I'm tired of being called names

[poliguru]

First, I'm told that because I'm a public school teacher, I'm lazy and don't care about my students (oh yeah, and I'm a terrorist). Now, I'm told whenever I question the government or the president, I'm not a real American, I'm unpatriotic. Now, I can take it (a little) when I hear it from Bush and his cronies, because they're idiots. But when I hear it from the average person, I start getting pissed. Especially when I hear it again...and again...and again...

And I know I'm not alone on this one. It occurred to me, however, to throw this one back in Repubs face when I hear it. So I've been looking for samples of Repubs (particularly recent presidents) who have sung the praises of questioning the government in the interests of democracy. I'm going to print it out and carry it with me. Then, when I'm told I'm unamerican, I'll just hand them over.

Here's my first find - from Reagan. More to come.

http://www.forerunner.com/forerunner/X0692_Reagans_Speech_in_Mo.html

<But freedom is more even than this: Freedom is the right to question, and change the established way of doing things. It is the continuing revolution of the marketplace. It is the understanding that allows us to recognize shortcomings and seek solutions. It is the right to put forth an idea, scoffed at by the experts, and watch it catch fire among the people. It is the right to stick - to dream - to follow your dream, or stick to your conscience, even if you're the only one in a sea of doubters.

Freedom is the recognition that no single person, no single authority of government has a monopoly on the truth, but that every individual life is infinitely precious, that every one of us put on this world has been put there for a reason and has something to offer.>

[TrustingDog]

1. but.. but... 'everything changed after 911'.. :P n/t

[Triana]

2. here you go...

There is not in all America a more dangerous trait than the deification of mere smartness unaccompanied by any sense of moral responsibility."
-- Theodore Roosevelt - Abilene, KS, May 2, 1903

"The President is merely the most important among a large number of public servants. He should be supported or opposed exactly to the degree which is warranted by his good conduct or bad conduct, his efficiency or inefficiency in rendering loyal, able, and disinterested service to the Nation as a whole. Therefore it is absolutely necessary that there should be full liberty to tell the truth about his acts, and this means that it is exactly necessary to blame him when he does wrong as to praise him when he does right. Any other attitude in an American citizen is both base and servile. ****To announce that there must be no criticism of the President, or that we are to stand by the President, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public. Nothing but the truth should be spoken about him or any one else. But it is even more important to tell the truth, pleasant or unpleasant, about him than about any one else."***

-- Theodore Roosevelt - "Roosevelt in the Kansas City Star", 149
May 7, 1918

[afraid_of_the_dark]

3. If those individuals had any idea what a teacher does....

They wouldn't call you names. Rather, they'd be paying you about 10 times more than what you're currently being paid, and would treat you a lot better. :)

As far as the "Un-American" thing goes, I agree with you that it is annoying when you hear it constantly from those around you. It's just funny (ironic) that the country that they are so bent on protecting is the same one that was built on a foundation of questioning the government (the Pilgrims wouldn't have come all the way over here, and we wouldn't have declared our independence if our fore-fathers and -mothers liked the government in England). I'm still scratching my head over that one.

[KurtNYC]

4. Unpatriotic? Because I support a vet over a deserter?

Unpatriotic? because I believe that we should be fighting bin Laden instead of this extended snipe hunt?

Unpatriotic? because I think the country deserves better than a devisive, name caller in the White House.

Unpatriotic? Because I don't think Halliburton should be ripping off our soldiers.

Unpatriotic? Because I believe in the Constitution (and don't believe it should be gutted in a panic at the first sign of trouble).

[nyhuskyfan]

5. Another key point...

Al Franken went over this in depth in Lies and the Lying Liars who Lie Because They're Liars. But when Clinton committed to action in Kosovo, all sorts of Repugs -- media and congressfolks -- questioned whether Clinton had the moral authority to conduct those operations and yada, yada. Franken had some great old quotes.

Old quotes are always great to have handy. There were lots of pessimistic "The Sky Is Falling" predictions from Repugs after Clinton passed his 1993 economic package without a repug vote. Meanwhile, the economy does the exact opposite for the next eight years. Any time the right tries to play it off that they have better economic plans, I always bring up those first couple Clinton years.

[poliguru]

6. Here's another

from Chimpy re Cuba:

http://usinfo.org/wf-archive/2001/010323/epf503.htm

<But more to the point, I don't think any serious examination would demonstrate that it is because of any external factor that the Cuban government continues to arrest its own citizens and put them in jail, that it denies the rights of freedom of speech, that it restricts freedom of movement, that it impinges on freedom of religion. There is simply no objective basis for saying that an external factor is what obliges the Cuban government to violate the fundamental human rights of its own citizens and this is what we believe the Commission should focus on. Those actions of the Cuban government that are in contradiction to its obligations under international human rights norms to protect and promote the rights of its own citizens. And I think that if the Commission confuses those two things then we are in trouble on a whole range of fundamental human rights issues. If countries can excuse their own behavior by pointing to one external factor or another then the whole underpinning of the human rights system is in jeopardy.

[Stuckinthebush]

7. here is a come back

As a teacher, it is my passion in life to educate people like you to become critical thinkers. You see, the hallmark of an intelligent person is her willingness and desire to critically analyze all of the messages that she is bombarded with on a daily basis. I'd be happy to try to help you work on your critical thinking skills if you'd like.

[poliguru]

8. I like this one too, just cause it's Fox

L. Paul Bremer, US Admin in Iraq, and Chris Wallace

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,113501,00.html

<BREMER: No, I don't think that's fair. I think you've got people in Iraq who have never experienced democracy, and they're wrestling with some of the big issues of democracy. Democracy's not just about majority rule; it is about protecting minority rights.

And I think, again, it's pretty extraordinary, the spectacle of Iraqis all over the country now debating things that we debated 200 years ago ourselves: freedom of speech, freedom to demonstrate, freedom of assembly. I think it's a wonderful thing.

And minority rights are an important protection in democracy, and it's not an easy thing to understand. And I think that they now have begun to wrestle with that. And I'm hopeful that when we get together tomorrow as planned, we'll find that they've worked their way through this.>

[Snoggera]

9. Public school teachers have one of the most difficult jobs there is

and I wouldn't wish it on anyone other than those such as yourself who have the strength, dedication and determination to make a positive difference in a child's life. Thanks for being there!