I started this thing way back in the day to write about
politics and what was happening in America. Over the years, as I’ve adopted
other, newer, social media platforms, The Foggy Dew has lingered with only
sporadic updates. Part of this is because of other social media options – God!
I’m on Twitter now – but also because I’ve moved into jobs where I am the
spokesman for a large organization. Most of you know who I am and what I do and
sometimes my personal feelings might not be precisely aligned with my professional
responsibilities.
That said, what the fuck is going on with the republican
presidential candidates? Seriously, the frontrunner, Herr Trump, just suggested
a plan that would require Muslims – even American citizens – to register and be
tracked. “Just good management” he said. This type of thinking could cause a
dedicated Nazi to blanche a little at first. He also suggested it would be a
good idea to shut down mosques.
The other loon in the field, Herr Doktor Carson, agrees treating
Muslims – even those who are American citizens – as potential enemies and
terrorists is a good idea. Except for the fact that these two are leading the
race to the republican nomination, this wouldn’t be so troubling except for one
thing: The other 10 people running for the nomination haven’t denounced them
and declared these actions to be patently un-American and a threat to the
country’s soul and national security.
This is scary. Ideas like these have gained popular support
in the form of the republican frontrunners’ campaigns. American’s think it’s OK
for the fucking government to track citizens because of their religion. This
isn’t just scary, it’s terrifying.
We all watched the events in Paris – and now Mali – with
fear and a sickening sense it could easily happen here. Many of my friends are
tired of the wars in the Middle East and don’t believe the U.S. has any
business re-engaging there (actually, expanding our current operations) for any
reason. While I don’t welcome the possibility, I believe the only way to deal
with the situation is a mix of extensive humanitarian
outreach to show America is that light on the hill…and brutal, ruthless
military operations to show its power.
To sum up: Some assholes just need killin’.
A Facebook friend, one who’s always professed a devout
belief in god, shared something or other on her feed the gist of which was “I
believe there’s an internal revolution coming.” People believe this shit. They
are so worried “THE GOVERNMENT” is coming for their religion, their guns, their
bacon, their children (via Common Core), their land, their pick-ups and every
other goddamn thing and give it to someone with brown skin or a different
religion that they advocate open rebellion.
That is what’s un-American.
For the most part, every single one of these people
screaming about letting 10,000 poor, starving, terrified, but now vetted and
checked and thankful to god and America they’ve finally escaped their living
Hell shithole of a country had an ancestor who once found themselves in a
similar condition. Living somewhere that for economic, racial, ethnic or
religious reasons, they fled the land of their birth, passed La Liberté
éclairant le monde (the lady with the torch in New York Harbor), and were thankful
just to be in America and have a second chance. For example: My ancestors
departed Ireland following the First World War. My grandfather worked for the
railroad, and my grandmother worked as a maid.
This country was founded by people fleeing religious
persecution, never mind it was because they wanted to practice a stricter form
of Christianity - hey! kinda like sharia law. So it’s pretty fucking ironic
that today’s adherents to Christian sharia would suggest reinstituting the
Spanish Inquisition…
“NOBODY expects the
Spanish Inquisition! Our chief weapon is surprise...surprise and fear...fear
and surprise.... Our two weapons are fear and surprise...and ruthless
efficiency.... Our *three* weapons are fear, surprise, and ruthless
efficiency...and an almost fanatical devotion to the Pope.... Our
*four*...no... *Amongst* our weapons.... Amongst our weaponry...are such
elements as fear, surprise....”
We, America – waving hands around in an all-encompassing
motion – are better than that. We defeated fascism through military might. We
defeated communism – OK, the Soviet Union – through economic might and
technical prowess (and Russian ineptness and stupidity). We can defeat the
threat of religious extremism with a combination of all of these and the
addition of kindness to our fellow man.
