YES, BUT DON’T CALL THEM UNPATRIOTIC
I have used this blog for most of the last 5 years to berate liberals for what I view as stupidity, myopia, hysteria, hypocrisy, and for advocating ideas that are an anathema to America’s founding principles.
But I have also vigorously defended their idea of patriotism. I have sincerely tried to show my fellow conservatives that liberals love America as much as we do, except that they have a different, but equally valid way of expressing that devotion. To limit one’s definition of love of country to one’s own narrow perspective does a disservice to America which, after all, was created specifically so that those who dissent need not fear retribution.
But I don’t know what to make of this:
The Obama White House is behind a cynical, coldly calculated political effort to erase the meaning of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks from the American psyche and convert Sept. 11 into a day of leftist celebration and statist idolatry.
This effort to reshape the American psyche has nothing to do with healing the nation and everything to do with easing the nation along in the ongoing radical transformation of America that President Obama promised during last year’s election campaign. The president signed into law a measure in April that designated Sept. 11 as a National Day of Service, but it’s not likely many lawmakers thought this meant that day was going to be turned into a celebration of ethanol, carbon emission controls, and radical community organizing.
Run that by me again?
The plan is to turn a “day of fear” that helps Republicans into a day of activism called the National Day of Service that helps the left. In other words, nihilistic liberals are planning to drain 9/11 of all meaning.
“They think it needs to be taken back from the right,” said the source. “They’re taking that day and they’re breaking it because it gives Republicans an advantage. To them, that day is a fearful day.”
I am all for allowing 9/11 to be placed in historical perspective, simplifying our remembrance of that tragic day, giving dignity to the dead and reminding the living of what is at stake. Like Memorial Day or Veterans Day, 9/11 (Patriot’s Day) should be marked with solemnity, but not the kind of overwrought oratory or ranting against Muslims that has marked previous incarnations of that day.
But this?
Of this National Day of Service, Jones says little except that it will be a great opportunity “for people to connect, to find other people in your peer group who are also passionate about repowering America but also greening up America and cleaning up America.”
On the same day, Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson, and Department of Energy Under Secretary Kristina Johnson and activists held a low-key press conference. At it, Yearwood said the National Day of Service will be “the first milestone” of a larger effort called Green the Block that is attempting to convince Americans that the utopian fantasy of a so-called green economy is possible without turning the U.S. into a Third World country.
“From policy creation to community implementation, the Green the Block campaign wants to see access and opportunity created for all Americans, to build prosperity and a healthier planet for future generations,” Yearwood said.
First of all, the political parameters of this attempt to demote the nationalistic significance of 9/11 is truly one of the most insidious ideas that has come from this administration. It leaves me speechless with anger that turning 9/11 into a day to celebrate Democratic interest groups would have its origins in the White House. If this is true - and given who is involved in this effort, one can easily believe it - it would be worse than anything the Bush administration ever tried to do to use 9/11 in order to advance their own political fortunes.
The left went crazy in 2004 when Bush held the Republican convention in New York City , gave Rudy Giuliani the keynote address, trotted out the “good” 9/11 widows who supported him, and did everything to remind people of that date except re-enact the attack on stage. It was shameless exploitation of the tragedy, but…
But there was no denying that there was also another dimension to the remembrance, one that all Americans could touch and be comforted. United in our grief and efforts to heal the gaping wound that 9/11 represented at that time (it being just 3 years removed from the tragedy), the GOP show may have had political overtones but also served the purpose of acting as a national catharsis for the still rank emotions that 9/11 brought to the surface.
No such dual objective appears to be present in this effort by the White House to essentially toss 9/11 down the memory hole, burying its true significance, in the name of advancing a political agenda.
And why put the radicals in charge of that day?
The administration’s plans were outlined in an Aug. 11 White House-sponsored teleconference call run by Obama ally Lennox Yearwood, president of the Hip Hop Caucus, and Liv Havstad, the group’s senior vice president of strategic partnerships and programs.
Yearwood, who uses the honorific “Reverend” before his name, has been in the news in recent years, usually for getting arrested. After Democrats took back Congress, the rowdy activist was handcuffed outside a congressional hearing in September 2007 when Gen. David Petraeus was to testify. Yearwood told the “Democracy Now” radio program that he wanted to attend the hearing to hear Petraeus give his report. “I knew that when officers lie, soldiers die,” he said.
The Hip Hop Caucus? What the hell is going on here? If Bush had used the Michigan Militia to plan 9/11 events, don’t you think that would have elicited a few raised eyebrows somewhere?
