Transformation! Real Life Turned Me Into a Conservative Fighter
“It’s no use going back to yesterday, because I was a different person then.”
-Lewis Carroll, Alice in Wonderland
More than once this week I’ve considered the real possibility that the best days of America are behind us. I’ve lost any faith I may have had in our government to lead.
Everything coming out of Washington seems to be tinged with hypocrisy, greed, criminality, or willful ignorance. Once an idealistic, left-leaning, young woman; I’m now older and, I’d like to think, wiser. The last threads of liberalism were severed on a September day almost 13 years ago. It was then that I began to take a first serious look at the world around me. It was also the first time since I was a young student that I read the Constitution. It never felt more important to know it, understand it, and embrace it.
I wish I could say the same for the people we elected to be our voice.
Once we started the school day pledging Allegiance to our flag. Now, a tee-shirt depicting the Stars and Stripes is apparently the cause of racial tensions. The unanimous decision by the 9th Circuit cited a California school’s right to curb the 1st Amendment rights of students in the name of safety. The Mexican flag was, apparently, perfectly acceptable and not a cause of distraction or “racial tensions.”
Did the Democrats add another chapter of “Crapping on the Constitution” to its playbook recently?
Mere weeks ago, members of Congress gave a standing ovation to President Obama during the State of the Union. What did he say to earn it? “I am eager to work with all of you. But America does not stand still — and neither will I. So wherever and whenever I can take steps without legislation to expand opportunity for more American families, that’s what I’m going to do.” These morons applauded a man willing to turn his back on the Separation of Powers provision of the Constitution? And why would you stand and clap for the man that just told you how much you suck at your job?
I suppose I shouldn’t be that surprised. Just this week, some of those same members of Congress have gone before the cameras to proclaim many of their constituents “liars.” (That’s a great way to get reelected). It seems to have started with Gary Peters, the man running for Carl Levin’s long-held Senate seat in Michigan. He didn’t just call out Julie Boonstra for sharing her negative experience with Obamacare in an ad. He used his power as a Congressman to threaten any station that aired it, citing “FCC licensing.
Speaking of the FCC…after a huge uproar, they had to scrap plans to infiltrate newsrooms across the country for what it called a “Critical Information Needs” study. The government deciding what we should be allowed to know? Holy Newspeak, Batman.
I’m trying to recall that person I was, all those yesterday’s ago. Am I better off now? Considerably wiser, but no happier for what I’ve learned. I’ve grown rightfully weary of my government and the voters that put it in place. I’ve grown wary of the media that continues to protect it. I’m not alone.
On this day, though, I remember another former liberal. One that championed conservatism, eschewed political correctness, and fought for justice and liberty until his last day. Andrew Breitbart once said, “I love my job. I love fighting for what I believe in. I love having fun while doing it. I love reporting stories that the Complex refuses to report. I love fighting back, I love finding allies, and–famously–I enjoy making enemies.”
Knowing that others carry on his work is enough to make me realize that our nation is greater than the few hundred people we allow to hold office. With faith, purpose, and one hell of a fight, we’ll get it back.
Image: Courtesy of: http://www.flickr.com/photos/gageskidmore/6877243765/
Links:
http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2014/02/28/fcc-quietly-kills-controversial-newsroom-study/
http://www.cbsnews.com/news/appeals-court-says-school-had-right-to-ban-us-flag-t-shirts/
http://www.nytimes.com/2014/01/29/us/politics/obama-state-of-the-union.html?_r=0
