We believe

[Mythsaje]

You know what sets us apart from our regressive opponents? We believe in America. They don't.

The simple fact is that they're afraid of what America represents. They're afraid of freedom. They're more like Al Qaida and the Taliban than they want to admit. Freedom scares them.

And they're doing their level best to make the rest of us afraid too.

The whole war against gays is because they're afraid, deep down in their hearts, that gays are people too. They scream about the "gay agenda" and say that they want to take over America, when it's plain to thinking folks that they just want to be as secure as any other American. They want the fulfillment of the promise that the ideal of America made to them as children.

There's no crime in that.

And they're afraid that their religion isn't really up to snuff. It can't tolerate challenges to its ascendency. Screaming about a "war on Christmas" doesn't prove their faith. Quite the opposite. If their faith was strong, they wouldn't invent threats to rouse the passions of the believers. Christianity isn't under any kind of attack in America. It's as strong as it ever was. What's under attack is their own faith in their religion.

What sets us apart from them is that we believe everyone; gay, straight, Christian, Pagan, atheist, Muslim, Jew, Buddhist, Pantheist, Deist, young, old, rich, poor, male, female, healthy, disabled, immigrant, or native born, has a place in America. DESERVES a place in America. Deserves to feel SECURE in America.

They're afraid. They're afraid of everyone not like themselves. They're afraid of us. You, me, and the guy down the street. Why? Because they don't believe. Their faith is a lie. Their faith in America is a lie, just as much as their faith in God is a lie.

We believe. That's what makes us stronger than them. We believe that America stands for something besides pre-emptive war, torture, rendition, suppression of dissent, corporate hegemony, illegal surveillance, and might makes right.

We believe that America stands for humanity. All of us. A chance to make a better world for us, our children, and generations to come. Most of the world used to believe that. Even in places that were ground under the feet of vicious tyrants, they used to believe that. People in the old Soviet Union, while being held captive by their government, used to whisper and dream of the freedom we Americans took for granted. They believed in what America stood for, even when America itself wasn't sure.

Until these regressive unbelievers took control. They stole the dream of America from the world, turned it into a blight in their eyes, and took from us the promises that were made to us as children.

But we STILL BELIEVE. That's why we're fighting the good fight, despite the regressives and their quislings in Congress, the Courts, and the corporate press. We believe in America, despite everything they've done to it.

Why?

Because WE are America, and we know that we can make it right. We have to.

We have no choice.

We believe.

[magellan]

1. Breathtaking

Recommended.

[Mythsaje]

2. Shameless self kick...

Someone's gotta do it.

;)

[stellanoir]

3. Happy to give the 5th Rec.

Really an uplifting message for the early morn.

The only line I really take issue with is this. . .

"The whole war against gays is because they're afraid, deep down in their hearts, that gays are people too."

Just an opinion: The only 'cause of homophobia from my perspective is repressed homosexuality. That which one represses only becomes stronger and results in self hatred they can't contain so they have to project it outward to people they don't even know.

Otherwise why would people minding their own business and loving each other privately be so unsettling and offensive? The ardent critics wouldd be neutral about it like most of us.

[Mythsaje]

18. That's in the sub-text

because I tend to believe that too. I just didn't come out and say it.

Back in my aol days I threw that into an argument and got jumped on because people said that there was no way to defend against it.

My reply was that was pretty much the point.

[laylah]

4. Breathtaking!

I have sent this far and wide, giving you recognition, of course.

K and R!

Jenn

[johnnypneumatic]

5. you're absolutely right

they believed in Bush as the great leader, they believed in the war, they believed in their religious right moral superiority. If they let go, they are accepting that their whole world view was wrong and they can't be sure of anything! Bush was wrong, the war was wrong, they killed lots of people for nothing. Why, even blacks and gays should be treated as real people if they can't know for sure they are not. Their heads would explode.

[lostnfound]

6. They have no faith in the Promised Land, in uncharted territory,

in living by a compass more than a rulebook.

[nicknameless]

7. In my experience, those who are most vociferously opposed to gay people

are usually closeted gay men.