Is 9/11 seen as a “Republican” day? Only if you’re an idiot liberal, paranoid about the political opposition to the point that you equate expressions by citizens of love for America with love of the Republican party. In the end, maybe that’s the problem in a nutshell. The kind of nationalistic outpouring on 9/11 is rejected on the left because they see nationalism as a form of fascism. And that kind of simple patriotism felt by the overwhelming majority of Americans is seen as dangerous, backwards, and not cynical enough to pass muster with “smart” people. Hence, any celebration of pride or love of country must, by definition, be evil.
What do you think these Bozos have in mind for the 4th of July?
LAST WORD
Many of you have chosen to ignore the thrust of this post - that even though Bush and the GOP hijacked 9/11 for their own political purposes, why should the Democrats ape that? It takes a special kind of stupidity to copy the absolute worst antics of your political foe.
Obviously, I don’t object to a day of National Service (although I believe it absolutely legitimate to question why it has to be on 9/11). I object to Obama and the liberals seeking to denude that date of meaning as far as the very real war we are fighting with radical Islam.
It makes no differrence whatsoever whether you believe we are at war. The point is that THEY BELIEVE IT, and taking away the significance - as the liberals are desperately trying to do by radically altering the parameters of how we remember the date itself - of the fact that this date should be the one day all year that reminds us of who the enemy is and why we are fighting, smacks of myopia.
The political reasons to alter the meaning of the date are despicable. And I would write the same post tomorrow whether I’m on my “meds” or not.
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Pingback by The Left’s plans to desecrate 9/11 | Political Byline — 8/24/2009 @ 11:26 am
A single unnamed source.
In the American Spectator.
On the same day the CIA report is coming out.
Either you took your stupid pills, Rick, or you’ve just given up entirely.
Comment by michael reynolds — 8/24/2009 @ 11:37 am
Is this parody, farce or true? If the latter, I defy any liberal to come here and defend it.
Comment by jackson1234 — 8/24/2009 @ 12:47 pm
Sorry, Rick, I agree with Michael. The Spectator article is totally red meat, meant to enrage people.
You are aiding and abetting, by first touting your even-handedness. Real even-handedness would be to not take this at face value, given the source… the anonymous source.
Comment by Postagoras — 8/24/2009 @ 1:02 pm
This is Rick’s version of “OMG They’re trying to take the Christ out of Christmas! It’s a war on Christmas!”
Comment by Chuck Tucson — 8/24/2009 @ 1:35 pm
[...] Rick Moran: I have used this blog for most of the last 5 years to berate liberals for what I view as stupidity, myopia, hysteria, hypocrisy, and for advocating ideas that are an anathema to America’s founding principles. [...]
Pingback by September 11 Falls On A Friday This Year « Around The Sphere — 8/24/2009 @ 1:36 pm
“A single unnamed source.”
The question is: Is the plan to create a “National Day of Service ” on 9/11 and ignore/smother the real significant remembrance of the Twin Towers terrorist attacks on 2001 true or false?
Shooting the messenger is a logical fallacy is the message is based on valid fact.
Having the ‘hiphop Reverend’ Yearwood, a Code Pink style activist, would be akin to a Repub Prez putting the anti-abortion activist Randall Terry in charge of a “Day of Life” event on National Suffrage day.
Intentionally offensive, or just plain tone deaf?
The political agenda may be subject to interpretation but IMHO: This would be on a par with renaming Martin Luther King Jr day “black Republican Day” because MLK Jr was a Republican. If a Republican President did *that* would the house liberals here find that acceptable and non-noteworthy?
“The Spectator article is totally red meat, meant to enrage people.” Wrong, its meant to inform. Whether it enrages you or not is up to your own disposition on the matter. Did this quote happen? “”They’re taking that day and they’re breaking it because it gives Republicans an advantage. To them, that day is a fearful day.” ”
Well, they say that these are the groups on the call, a fairly check-able factoid: “A coalition including the unsavory left-wing pressure group Color of Change and about 60 far-left, environmentalist, labor, and corporate shakedown groups participated in the call. Groups on the call included: ACORN, AFL-CIO, Apollo Alliance, Community Action Partnership, Deep South Center for Environmental Justice, 80 Million Strong for Young American Jobs, Friends of the Earth, Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, Mobilize.org, National Black Police Association, National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, National Council of Negro Women, National Wildlife Federation, RainbowPUSH Coalition, Urban League, and Young Democrats of America. ”
If those ARE the groups on the call, then YES, the 9/11 event rollout is CLEARLY designed to be a day of ethnic, urban, unionist and eco-activist. They did NOT have First Responders, VFW and other veterans, other caregivers, they had black police but no other police organization.
