I love my country so much that I believe in my right to dissent. Like Thomas Jefferson, I believe that religion was a very personal matter, one which the government had no business getting involved in. His beliefs led to the the First Amendment (also known as the Establishment Clause) which states
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.Unlike Governor Sarah Palin (R-Alaska), I have never associated with a group that wants to secede from the United States.
In my vision of America, we are are not color-blind when it comes to matters of race. Instead, we have a full-palette, seeing all people. We don't separate because of race, we don't discriminate because of race. We celebrate and learn from our differences.
In my vision of America, we have three separate but equal branches of government to establish a system of checks and balances, so that no one branch seizes too much power.
But instead, we have a first term Republican Congresswoman demanding a witch hunt on Hardball. We have a previously unknown Governor from Alaska claiming that Senator Obama pals around with terrorists. We have an increasingly hate-filled, fear-mongering campaign from the Far Right, designed to paralyze intelligent thought. Why the Republicans need to demonize their opponents rather than discuss issues continues to astound me.
Still, if you need proof, I have a fantastic recipe for Apple Pie: I use nutmeg, cinnamon, and cloves. Lots of butter. Brown sugar. Yum.
29 comments:
And this is why you should be pretzeldent. You know, 'cause of the apple pie, but the other stuff is cool, too.
Randal, I'm baking today. Does that make me a communist?
I always remember what my father, a career officer in the Air Force, told me about why he actually took pride in the many protests that erupted back in the 1960s over whatever.
He would basically tell whoever cared to listen that when he saw people protesting on the streets of the USA, he knew his 31 years in the service had been well spent. That to protect this right of protest, freedom of speech, was what it was all about. He may not have liked the protesters positions, but he felt it was their right and his duty to protect that right. He was a wise man.
Wowsers, Randal is correct.... if there is anything more American than a Doughnut.... it is Apple Pie!
Ya, and what McCrum said, too!
And I did find a photo of a real hunk riding a bike, just for you!!
Mmmmmmmm I can smell that pie baking.... but I hope you are making several, because these politicians who drive the wedge to divide by hate & rumor, could use a pie in the face!
Some people will join the Joe-the-unlicensed-plumber, Pro-America, muslim hating, Real Virginia bandwagon, but anyone with any brain activity, and rational thoughts remaining,will realize- they got nothin'.
If McCain had honor & a performance reputation to be proud of, & had picked a solid VP who could be president, they would be touting their virtues.
**They got nothin'** & so **they got nothin' to lose**
Desperation, Lies & Hate IS their platform.
Then again, this whole idea of pro-america & real america may hold true.
Right now, I am thinking America is UNREAL... the things that have happened under the Bush administration... the way this election has taken such an ugly, hateful tone.
We gotta get outta this mess!
mrmacrum, your father was a true patriot, and wise. Because this is exactly what his career in the Air Force was about, protecting our Constitution. I wish I'd met him.
Okjimm, I knew you could do it. Let's meet at Oblio's.
Fran, today I am making Communist, whole wheat bread, not pie. And I might make a banana cake, since my bananas are now over-ripe and perfect for cake. Forget the pie, I won't do that til I am in Chicago and can enlist Beanie (my granddaughter, not the cat.)
Well.... then you may be one of the few people in Real America with bread (dough/cash).
ba-dah-chhh
Fran, groan.
I couldn't believe that news story! McCarthyism all over again. I have the feeling I'd better get my tail to Thailand before I end up at Guantanamo! :)
~*
Why do you hate America so much?
Chani, the level of hatred these right wing extremists spew is staggering. Hey, McCarthyism redoux.
Dr. Monkey, it's because I like arugula. I can't help it.
I think mrmacrum's pop was a communist, just like you, diva, with your apple pie gulags and copies of Das Kapital in every home.
Randal, no, it's free beer, donuts, strawberries, root beer and cheese for everybody. I can't be sharing apple pie with the entire damn world, a Diva has to have SOME standards.
i like your vision of america :) and i like apple pie too. :) i intend to make chicken pot pie and apple pie soon.
Betmo, I'll be over for the Chicken Pot Pie, just tell me when!
I see Diva. Saving the apple pie for your high end friends in wingtips that work at the bank. Figures. All you politicians are the same. Always follow the money.
And Randal, my dad was no commie. He was a Republican. But one thing though. He never voted until he had left the Air Force. He felt part of his job description was to serve those elected, not help to elect them. My mom and the rest of the family thought he was bit whacked about this. But there it is.
Well said, Diva. The Republicans have run through most of their bag of tricks. The only things they haven't accused Obama of being is a woman. But they don't want to do that because they think they still have a chance of stealing away the woman's vote with Palin.
El Tinklenberg, the Democratic challenger against Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN), announced today that they've raised about half a million dollars in the time since she let loose on Hardball with her claims that Barack Obama may be anti-American.
So there. I'd say let's just sit back and watch both her and Palin continue to make fools of themselves. Maybe Barack will give you a Cabinet position for running such a high minded campaign yourself.
I am reminded of all those ads that ran after 9/11, those beautiful faces in every ethnic hue and color proclaiming "I'm an American." There was something collective and powerful in that. For some reason the Republicans fear that sense of unity and work to divide us. We are Americans, and no amount of brute force thinking or idiotic bludgeoning can change that.
mrmacrum, I didn't bake an apple pie, there's nothing to share, please don't take me to Gitmo, no, not the water board!
DCup, Obama's a WOMAN? Who knew!
Susan, I only want to be Secretary of Chocolate Cake.
Robin, I'd forgotten about those ads, they were indeed powerful, and beautiful.
They haven't called Obama gay. That could be next. And Michelle is a man who had a sex change so no one would know they are really a gay couple.
At the Clinton inauguration I went to a thing at the Washington Monument where Whoopi Goldberg hosted. She started off saying "When was the last time you felt welcome in Washington?" The crowd roared in approval.
That's how I fee about the country as a whole. America's coming back after a deep sleep.
Some won't like it but truth be told they never "got" America to begin with.
Bachman is so out of line with these allegations that Barack holds "un-American" views.
You see the footage of her saying exactly just that, followed the next day by the back pedaling insistence that she was misunderstood. What a crock. I guess that's what desperate Repugs will do when they sinking fast.
Utah, do you mean gay as in Happy?
Dean Wormer, that must have been some shindig.
Pagan, Bachmann is un-American.
I just made corn bread from scratch, just to nail my creds down.
Let me tell you... scratch is getting harder and harder to find.
Oh Diva... apple pie is so overrated. I'd give it up in second for a cheesecake from Junior's with cherry or strawberry topping. Please don't beat me up over this comment. You were the one who said dissent is good.
Lulu, corn bread is definately pro-America. And you're right about scratch, it's impossible to find.
Spartacus, I know that cheesecake is the food of radicals and dissenters, and I don't torture people who disagree with me. But cheesecake? Cheesecake and carrot cake are two items I cannot comprehend.
That's right Diva... I'm Joe the Socialist - cheesecake eater!
I'm voting for you.
And I'm gonna bake an apple pie. Jest for you.
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