These "regressive unbelievers" are very much about fear, hate, greed, and wanting to dominate.

They have no belief in themselves.
They lack a sense of personal value and worth, so they devalue others.
They don't have a sense of any true personal power, so they strive for power and control over others.
They've fallen short of their personal goals (often without striving for them in the first place), so they hate and blame others.
They lack those things that are truly of value, so they strive to acquire all they can materialistically, usually taking from others.

They are ironically impoverished, lacking in what is "true" wealth of a fulfilled human being.

[greyl]

8. There's no shortage of belief on either side.

I'd rather say our side has the virtue of superior reason.

Out-believing one another is a lost cause.

[Mythsaje]

19. I disagree...

They WANT to believe, but don't, really. That's why they're so afraid of anything different. Because they don't really believe America, and the concept of America, is strong enought to stand on its own merits.

It's all a facade. By shouting down and attacking people who oppose their vision of America, America the Fearful, America the Blind, America the Aggressor, they show their lack of faith in the America that COULD be.

And reason is our tool, but it's our belief in it that makes us fight.

[greyl]

20. You're saying they believe the wrong things.

I'm saying a war of belief is a lost cause - or even a deadly one, as you can plainly see by the actions of those with unshakeable belief in our culture.

How do you show "them" the way to better, sustainable, healthy belief?
Through reason.

"And reason is our tool, but it's our belief in it that makes us fight."

Reason isn't a tool. It's a foundation of action.
Belief is a tool.

[Mythsaje]

21. I'm saying that REAL faith

isn't loud or boisterous. It has nothing to prove. They don't just believe the wrong things, deep down they DON'T believe them at all. They think they have to believe them, lest America fail. But it's nonsense. They weaken America by pretending to strengthen it.

And belief comes before reason. Reason can be used to support belief, but you don't support by reason something you do not already believe.

[greyl]

22. I think you're underestimating "their" faith.

and it's not because you underestimate them, it's because you're trying to plant a Democrat flag on planet faith.
Planet faith isn't relevant to fostering a new vision for our culture. I say, forget faith.

"REAL faith isn't loud or boisterous"

Did you not start this thread as conspicuous proclamation that your/"our" faith is authentic while "theirs" is not?

Faith is a conservative game and I, for one, won't play it.

[Ohio Joe]

9. Wow

I must send some friends here to read this. Very well said, I couldn't agree more. Recommended.

[keith the dem]

10. For some reason, this reminds me of this song

sung by lefties like Paul Robeson way back:

The House I Live In

What is America to me?

A name, a map, or a flag I see?
A certain word, "democracy"?
What is America to me?

The house I live in, a plot of earth, a street
The grocer and the butcher, and the people that I meet
The children in the playground, the faces that I see
All races and religions, that's America to me

The place I work in, the worker by my side
The little town or city where my people lived and died
The "howdy" and the handshake, the air of feeling free
And the right to speak my mind out, that's America to me

The things I see about me, the big things and the small
The little corner newsstand and the house a mile tall
The wedding in the churchyard, the laughter and the tears
The dream that's been a-growin' for a hundred and fifty years

The town I live in, the street, the house, the room
The pavement of the city, or a garden all in bloom
The church, the school, the clubhouse, the millions lights I see
But especially the people

That's America to me

[robbyrob79]

11. Amazing!

This was a great entry! It really makes me feel inspired and makes me feel like I'm still on the right side of things. We just need to keep up the fight and people will eventually realize that freedom means freedom for everyone, not just for evangelical christians. They always talk about how the founding fathers were all Christians, but at the same time they rail against the masonic movement as being satanic. Maybe they should look more into the history of the US, and realize that most of the founding fathers were actually high level masons, and they wanted to create an ideal society based outside of religious beliefs.
Anyway, I reposted this on my blog (you get full credit, of course, I'm not a jerk). Thank you for writing this and sharing this with us all!