“Is 9/11 seen as a “Republican” day?” It is precisely the liberal attitude against being cheerleaders for America that we get such impressions. How soon we forget that Obama once refused to wear American flag lapel pins as it was too overt an act of brash patriotism. With liberal attitudes like that, yeah, all you have left are Republicans to remember, say “God bless America’ and support the troops whereever they may be. Any liberal who wants in on patriotism is welcome to do so, but many do not, more afraid than proud of nationalistic fervor.
Last point: We do not need to call liberals unpatriotic to not like this dumb White House stunt. This was an Obama decision and Obama mistake. He has hired some crackpot leftists on his team, and will do crackpot things. If this indeed happened, it was an egregious act of politicization of both national holidays and national service. Shame on Obama for letting it happen.
Comment by Freedoms Truth — 8/24/2009 @ 1:46 pm
There isn’t much that the Left can do that I would defend. However, this seems pretty over-the-top, even for those brainless sissies!
Comment by Gayle Miller — 8/24/2009 @ 1:47 pm
Rick may have only referred to one source but this stuff is all over the web.
http://greaterdccares911.kintera.org/
Maybe we should designate December 7th as Brainless Sissies Activities Day.
Comment by Alarm1201 — 8/24/2009 @ 2:03 pm
Here’s another website
Comment by UNRR — 8/24/2009 @ 2:13 pm
Yep. But it’s not a quote from anyone who was on the teleconference, or in the Obama administration. It’s a claim from the single anonymous source. It’s attributing that opinion to the planners of the National Day of Service. There’s no evidence anywhere that the planners have that opinion… which is good, because it would be really stupid if they did.
Here’s a tip: if someone makes an anonymous claim that “other side” has a stupid secret agenda, then take a deep breath before you start ranting. That goes for left as well as right.
Finally… does the idea of a National Day of Service offend you? OK, then come up with a better idea. Let’s hear something positive… I, for one, do not want 9/11 to devolve into a day to sell refrigerators or whatever.
Comment by Anonymous — 8/24/2009 @ 3:31 pm
Anony,
Who cares if it true or not, we have already seen evidence of the Psycological Warfare about 9/11. Just refer to the “911 Memorial” in Phoenix, and the controversy that surrounded the original peice of work.
Comment by Jimi — 8/24/2009 @ 3:38 pm
Well, if Bush had asked Americans to do something other than shop after 9/11, the day wouldn’t require a national day of service, because it would be remembered not just as a day “we got hurt” but a day we stood up as a nation and did our best to rebuild and recover. Instead, an opportunity to appeal to a better country and a more involved citizenry was turned into a cheap “go shopping” comment devoid of the meaning and spirit Americans were looking for. Reagan, FDR, Teddy, hell, even Dwight or Richard Nixon, these leaders would have asked Americans to do something other than shop.
Then, to be politicized so shamelessly for seven years, to become this (if this single unnamed source is reliable)? That’s a dagger in the back, but there are already a few there from the Bush days.
Comment by Eddie — 8/24/2009 @ 4:21 pm
WELL…
Color me “we’ll see what happens on 9/11″.
Comment by T-Steel — 8/24/2009 @ 6:30 pm
“Well, if Bush had asked Americans to do something other than shop after 9/11,”
Strawman alert!
“Yep. But it’s not a quote from anyone who was on the teleconference, or in the Obama administration. It’s a claim from the single anonymous source” If it was anonymous, how do you know its not someone on the conf call?
Comment by Travis Monitor — 8/24/2009 @ 11:11 pm
“Finally… does the idea of a National Day of Service offend you? OK, then come up with a better idea.”
Call 9/11 “Infamy Day”, a day to remember all the victims of terrorism, and all the heroes who’ve died fighting against terrorists of many types.
Comment by Travis Monitor — 8/24/2009 @ 11:13 pm
“September 11, 2009 is the inaugural 9/11 National Day of Service, which will be the culmination of President Obama’s Summer of Service. Greater DC Cares will support this effort by engaging more than 2,200 volunteers in the region in service on that day. Participants will clean parks, serve meals to the hungry, restore our national monuments, organize public libraries, and much more! Individuals and organizations who answer the call to action will recognize that together we can transform a day of sorrow into a day of service.”
***restore our national monuments*** …. Huh, ARE THEY GOING TO TRY TO REBUILD THE WTC????
BTW, it wasnt a day of sorrow, it was a day when our enemies attacked us. A day of infamy.
Comment by Travis Monitor — 8/24/2009 @ 11:15 pm
My 911 project … showing a 911 history video to our kids.
As they said of the Holocaust - NEVER FORGET.
Here’s some other good ones:
“I plan on telling people about Islamic terrorism and all the death and pain it causes globally on a daily basis.”
