One Astronomer's Noise

We’ve been inundated with a pretty strong message from the McCain campaign and the Republican party for some time now, most strongly in the past few days, that of this “pro-American and anti-American” idea. It seems that only small town, religiously motivated, factory-working, McCain-voting, war-fighting people are really American. And I’m calling bullshit.

Here’s Nancy Pfotenhauer separating NoVa from “real” Virginia. I consider Charlottesville to be politically very close to NoVa, so take offense, CVillians.

So those of us who disagree with McCain in Virginia aren’t part of “real” Virginia! So you can’t vote in the state if you are “metro”? That is ludicrous. Are geographic battle lines really being drawn… again?

Palin goes on to talk about “real” America in the small towns. Ironically, Bill O’Reilly juxtaposes this with Biden’s intelligent comment that we all love America.

And honestly, disagree as you might with policies and politicians, don’t we all think, hey, this is a pretty good place to live, lets make it the best possible? Especially, those of us who give a rats-ass about this election. So, O’Reilly, we can’t be pro-America and think you are completely wrong?

Then there is this dumbass, Rep. Michelle Bachmann, who distinguishes between pro- and anti-American, and calls for a look into the patriotism of Congresspeople.

These ridiculous associations and claims make me sick.

Check out some commentary on this issue from Keith Olbermann and Jon Stewart, as posted kindly by PZ Myers.

Alright, so I’m usually not even involved in this “us vs. them” politics, since I lean libertarian. I’m so “them” I’m not even included. I support individualism, freedom, dissent and civil liberties, and that the Democrats have made good in supporting these causes. However, that optimistic wish-to-fix may not work economically, certainly not on the federal level. The economy is a big complex thing, and it will take time and patience to unravel all the problems and surely some smart, good people can help with that. But in the long-run, trying to steer this big complex machine this way or that may lead to only more problems. And although the Republicans claim to be fiscally conservative, it seems as of late that they, too, think they have all the answers and can rule by authoritative control.

But what sickens me most about conservative politicians is the constant need to control the personal aspects of the lives of those around them. I try and give them the benefit of the doubt, that most people are just good and honest and hard-working, even if not critically thinking, and honestly believe they are doing their best for their neighbors. But now I’m sick of the bullshit, sick of being told this is a Christian nation, that gay marriage is a threat, that science is tantamount to elitist opinion, and that above all, those who question, dissent, and won’t be controlled are anti-American. These big cities, seen as festering pools of shameful liberalism, regarded as centers of sickening diversity, these cities, New York and DC, were purposely targeted by terrorists for being exactly what America stands for. These big cities, full of people who helped their neighbors, who cleaned up after these attacks, who died or were injured by the real terrorists or in the act of saving others, this is what you call anti-American?

See, don’t piss off a New Yorker. I may be a resident of Virginia now, but I was born and raised with a Staten Island attitude. And I don’t think I can take four more years of divisive, xenophobic ridiculousness in the White House. I was going to vote for a third party, but today I’ve decided to vote for Obama. I may not agree with him on many big issues, but I’m convinced that his administration will bring in the intelligence and cool-headedness that this country needs. And once and for all, the attendees at McCain-Palin’s rallies will learn that the world will not turn upside when we elect a President that is black, has Muslim roots, and is a liberal.

Sic semper tyrannis, bitch.