[newyawker99]

12. Hi robbyrob79!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[thoughttheater]

13. Family Values: This Blows

It’s become fashionable to talk about family values. In today’s culture war, the posturing by various groups to become the definitive voice on the subject is rampant. All too often the debate centers on issues outside of the family in what appears to be an attempt to vilify segments of the population that don’t meet with the approval of any given group. Most recently, homosexuals, through their efforts to legalize gay marriage, have become the focal point of many of these family values proponents.

From my perspective, children learn their values at home and the values they adopt are primarily discerned in proportion to the degree of sincerity and integrity they believe exists in their parents. In this construct, the degradation of family values originates within individual families as a result of a child’s perception that their parents are inauthentic and hypocritical. It’s also important to keep in mind that nearly every homosexual is the product of a heterosexual relationship and a heterosexual family. Consequently, the fact that the vast majority of children are raised in traditional heterosexual families makes the premise that homosexuals endanger the family not only flawed, but blatantly absurd.

Ultimately, the family succeeds one child at a time and that must start at home. The relationship of the Mexican couple down the street or the gay couple in the grocery store can only threaten one family…their own. Time spent obsessing about the actions of other families simply detracts from the precious time each family needs to succeed. The sooner families begin to act accordingly, the sooner the value of all families can be maximized. If and when this happens, the individual will flourish and society will endure.

read full article here:

www.thoughttheater.com

[UrbScotty]

16. A belated welcome to DU! (nt)

[Lib Grrrrl]

14. Excellent Words. Wish I Had Your Optimism

I can't say I believe anymore. i've been kicked while I'm down one too many times for that, anymore.

Now I'm just existing, hoping those who would keep me down will just forget about me long enough that I can get back up.

You have no idea how hard it is to be a transgendered person in GW Bush's america.

I've been unemployed for almost a year now...I'm severely depressed now, as a result of lack of income, and a feeling of complete and total worthlessness - I now have to live with my mom after years on my own...and that contributes to the useless, worthless, unwanted feeling. No company seems to want me. They always find a way to hire someone other than me.

At this point, there are days I just wish I wouldn't even wake up anymore. I'm on medication and seeing a therapist, and I'm on county assistance, and currently, my case for SSI disability is still undecided.

But then, there's another part of me. A part that is ANGRY. A part that is PISSED OFF. A part that says, "if I quit now the bastards win, and I'll be god-DAMNED if I am going to let those bastards win!!"

I guess the only thing keeping me going any more is my anger.

[Mythsaje]

17. I don't know how hard it is...this is true.

But, on the other hand, I shouldn't HAVE to know, and DON'T have to know, to fight for what's right.

America isn't particularly sympathetic to anyone outside the norm...whatever the hell the "norm" is.

[UrbScotty]

15. Kicked, recommended, bookmarked... (nt)

[silverweb]

23. Another masterpiece, Saje.

Another essay to share far and wide. This one gave me chills.

[jwirr]

24. Absolutely.

[bonito]

25. Beautifully worded

From a like source I'm sure.K&R!

[babydollhead]

26. kick

[NanceGreggs]

27. Yadda, yadda ...

... just more of the same brilliant observations we've come to expect from you, same old poetry that inspires, same fantastic political musings that keep the spirit of optimism alive and thriving when we need it most.

K'd & R'd, Mythsaje, because you never fail to touch the heart, and heal the soul.

(What was that 'writer's block' thing you mentioned the other night? Yeah, right. You were just saving your magic to dazzle us all yet again.)

[Mythsaje]

28. For the last several weeks I had nothing...

No magic at my fingertips. No bright spark in my heart and mind whispering the words that sometimes rise unbidden. I've been working on my latest fiction project and it's consumed pretty much all my creativity.

Last night the political spark fired and this was the result.

[NanceGreggs]

29. Let's hope that political spark ...

... is fired on an ongoing basis.

[Mythsaje]

31. Here and there it comes...

I have something bubbling below the surface that might arrive before the end of the weekend. We'll see.

[karlrschneider]

30. About their "faith":

It's phony. They don't REALLY believe their deity will "set things right", either in this life or the putative next one so they misguidedly try to do Her job apparently under the impression that just "in case" She is Real, it will get them some points.

It's Pascal's Wager on steroids.