Today, a Pennsylvania woman and her 11th grader asserted on Fox News that the daughter’s health teacher is making “liberal” statements to his students and are seriously concerned about his comments. He allegedly questioned why this country follows the Constitution at all, since it was written by dead, old white men. I am a liberal, proudly so, and know many other liberals who would not agree with that suggestion at all—liberal and conservative and progressive; we all love our country, at least those that I know—and agree that the Constitution is a sacred document, worthy of our respect, and defense.
I am offended, however, that conservatives continue to identify positions that are outlandish as “liberal.” The health teacher referenced above sounds more like an anarchist than anything, hardly a liberal.
Here are some other interesting opinions about our founding fathers and where they might fit into today’s political parties:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_would_the_Founding_Fathers_fit_into_today%27s_political_climate
Why do we even have political parties that further separate us from each other? What end do they really serve? Read below an excerpt from George Washington’s farewell speech in 1796–
“All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They [political parties] serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests.
“However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people, and to usurp for themselves the reins of government; destroying afterwards the very engines, which have lifted them to unjust dominion.”
http://www.laughtergenealogy.com/bin/history/politics.html.
I can only think of one political party that attempts to subvert the interests of this country to the benefit of their exclusive club (and their net worth)—the Republicans, at least as defined by Fox News. I have never heard such hate spewed on TV as I do when I listen to Fox News, however briefly it may be because I can’t take more than 5 consecutive minutes. By the same token, I hear somewhat similar venom coming from the liberal faction on MSNBC. We, the citizens of this country, have an obligation to get over ourselves and operate civilly with those with whom we disagree. How does sniping at those that don’t think like we do advance either’s cause? It only causes anger and distrust and promotes paralysis. One must question the motivations coming from any political entity—like Fox News Republicans—when they do not address the real issues, but couch their “arguments” in terms of “us” and “them” and insinuate that the other party is out to take over your life—like Hitler! How utterly absurd!
Perhaps Americans would like a country where none of the following exist–
• no IRS (who cares if anyone pays his/her taxes; shit, we shouldn’t have taxes anyway! Why should the government account for its tax collections?)
• no postal service (yeah, they take too long to deliver mail, two days to cross the country is absolutely unacceptable even though in 42 years, I’ve never had my mail lost)
• no Medicare system to help older folks or children receive health benefits (let the nonprofit groups get involved for this or other volunteer groups, like churches, yeah, they should just pray, give it up to God)
• No Federal Reserve System—why bother with monetary policy and protections for banking consumers
• no national highway system (for those who haven’t travelled to Mexico, you can’t truly appreciate our structured roadway system
• No Environmental Protection Agency—Businesses may eschew the requirements imposed on them to keep our air and water free of chemicals, but people who live near toxic waste dumps think otherwise. Just talk to my Republican friends in my local community who are fighting corruption and pollution of state waters from our local municipality.
Reasonable people can agree, that the above, and other governmental agencies, are crucial to the safety, infrastructure and organization of our country.
The point is, our government was established for the common welfare and to protect individual’s rights, though initially it was for white men, but at least now extends to all citizens through amendment to the Constitution. Ironically, this health teacher who derides our founding fathers could only have the opportunity to express this personal opinion as a result of our Freedom of Speech. He better take a look at the Constitution, as should all of us during these contentious times– http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/creatingtheus/Pages/Default.aspx.
So, Mrs. Pennsylvania and your daughter: don’t tell me and others that your health teacher is a “liberal;” he’s really Anti-American. I’m a liberal and I love my country—just like you do.
Confiding In You 