Taking A Stand

There are those that say we’re living in a fascist state. They say America is now no better than Nazi Germany, no better than Mussolini’s Italy, no better than Pinochet’s Chile.

They are wrong.

And make no mistake, when they say we’re living in a fascist country, they’re not just talking about the Bush administration. They’re talking about me, and they’re talking about you. Look at the criteria they say demonstrates fascism.

“Constant use of patriotic mottos, slogans, symbols, songs and other paraphernalia. Flags are seen everywhere, and even worn as clothing.”

Last time I checked, Ari Fleischer wasn’t wearing an Old Navy flag t-shirt during the White House press briefing, but I saw plenty of them at Wal-Mart last weekend.

“Disdain for intellectuals and the arts and others in higher education and academia.”

Remember Nicholas de Genova? He’s the Columbia professor who called for “a million Mogadishus” in Iraq. He called for the defeat of the U.S. “military machine”. Mainstream America was outraged, and there were calls for his firing from Columbia University. He’s an intellectual. He’s an academic. Showing disdain for his viewpoint (not suppressing his speech, just disagreeing with it) is characteristic of fascism.

“Rallying the people in a patriotic frenzy to defeat or eliminate a perceived common threat or foe.”

Remember the Rallies for America? Were you one of the five to six thousand who packed 50 Penn Place here in Oklahoma City? You’re a fascist for coming out and supporting this country.

I’ve been able to laugh when celebrities target the Bush administration, comparing the President to Hitler. After all, the comparison is absurd. It’s harder to laugh when a minister right here in Oklahoma City says you’re being a good Nazi when you consider yourself a good American.

Lawrence Britt, Robin Meyers, and others would have you believe this country is evil. If you think this country is still good, then you’re either a part of the problem or an ignorant sheep. Well, I won’t stay silent anymore. I won’t laugh it off any more.

There is goodness in this country. Would millions of immigrants come to this country if indeed it was a fascist regime? How many Asians, Africans, and Central Americans sought a better life in Nazi Germany?

There is goodness in this country. Would Lawrence Britt be able to write this column if this were truly a fascist regime? Tell me, who were the great dissidents in Mussolini’s Italy? If this were truly a fascist regime, you would never hear from Lawrence Britt or Robin Meyers, because they wouldn’t have access to a computer. They would be locked away behind bars for daring to question this government.

There is goodness in this country. Rallies for America were held all across this land, but so were anti-war protests. Can you show me the massive rallies against the government of Franco’s Spain on Pinochet’s Chile? People were not imprisoned for speaking out here. People were not tortured for months for protesting the government. In fact, the government said people have a right to speak their minds.

I cannot stay silent while I’m accused of being a fascist. I cannot be idle while our country is under attack by those too blind to see that the very act of voicing their criticism negates their arguments.

We live in a country where a man who came here a decade ago can make more money than I do.

We live in a country where a man can be born in poverty and become president.

We live in a country where even the poor can fill their bellies, and those who live in poverty can afford X-boxes.

We live in a country where the son of immigrants can share a school with a future president. This one’s important to me. That immigrant’s son was my father… the future president was George H.W. Bush.

We are a nation of mongrels. We are a melting pot. The Iraqi-American who gained citizenship in 1999 is just as American as a descendent of someone who came over on the Mayflower.

We love this country, not because it is perfect, but because despite it’s imperfections, it’s still the greatest. We have the most freedom. We have the most prosperity. We have it better than others, and still we strive to become better.

De Toqueville said it best. “This country is not good because it is great. This country is great because it is good.”

This country is good. Believe it. This country is good. Say it out loud, so that others can hear you.

This country is good.

Preachers, this Sunday, shout it from the pulpit. This country is good. We are a good nation.

We are good. And yet we know we can be better.

That’s what my show is all about. Recognizing the goodness of our country, while understanding it can still be improved.

You’re not a nazi, despite what some might say. You’re not a nazi for wearing an old navy shirt, you’re not a nazi for being patriotic, you’re not a nazi for thinking Lawrence Britt, Robin Meyers, Tim Robbins, Susan Sarandon, Michael Moore, Janeane Garofolo and all the rest are morons.

You’re an American.

And you are good.