Taking back the flag and faith

[ramapo]

Since 1968 the Republican party led by their presidential candidates have appropriated our flag and our religions as their exclusive property. Only they could be good patriots. Only they could be on the right side of God. Democrats, liberals, and the like were portrayed as godless communists (even after the communists passed from the scene), interested only in tearing down America.

Republican rhetoric has become more and more hateful and vile as the years have passed. The communist label so gleefully applied to anybody critical of Republican policy has morphed into terrorist. Perhaps the worst example of their excess was equating Max Cleland to a bin-Laden sympathizer.

John Kerry's speech last night gave me hope that we finally have a leader who can put an end to this demeaning, cynical and ultimately unAmerican practice. Kerry's announcement that the flag belongs to all Americans reminded me how angry I have felt over these many years; years during which the Republican Party has had the outright gall to suggest otherwise, and even worse to have been so successful at it.

I long for the day when the likes of Ralph Reed no longer have a national audience to proclaim to who is and is not a good Christian like he did after John Edwards' speech on Wednesday. You might guess that Reed finds Edwards lacking as a Christian.

This nonsense has gone on for far too long. We face many serious problems from war to the economy to the environment. It may be niave but today I actually have some hope that John Kerry and John Edwards will return the flag to a symbol of unity for all Americans and religion to its role as the special and ultimately individual source of inspiration and comfort for each of us and our families as we see fit.

[livetohike]

1. Well said mad_as_hell

Kerry was so direct last night. These things needed to be said and I think Wes Clark said the same things on these lines in his speech.

It was powerful, imo.

[Az_lefty]

2. I couldn't agree more....

these issues don't belong to any one political party, to even suggest they do is as un-American as it gets. These issues belong to all of us and no political party should attempt to claim sole ownership.

[Nightjock]

3. Very nice

You perfectly captured feelings I have too.
Another line in his speech (from Abe Lincoln)hit home for me too. "The question is not whether God is on our side but whether we are on God's side."

Anyone know how the talking heads are grading the speech? Personally I think he was even better than Edwards and Obama and I don't care what the "pundits" say. But Jane and Joe Six Pack who are "sitting on the fence" might have thier opinion swayed by thier bullshit.

[Wind Dancer]

4. Unfortunately, the media has had a

major influence over the American people with the ongoing RW propaganda. They refuse to cover the news but simply hire pundits to spin the hatred we see affecting politics today. I am inspired that Kerry will change many things this administration has destroyed but we must, as a community, find a way to reconstruct how our media operates. The days of Walter Cronkite are over.

The one thing that has destroyed this country, (aside from our current government) is Rush and the like spewing hatred nonstop to people who believe it to be true.

Like you, I believe the political abuse with religion is despicable. I found this website a while back to be quite inspiring.

http://www.interfaithalliance.org/About/AboutList.cfm?c=101