I have heard that phrase used again and again in recent days and weeks. That Tea Party battle cry is getting used more and more as the elections approach, and it has me asking a few questions. I know I'm not the first one to question exactly what that phrase means, but until I hear a cogent and rational answer from those who say it, I feel that it is every voters' responsibility to keep asking.
First of all, who has taken our country from us? Democrats? Big government? Socialists? Black people? The people who say "we need to take our country back" are, I think, intentionally vague about this. What I can't figure out is why they are vague about it. Is it because more specificity would limit who they can blame for America's problems? Would it make them seem prejudiced? I don't know, but I sure would like to. Also, aren't the likely culprits who stole America...uh...American themselves? Even the most leftist Pinko Commie who wants to bring down all things capitalist can be an American. Isn't that what one of the things being an American is all about? How is this country more the Tea Party's and less theirs? Isn't it more American to have a confluence of many different ideas rather than one group's ideas dominate our country and our government? Wasn't a tolerance of all people's ideas, religion and speech one of the most important ideals our Founding Fathers wanted to establish in our nation? The Tea Party's name conjures up images of our American forefathers fighting the imperial English government and the modern day version is constantly referring to the principles of our Founding Fathers and telling us that their views are most in line with the likes of Washington and Jefferson. But the one thing they seem to lack is a tolerance for people who disagree with them about the role of government in our everyday lives. According to them, we are a doomed nation unless we cut the government back to the levels they see as appropriate. We survived a Civil War, yet we are going to be brought down all because taxes are a little higher and there are some government regulations that they don't like. Really? Fox News 1, rational thought 0.
Getting back to my original question of taking our country back...
The phrase itself is littered with innuendo and implications, none of which I like. To say that "we" have to take our country back is implying that an outside and malicious force has taken over our country. While some people vehemently believe that this has truly happened, I think that most would be referring to big government and how that has taken over America. What people on the right seem to forget is that this "big government" was elected by a majority of the voters, so how can "our country" be under the control of some outside malicious force? Even our politicians are Americans, so it's their country as well (although a lot of us would like to kick them out of the country these days!). Also, it brings to light more philosophical questions like: what does it mean to be "American?" Just because someone has a different belief concerning the role of government in our daily lives, does that make them more or less American? When does an immigrant truly become an "American?" When they first arrive? When they get their citizenship? Is disagreeing with your government an "American" thing to do? Does it make you more or less patriotic? It seems that lately the same people who questioned the patriotism of Bush critics are the same ones who are saying now saying it is "American" to not trust your government and want to all but eliminate government from their daily lives.
Once again, I ask: Who exactly has taken our country? And where have they taken it? We are all Americans. This country belongs to all of us. Don't confuse losing an election with someone taking your country from you. Take a deep breath, the pendulum always swings back the other way. I just wish the politicians and talking heads would help the situation and remind people that disagreement and compromise are a fundamental part of a healthy democracy, not the agents of its downfall.
