I Love America... GET OFF MY BACK!
by clancypants

First things first, the Constitution gives all citizens the right to freedom of speech. I’m about to use that right to its fullest extent. This article is not meant as slander or as a personal attack on anyone. Instead, it is a response to another writer’s complaints about the political flyers poster around campus.

The great thing about this country is that we have the right to disagree; in fact, we are encouraged to do so. As regular citizens, we are empowered with the task of questioning our elected officials. We call them to tell them how to vote and where to stand on issues. Franklin Delano Roosevelt once said that the day we stop questioning our elected officials is the day that America falls. We must realize that questioning our authority is our right — that by doing so, we are not doing al Qaeda’s work for them, even if our opinion is in direct opposition with our leader’s.

People posting political flyers is a good thing, whether or not one agrees with them. At least it shows that they care enough to say something. You don’t have to agree, or even pay attention to them for that matter, but just because you don’t agree doesn’t make them idiots. In my opinion, speaking out and saying something makes them more aware than the average person because at least they aren’t being led around like cattle to the slaughter. I didn’t make the flyers, but my guess is that they were written in response to a comment made by an American political official. Now, I am fairly certain – oh no, 100% certain - that the people who posted those flyers meant no disrespect to the people who died on September 11. So, before making assumptions about the beliefs behind someone’s message, realize that maybe others watch CSpan and have formed their own opinions, too.

The people who posted those flyers love this country but express it in a different way than most of us. They love it enough to ask if what is going on right now in the world is the best course of action. Questioning our leadership shows concern for our future, which some of us really put no thought towards. I love America, even more now than I did a little over a year ago at this time. But, because I love America, it doesn’t mean that I have to follow our leadership blindly. It doesn’t mean that I have to agree wholeheartedly with everything our leaders say. For over 200 years we have had a right to free speech, and I applaud the people who put up those flyers because it takes courage to post ideas that are not commonly shared and go against the general consensus.

God bless America and those who question authority!

Agree? Disagree? Write me with your opinions or ideas for future rants. clancypants22@yahoo.com