We've bee hearing quite a bit lately about America. Most of it is coming from Republican lugnuts trying to whip up an us-against-them frenzy as the election cycle comes to a close. There's pro- American (them), anti-American (anybody who disagrees with them), and real American (as opposed to unreal American?). As one might expect, Sarah Palin started this nonsense when she characterized one part of the country as more pro-American than another. She had to back off that assertion, but for others, the game had begun.
Take, for example, Cong. Michele Bachmann of Minnesota. Leave aside for a moment the fact this person has appeared on cable network shows 23 times since the beginning of September. Never mind that the McCain camp suggests her as a valid surrogate to these same programs. On MSNBC's Hardball last Friday, she made the incredible statement that Barack Obama may hold anti-American views. What those views were, she didn't say. Then she went further, saying the media should investigate her colleagues in the House, and determine who was for or against the nation.
Her words set off a firestorm that was the last thing John McCain needed. In fact, her opponent in the race to hold onto her congressional seat raised $800,000 dollars after her appearance. She's tried to back away from her remarks, saying Chris Matthews of Hardball laid a trap for her. Whatever.
Then there's Cong. Robin Hayes of North Carolina. At a rally in his home state, he "warmed up the crowd" by telling them liberals hate real Americans. Very nice. THen, after the New York Observer printed his remarks, he denied making them. When the Observer reporter stuck by his story, Hayes' spokesperson called it "irresponsible journalism". That is, until a radio reporter turned up with an actual tape. Then the spokesperson said Hayes misspoke. Then Hayes himself came up with a bizarre mea culpa, to the effect that he didn't remember saying it, but he was sorry he did. Say it, that is.
Folks, the wheels have come off the rails. These people, all elected officials, believe they have the corner on what an American is. Stranger still, they think most Americans agree with them. Is there a danger in this type of mentality?
You tell me.
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2 comments:
Yes, there is a danger on language to separate Americans. There is a corollary that I wish to point out: use any variation of "nut" (lugnut,wingnut, crazy, loonies)as a word against those with whom we disagree politically (or as said when I grew up in Bklyn,and a relative just got "yelled at" for calling another driver on the road, a "nutcase")
mentally disabled/mentally ill people take a lot of verbal "heat" in our society. While calling political opponents "nuts" or some variation thereof is at least l00 years old (as far as I can find); it's a bad old habit.
Mentally ill/mentally disabled are the most feared people in our society. Unreasonably feared,since they are rarely violent. How do I know: NYPD taser and shoot mentally disabled people who are in distress, rather often.
"Who is an American?" is a good essay I once heard on WBAI by Eric Foner, History Prof. at Columbia Univ. The Republicans are playing an old game, again.
Feel better soon. S.
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