OT : Do you have any understanding of my rights as an Americancitizen?

[Alan R. Barnard]

No one who knows me would ever use labels like "red neck," "radical" or
"knee jerk patriot" to describe me! Nor am I naive about the world or blind
to America's shortcomings.

There are conservative politicians in the Senate? That's news to me.

My message was my response to all of the "blame America for the world's
troubles" crowd. It is my response to the "why can't we all just get along"
crowd (Because we have real, evil enemies. That's why!) It's my reaction to
all grand-scale conspiracy nuts. It's my reaction to all the incredibly
naive people who believe that our enemies only hate us because we support
Israel, etc. It is my reaction to all of the people who criticize Israel and
laud their enemies--without the least understanding of the history of the
modern nation of Israel or the difference (puzzling to the unknowing and
naive) in the way Israel treats its Arab, Moslem citizens and the way it has
to deal with some of the Palestinians within their borders--and refuse to
look at the hows and whys of the ongoing and historical mistreatment of
Palestinians by the Egyptians, Syrians, Saudis, and others in the region.

Why do we have enemies? Because we stand in the way of their unrighteous
goals, we criticize their brutal, totalitarian governments, and we have
wealth and freedom that they do not. Add to that mix the slicing and dicing
of truth, the intentional perpetuation of ignorance, and the lies, false
history, and hate-filled propaganda that their leaders use to whip up,
confuse, and fractionalize their own constituents--sprinkled with some
actual sins and mistakes of America and Israel--and you BEGIN to understand
the problems we face in the Middle East and elsewhere.

When you throw a truly certifiable madman like Hussein into the mix, you
might understand when I say, ahem, KILL THE BASTARD--no apologies or
explanations needed, kill him. Do it now. Do it with extreme prejudice. Free
the Iraqi people!

I agree wholeheartedly that the constitution is to be revered and defended,
even to the death. More than that, it is a Divinely inspired document, one
of the greatest treasures in the history of mankind. I took an oath, once,
to protect the constitution against all enemies, domestic and foreign. The
foreign enemies should be obvious. When some people claim that those
people/groups/nations are NOT our enemies and that it is OUR fault, I begin
to think about who the domestic enemies are--and, disturbingly, how many of
them are in positions of power in Washington.

Since you asked.

Alan R. Barnard
Praying for Peace, Ready to Fight in Salem, MO

----- Original Message -----
From: "David Andersen" <bigda@gte.net>
To: "Pianotech" <pianotech@ptg.org>
Sent: Wednesday, November 20, 2002 9:36 AM
Subject: Re: OT : Do you have any understanding of my rights as an
Americancitizen?


> A. Barnard wrote:
>
> >> Many, many people would agree with you but for one
> >> little thing': You are
> >> completely wrong. Sorry. The suffering of Iraq's
> >> innocents is the fault of
> >> Hussein, as the suffering of the Jews and Gypsies
> >> and so many others was the
> >> fault of Hitler. Blaming America, in any way, for
> >> the suffering of the
> >> Iraqis is false and, excuse me, treasonous. Hussein?
> >> Hitler? KILL THE
> >> BASTARD. No apologies. Do it for the sake of the
> >> Iraqi people. They will
> >> cheer you and bless you for liberating them.
> >>
> >> It's how I feel, it's what I know.
> >>
> >> Alan
>
> I know what you're trying to say, Alan, and I know you're sincere, but
> America is not all-good, and has never been.  Humans are prone to greed,
> jealousy, corruptibility, rage, etc.---and humans have always been in
> power here.
>
>  Is this country the greatest experiment and success in democracy's
> history?
> Yes.
>
> Is it my absolute right and solemn, won-in-blood duty to question
> authority and be free to differ and dissent from the prevailing
> "conventional wisdom?
> Yup.  That's why the Constitution is such a big deal, a deal worth
> defending and dying for.
>
> All you knee-jerk patriots, take a step back. Name-calling is not cool.
> Take your lead from your heroes, the conservative politicians of the
> Senate....the good ones, anyway.  They disagree, radically, with their
> Democratic counterparts.  But they respect them, and their right to be,
> act, and think differently, and are good friends, in some cases. Judge
> not lest ye be judged. Yo.
>
> Wake up, boys. Redneckism is passe', and dangerous.  The rest of the
> world's perceptions and opinions DO matter in a global village. The
> Golden Rule applies everywhere.
>
> with respect and affection for all.....David Andersen
> _______________________________________________
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