On January 20, 2009…..I sat in my office and watched the inaugural address of the newly sworn-in President of the United States. As I watched and listened, I wrote down a comment in reference to something that Barack Obama said in his speech…. (I’m pretty sure that was right before I yelled what I had written at the television….and then turned it off). Here is the quote that troubled me the most…..”Starting today, we must pick ourselves up, dust ourselves off, and begin again the work of remaking America”. Being true to his word, during the last 20 months….he and the Democrat controlled Congress, are well on their way to “remaking America”. While the words of Obama’s inaugural address in 2009 greatly troubled me….I should not have been surprised…..After all, here’s what he said during a campaign speech just a few days prior to the election in 2008……
My response to this video clip…(and the response that I wrote down and then yelled at the television....while watching his inaugural address)…was ”We don’t need to re-make America….we need to return it to what it was originally meant to be”. That was then…and now after 20 months of Obama being in office, I am beginning to realize a couple things. First of all…..that he obviously didn’t hear me when I yelled at the television during his inaugural speech. And secondly, that neither of us has changed at all….I only say that because he is still trying to “fundamentally transform…..and remake America”….and I am still writing and yelling at my television…..The good news is that I know that I am not alone. I believe that the majority of Americans don’t want to see their country “fundamentally transformed” or “re-made”. The problem is that when we speak up, too often we are labeled as hate-mongering bigots, racists, and ignorant Christian hillbillies….who are still clinging to our guns and our religion….(and I’m starting to think that when those things are said….they’re not meant as compliments). However, if I understand this “fundamental transformation of America” correctly….if you are a practicing Muslim, it is ok to hate Christians and Jews….it is ok to build a mosque in a location that will obviously cause great pain to those who lost friends and loved ones on 9/11…..and of course it is ok to cling to your car bomb and your religion…..To quote Barack Obama…”That is change you can believe in”. I believe it...because I have seen it. Yes we are seeing change…..but as I, and many others, have said all along….”All change is not good”.
I will admit that we live in a country that has flaws….but we don’t have to tear our country down and start over in order to fix a few flaws. If you have something of value, you don’t set out to “re-make” or "fundamentally change" it……No, instead you painstakingly attempt to return it to its original splendor. I don’t know anyone who “re-makes” classic cars….but I do know people who restore them. Yes we need to fix some things…..so let’s get to work fixing, not tearing our country down and then trying to re-build it. The way to fix the things that are flawed or broken in our country...is to continue to speak up for what we believe....and continue to speak out for what is right. Then we have to commit to some diligent research of those who are running for office, and then get out and vote for those people who will seek to fix....and not tear down this great country.
Violence is NOT the answer….Speaking hateful words to someone with whom you disagree...whether in person or on the internet....is not helpful (and for goodness sake…when you write something on the internet, use spell check so you don’t look like an ignorant hillbilly)…Burning a Qu’ran is not helpful (in fact it’s just stupid)…And calling Obama names, and using racial slurs when talking about him, does nothing to further a just cause. The only thing that is accomplished by doing any or all of those things, is to make the negative portrayal of conservatives, by the media, appear to be true....
Here's what I think......
Obama was wrong when he was running for office...He was wrong when he made his inaugural address...I only say that because I believe that after 233 years of being the greatest country in the history of the world....America doesn't need to be “fundamentally transformed” OR “re-made”. However after 20 months of Obama as president, with the help of a Congress that is controlled by Democrats, there are a few changes that now need to be made…..Not changes to the Constitution, or changes to the principles of the founding fathers….rather some personnel changes in November….followed by a few changes to fix the things that Obama and Congress have screwed up in the past 20 months…..Can we do it?.....To borrow another quote of Obama's....”Yes We Can”….Then Again….That’s Just Me
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