So, this happened: We were at the VA Medical center in Mpls. waiting and worrying over my very ill father-in-law when some person took it upon himself to write us a nasty note and leave it on our car. It said, and I’ll have to just approximate because I don’t have it in front of me, “You are a vet and you voted for Obama, and you’re proud of it? TRAITOR!”
Hell yes, I’m proud of voting for Obama. I wish I could vote again. But this is beside the point that I want to make right now.
Our car has been the lucky recipient of several of these notes over the years – we have probably 40 or so bumperstickers that just give a brief outline of some things we agree with. We are somewhat to the left of moderate liberals, in fact I’d say that we are Really Quite Liberal. This does not make us traitors. This simply means that we believe that the US could do a better job, that we could be better people, could do better for people. That we believe in equal rights, for each and every individual human being on the planet. I don’t think that’s so crazy, and it’s certainly not against the ideals of our country.
As far as I understand, being American is supposed to mean that we strive to do good. That we strive to be ‘the best’ in the world. I don’t think this means the best at dominating others, the best at killing people who are helpless, the best at taking away other people’s liberties. I think it’s supposed to mean that we are the best at doing what is right, selfless, helpful and fair, which is what the people at the VA have worked for. I would think that guy would be proud that he defended a country that has free speech in which we can display our thoughts, whatever they might be.
