Self-criticism vs. sedition

Regular readers of these ramblings know I think our country is on a self-destructive path economically, politically and spiritually. I’m certainly not alone in this assessment. Discontent with national policy is pretty widespread these days. That discontent, however, manifests in very different ways, some of which is only contributing to the problem.

Early in Operation Iraqi Freedom some celebrities openly wished for America to be humiliated, defeated on the battlefield. That was disturbing enough. Today we have marches in major U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., where Hizbollah flags proudly wave alongside placards printed by Socialist and Communist-affiliated organizations (talk about your strange bedfellows…).

The idea of “my country, right or wrong” is often criticized. Where that attitude leads patriots to bury their head in the sand and refuse to demand accountability of their government, the criticism is deserved. But there is such a thing as “the loyal opposition” – a concept seemingly lost on far too many people today. Because these malcontents disagree with current policy, they’re ready to throw out the baby with the bathwater—to tear the whole structure down. What, we should ask, would they prefer as the alternative? Just because I don’t agree with all our policies in the Middle East doesn’t mean I’m going to put on the garb and colors of a known terrorist group -- one responsible for the deaths of scores of U.S. Marines, among others. It makes no sense to criticize the Bush administration for the deaths of innocents in Iraq and Afghanistan while toting the flag of an organization whose signature trade is the slaughter of civilians—including the Muslims who are persuaded to become suicidal martyrs.

Does anyone doubt for a moment what the official response would have been to any American waving a swastika or Rising Sun flag in the U.S. in 1943? Is the fact one can now wave Hizbollah, Hamas or Al Qada emblems here in 2006 an improvement on our World War II instincts, or an indication we can no longer draw any clear lines about any ideology? Britain received yet another wake up call this week about the growing fifth column in their midst. It exists here as well, and we are only beginning to see the bitter fruit of alien indoctrination.

You cannot fight what you refuse to confront. The current paramount virtue of “tolerance uber alles” will be the death of us all. I will continue to point out our country's errors and foibles where I perceive them. But I will not, for one moment, make common cause with anyone who hoists the flags of our enemies, or who openly wishes for American humiliation. Anyone who does so under the guise of exercising rights as an American citizen has no moral integrity, and deserves no debate or discussion. They should, in an ideal world, be given a one-way ticket to the Middle East where they can attempt to put their money where their overenergetic mouth is.