Humorist Mark Twain said, “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it,” but I think he would have preferred to serve up a round of verbal sparring instead of displays of physical violence like the recent shooting in Arizona.
If you support this country that is led by a government and that government is comprised of “We The People,” then to hate the government is to hate yourself. Sitting idle while anger builds in individuals until it bubbles over and hurts, or even slaughters, those nearby is not the answer to our nation’s problems. We must rise as one nation, the United States of America, to cast apathy aside, work together, and bring about positive change to heal our wounds.
Twain’s words had bite, but can you think of an example when the writer used his pen to incite violence? I can’t. Citizens and legislators will always have differing opinions and some of The People will always disagree with The Government, but we can agree to disagree and strive for compromise instead of tearing down those with different opinions no matter if their politics lean to the left or the right or some other direction.
The screaming and yelling and finger pointing from the radio and television talk show hosts need to stop thinking only of their own ratings and think of their countrymen. This is still the greatest country in the world and we all live here together, for good or ill, so let’s restore America as the beacon of hope it has always been.