“I plan to spend 9/11 actively working to get every last Liberal out of public office on election day. That is the greatest memorial I can think of to those who perished on 9/11.”
Comment by Travis Monitor — 8/24/2009 @ 11:20 pm
Rick says:
“The kind of nationalistic outpouring on 9/11 is rejected on the left because they see nationalism as a form of fascism. And that kind of simple patriotism felt by the overwhelming majority of Americans is seen as dangerous, backwards, and not cynical enough to pass muster with “smart” people. Hence, any celebration of pride or love of country must, by definition, be evil.”
The most ridiculous thing I’ve read here…ever…absolutely clueless.
I wonder how Rick feels about the right trying to co-opt 9/11 to throw another tea party in DC on 9/12..
Maybe he doesn’t realize that volunteering your time and effort for your country is an
“expression by citizens of love for America”..
Another tea party to protest current policy on the day after 9/11…whose mission statement says that “We want to get everyone thinking like it is September 12th, 2001 again”…is truly an act of tossing 9/11 down the memory hole, and burying its true significance in the name of advancing a political agenda.
Comment by Moltenorb — 8/25/2009 @ 2:05 am
I would hate to dampen the celebration of all that death and destruction. The memory of 9/11 , and the aftermath unleashed upon the “mudslimes” or Islamofacists, or whatever slur is in vogue on talk radio these days, is all conservatives have left.
Comment by Melanie — 8/25/2009 @ 4:58 am
Rick, you’re off your meds again/
Comment by shaun — 8/25/2009 @ 8:14 am
Rick, you are one of the few bloggers on the right that I read from time to time because I tend to respect your opinion. Therefore, since this post seems to be a little out in whackjob/wingnut territory, I’m post this link to a Bush press release, dated 9/08/2008, entitled “President Bush Renews His Post-9/11 Call to Service; Honors the Compassion of America’s Volunteers”:
http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1132
Comment by Nikki — 8/25/2009 @ 8:51 am
Your argument is with the 9/11 families, friends, first responders, and volunteers who have been advocating a day of service since 2003.
http://www.mygooddeed.org/OurRoots/About-Us/
http://www.mygooddeed.org/OurRoots/Leadership/
Comment by Zuzu — 8/25/2009 @ 4:14 pm
check ouy my take back america blog
Comment by tom — 8/25/2009 @ 8:05 pm
Rick, no, it’s your update that completely misses the point. Were we too subtle in tyig to get across to you that everything you’re upset about is a made-up story? A fantasy? In short, a lie? Can you tell the difference between some possibly tacky ceremonies at the World Trade Center and “remaking the meaning of 9/11″?
Comment by glasnost — 8/25/2009 @ 9:33 pm
George W. Bush
Freaking Hilarious Rick! Keep it up and one day we’ll start calling you Sarah.
Comment by Davebo — 8/26/2009 @ 3:06 pm
Rick,
You’re wrong. Liberals HATE America. They think that it’s unfair. That everyone is entitled to a living whether they work or not. What kind of Conservative are you? Liberals have enough hate of our constitution to allow a NON eligible, non Natural Born Citizen to sit in the WH (his father was not a citizen when Obama 2 was born. Maybe this will be an eyeopener for you!
http://www.scribd.com/doc/19071886/Are-Persons-Born-Within-the-United-States-Ipso-Facto-Citizens-Thereof-George-D-Collins
Comment by Mick — 8/27/2009 @ 9:29 am
What is this “different sort of patriotism” that you tout? One that champions everything conservatives abhor? One that thinks public opinion is merely an annoying noise?
One that has the hubris to foster what seems to be a grand plan to wreck the nation’s finances? One that sees massive increases in government and invasion of citizen’s rights to be the good road?
One that publishes all of the state secrets they can get their hands on? One that believes in over-the-top AGW as a good way to increase international power?
One that wants us all forced to live under secular humanist rule?
Sure is different from what I believe to be real patriotism, with the focus on the continued freedom and liberty of the USA and its spirited people.
Pseudo-patriotism (PP) I’d call it.
Comment by mannning — 8/27/2009 @ 2:25 pm
It is one thing to have ctiticisms of our society, to voice them loudly, and to work for their resolution within the framework of our Constitution. This is the principaled liberal position, and it exudes a real love of country.
Once liberals gain control of the reins of government, however, they tend to propose and often enact laws and policies that are highly dubious at best, and anti-Constitutional at worst. I cannot but be angry at their lip service to the Constitution, and lack of patriotism and reverence for our founding principles, hence the tone of my previous post.
Comment by mannning — 8/28/2009 @ 1:30 pm