It’s tempting to take issue with Palin’s assessment of the Tea Party as being in the tradition of Abolitionism and the Civil Rights Movement (what with claims of Tea Party racism), but it risks overlooking the crucial frame she’s creating, setting up the Tea Party not as “terrorists,” but as underdog patriots trying to gain their country back.That's the power of the Tea Party: its followers are motivated by the best of intentions. The tendency of many (including myself on multiple occasions) to dismiss them as ignoramuses only strengthens their resolve and deepens their bitterness toward their critics.
No, it's long past time to challenge one of their core beliefs: they're the only patriots in town.
I'm a patriot too, guys. I believe we can and we must do better at living up to our ideals and at being better, kinder people.
You and I probably don't agree on much in the way of how we should do that. You might consider me a hopelessly trusting idiot who can't say "no" to anybody, and you might be right -- but don't you dare think I'm not as solidly devoted to this country as you are. And don't you dare characterize what you're doing as "taking the country back". You haven't "lost" it. You simply haven't convinced a lot of us that you know best how to fix a lot of our problems.
You are doing a disservice to us all by attempting to claim sole ownership of "patriotism". It's divisive and it's petty. Stop that heinous practice, and then maybe we can have a real conversation.
the republicans and the Tea Party have managed to redefine "patriotism" as a of love of country akin to the a three-year-old experiences for their parents- unquestioning fiercely loyal, black-and-white. There is no room for questioning or doubt; mommy is perfect and beautiful.
ReplyDeleteTrue patriotism is an adult emotion, able to grasp all the contradictions and complexities of a real relationship, in which we love our country, appreciate all the wonderful things it does and, as a result are even more frustrated and disappointed when it fails to live up to its abilities. Pointing these failings out is not a lack of patriotism; rather, it is articulating our belief that we as a nation are capable of more.
I imagine you read that sentiment in Franken's LIES AND THE LYING LIARS WHO TELL THEM, yes? (See http://www.quoty.org/quote/3846) I fought hard against the impulse to say exactly the same thing because I genuinely want this country to engage in a political conversation again, and accusing Tea Partiers of infantilism won't further that objective....
ReplyDeleteactually, I've never read Franken's book. I'm sure I've heard the sentiment plenty of other places, though. Ben Franklin said "dissent is the highest form of patriotism."
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