A Brief History of Loving or Leaving America

[billh58]

Before Rick Santorum was introduced at a revivalist-type church service in Baton Rouge last week, Baptist pastor Dennis Terry revived the timeworn trope, “America: Love It or Leave It.” He said that those who don’t believe that America “was founded as a Christian nation” ought to “get out!” In case it wasn’t clear precisely who should be sent packing, he added, “We don’t worship Buddha, we don’t worship Mohammad, we don’t worship Allah!”

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Commentators who insist that America in 2012 is more polarized than ever must have been either unborn or comatose during the 1960s-early ‘70s. The country was viciously and sometimes violently divided over the war in Vietnam and other issues, and “America Love It or Leave It” was a common bumper sticker. The police riots at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, where Mayor Richard J. Daley’s police force brutally beat protesters in full view of TV cameras, made today’s Occupy and Tea Party protests seem like a warm bath.

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During the ‘60s, warmongers wanted to kick us out. Today, some on the right are suggesting they might pick up their marbles and leave, though they wouldn’t actually have to “go” anywhere. Texas Governor Rick Perry has mused about secession. So has Mr. Sarah Palin, who, it emerged after his wife was tapped to run with John McCain in 2008, had belonged to the Alaskan Independence Party.

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The origin of “America Love It or Leave It” is murky. It was popularized by gossip guru and Joseph McCarthy sympathizer Walter Winchell, who, among other abuses of power, helped keep entertainer/activist/national treasure Josephine Baker out of the country we’re all free to love.

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-sigman/rick-santorum-dennis-terry_b_1377023.html

The extreme right-wing of the Republican party promotes nationalism in order to stir up hatred among its "love it or leave it" base. The SCOTUS has already ruled that abuse of the flag is free speech:

[blockquote]"The majority of the Court, according to Justice William Brennan, agreed with Johnson and held that flag burning constitutes a form of "symbolic speech" that is protected by the First Amendment. The majority noted that freedom of speech protects actions that society may find very offensive, but society's outrage alone is not justification for suppressing free speech."

http://www.uscourts.gov/educational-resources/educational-activities/facts-and-case-summary-texas-v-johnson

Once again the right-wing shows a total disregard for the freedoms that so many Americans have died to protect.

[Wounded Bear]

1. It is a particularly vile form of "patriotism"...