My country, right or wrong!

[Mythsaje]

Being an American is a little like being a parent. We, as voters, are to some extent responsible for what the United States does in our name. We can love our country, but we are also obligated to chastise it for doing the wrong thing.

If your child is bullying the neighbor kid and you not only look away in public, but secretly praise your child later, the argument can be made that you're a pretty fucked up parent. Even more to the point, you're a pretty fucked up neighbor.

Loving your country so much that you refuse to recognize or point out its mistakes is a lot like that. When people accuse liberals of "hating America" it's a lot like saying that a parent who chastises a child for vandalizing a neighbor's car or bullying another child, "hates" their own child.

Put in that context, it seems rather ridiculous, doesn't it?

Being concerned about the rationale for going to war, condemning the abuses of Abu Graib and Gitmo, wondering to what uses the NSA and other surveillance programs are being put, displaying outrage about the immediate aftermath of Katrina, and questioning this administration and its congressional enablers with regards to its policies and practices are the actions of a RESPONSIBLE citizen. Just like making sure a child does his or her homework, learns decent table manners, and treats other people with respect are the actions of a responsible parent.

It is not patriotism to rationalize any kind of behavior on the part of our leaders, regardless of how detrimental it might be. It's poor citizenship. And it promotes moral ambiguity in a far more telling manner than those who might argue that homosexuality is a valid lifestyle option.

We love our country enough to attempt to guide it, to remark upon its failings. This makes us BETTER citizens than those who do not.

Even those who say it's "the greatest nation on Earth" (a point which is arguable) must realize that being the best doesn't mean there's no room for improvement. And we see VAST opportunities for improvement.

So do the right thing, and spank your country when it needs it. America will thank you in the end.

[blm]

1. When it's right keep it right and when it's wrong MAKE it right.

John Kerry c1971, 2004, 2006.