Recently in Patriotism Category

As I have observed, those who plow evil and those who sow trouble reap it.  Job 4:8

Those who sow in tears will reap with songs of joy. Psalm 126:5

Today we observe the seventh anniversary of the deadly strikes against the World Trade Center and the Pentagon, and the heroic and tragic efforts of the passengers and crew of flight United 93 who lost their lives trying to save themselves and, in the process, averting an even greater disaster.  By any rational measure, we were all victimized by these events.




But let us not forget our Chilean brothers and sisters who today observe an equally life-altering event: the 35th anniversary of the overthrow of the only known democratically-elected communist president, Salvador Allende.  That coup resulted in thousands of people killed, tortured, mutilated, raped, and disappeared.



And our hands are stained with their blood.

"No podemos permitir que Chile se vaya a las alcantarillas", dijo Kissinger a Jesse Helms, entonces director de la Agencia Central de Inteligencia (CIA).

"Estoy con usted", le respondió Helms en la conversación telefónica que ocurrió el 12 de septiembre de 1970 pocos días después de que Allende iniciara su Gobierno.

Which translates, roughly to

"We cannot allow that Chile goes down the gutter," said Kissinger to Jesse Helms, then Director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA).

"I'm with you," responded Helms in the telephone conversation of September 12, 1970, a few days after Allende took over his government.

Since that day, the U.S. government did everything in its power to create a climate of crisis in Chile and, as Nixon stated, make Chile's economy scream.  While U.S. involvement in the coup is neither confirmed or denied, what is undeniable is that U.S. actions created the environment that facilitated the coup from occurring.

Many people say that in September 11 innocent civilians were killed.  I agree.  They also say that we didn't deserve to be attacked.  To quote Clint Eastwood in "Unforgiven," "deserves has nothing to do with it."

We may choose to be blissfully oblivious to the effects of our nation's foreign and monetary polices on other countries.  Or we can pick and choose which facts fit our preferred narrative.

What we don't get to choose is how the other countries - or the people in it - react when they feel they've had enough.

So, today on September 11, 2008, my wish for our American, Chilean, and Muslim brothers is the same:

Paz y reconciliación.

Peace and reconciliation.

Obama '08:  "Let's Get To Work"



My answer to El Loco.  Heh.

Did I post this?  I think I implied it to myself while posting about FAIR's new radio tour against illegal immigration, but a side note to myself does nothing for the general public at large.  Now that it is spelled out in black and white for you dear reader, please do read on...

UPDATE:  You know, I knew I did...report post about FAIR that is.  But, that post leaves me unsatisfied, because the statement which begs to be said is how ironic that an organization, like FAIR can pass itself as a concerned entity for American immigration and yet, have ties to racist hate groups, spread fear and hate through it's activities, and spread false information. 

"It is evident to most Americans that large-scale immigration is not serving the needs and interests of the country."   This statement, just probably like many of FAIR's is just not true.  Many industries and the very livelihoods that most Americans enjoy survive off the back of Immigrants - illegal or not.  It's a shame, that with money and the right contacts truth can be usupred by hate and false tenets.

Luis Alberto Urrea wrote a book titled "The Devils Highway."  It was a pretty good read about a journey of 26 individuals crossing over the Mexican/US border.  Now a few college students have created an interactive map.  Pretty neat!

Lou, I knew you loved latino immigrants. Who's shoveling the horses poop that your daughter's horses are happily plopping? Or maybe there are Americans who want that job?  It's guilt by association, baby!

History always repeats itself.  It's a circle, no...better - a spiral.  We either progress or regress, until that is someone figures how to stop time.




If you left your magnifying glass at home, then go to MigraMatters for larger caption.

Deranged 'patriot' tears down Mexican flag that hung over American flag, and then steals American flag.  Yes, it is against the flag code (Sec3 C) to fly another flag over the American flag, but there are no criminal charges to go against the guide lines. 

“I took this flag down in honor of my country with a knife from the U.S. Army,” Broussard told KRNV-TV.

“I'm not going to see this happen to my country,” he said. “I want to see someone fight me for this flag.”

Ironically, this 'patriot' has acted very unpatriotic, and can be charged for his criminal actions.  Wouldn't the greatest staple of patriotism be following the laws of your country, rather than upholding a flag?  Hmm.

 

"U.S. Commerce Secretary Carlos Gutierrez said the economy will suffer if Congress doesn't pass comprehensive immigration reform.

For me, this is about numbers. It's about arithmetic. It's about reality. I'm trying to stay away from the emotions of immigration,"

Reality-based reasoning.