[quote=“Fox”]Ran you ARE the man. Great post.
I’ve never been to the States, but it sounds like they should have these on issue at customs.
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OK, this one pissed me off! You’ve never been there and you hack on my country based on a series of diatribes by a guy who had a lousy reunion with his grandmother and would be inclined to burn the flag if he thought he wouldn’t get a “whoopin’” as they say down south.
Not that I think I’m going to be able to change your mind Fox, but let’s see how this perspective of the US plays with you.
Where I come from, flag burning is not approved of either, but both my father and father-in-law told me they fought in wars at the behest of our government to preserve that right for ourselves and attempted to gain that right for others. They are decorated former soldiers who Ran would have you believe are the prototypical knuckledragging drones of the wacked out right who drape themselves in said flag and hunt down those who don’t remove their hats when the national anthem plays. They’ll love their country to their dying breath and know for a damned fact that the government in power is not to be confused with “Their Country”. They believe in the Constitution with every fiber of their being, that it is an exceptional framework for governance and that is what gives “power to the people”, especially those citizens who would burn my country’s flag and rail against her from foreign lands where few would defend her. Finally, Fox, these men believe the government serves at the pleasure of the people and as long as the government serves us citizens, they may stay. If not, they should leave, by force if necessary. While people in other lands may abide by tyranny, abuse, officially sanctioned mass murder at the hands of their own government, we “Flag Wavers” will not. These men raised their children with similar beliefs who, in turn, are passing on those beliefs. I will not condone flag burning in my house. I will not condone ill will towards members of the US military in my house. Nor do we condone racism, misogeny, animal abuse, overuse of prescription medication, sh*%ty network television or lousy fast food. I’m never going to say flag burners or war protesters should be shot or even deported. I probably wouldn’t invite them over for dinner either.
Here’s the real bitch about this little rant of mine. Neither me, my fathers, my mothers, sisters or brothers would ever have this discussion with any of you in our homes. Fox, if you came to eastern Washington or southern Idaho where we dwell, you’d be offered a comfortable place to sit, something cold to drink and your preferences for dinner. We would ask you about your family, your country and your interests. If you asked what we do to keep ourselves busy in an f’d up and uninteresting part of an f’d up and uniteresting country, we’d show you. My old man would take you out in his garage and show you the latest classic farm vehicle he’s restoring. My father in law would take you out into his workshop to show you the latest piece of doll furniture he’s handcrafting for his grand daughter that happens to 8000 miles away at the moment and in the twilight years of his life. My wife would show you her flower garden or a piece of furniture she’s hand decorating. My brother would take you on a ride on his Italian sport bike through the rolling hills of the Palouse at 100 mph or better if you were up for it. I’d take you golfing in the suburbs, fly fishing and camping in the mountains or dirt bike riding in the desert. Any one of us would take you target shooting with our very own guns. We wouldn’t make you eat at McDonalds, we’d absolutely forbid it. We wouldn’t tell you our country is the greatest in the world and yours is utter crap. We wouldn’t discuss politics because it’s trash just like pop music and high fructose corn syrup laden soft drinks. We wouldn’t discuss religion because everyone in our family worships in different ways and it’s a personal thing between them and their god (or not). At the end of the evening, my mom would pack you a big fat sack of food because hunger is the greatest evil on this earth according to mom and if anyone left our house hungry, that would be a mortal sin. We would wish you well and hoped you had a good time and ask that you stop by again if you’re ever in our neck of the woods.
I, for one, did not come here because I had issues with my country as many who post here seem to. Quite the contrary. I brought my family here to see what things are like outside our borders with their own eyes, ears, noses and hearts. Travel Channel, Fox News, CNN and Good Morning America are not appropriate sources of information. We miss our country dearly because of the people like our parents, neighbors and friends. America is a collection of 250 million or so individuals. Until you meet a lot of them, you’ll never have a fair representation of my country. When the only information you get is from those who hate my country, you too will hate my country.
Hopefully you’ll try to see there is a different side to the US and if sufficiently interested, you’ll try to experience it first hand, then make your decision. If not, I tried.
Later,
Rob.
NP - Ride Wit Me, Nelly, Country Grammar (Yeah, a flag waver listens to Nelly, so?)
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