 4th, 5th, and 6th Amendments are enforced by the courts with no exceptions.

Now am I supposed to give up on my dreams because Putin is an ass? Am I supposed to shrug and surrender my principles because as bad as we have it, at least we don't have Putin?

I want to see us as the best, not the least of the bad options. I want us to live up to the promise, not just last to the totalitarian party. It is not because of hate, but love that I remain opposed to drone strikes, Guantanamo Bay, TARP, THE PATRIOT ACT, and so much more.

Because another country is screwed up doesn't mean my country is perfect because it is less screwed up in many ways. It means we both have a lot of work to progress to where we should be. I can not change Putin or the Russian Parliment. I can chastise my Government and keep pushing them to where they should already be.