Do we REALLY want to go back to 9/12 Mr. Beck?

Introduction

So I was doing some surfing the other day and kept coming across the “28 Principles of the Founding Fathers”. I was confused since I am sort of a history buff and had never heard of this “document”. The Tea Party and other simple minded protest groups being used by their rich DC connected handlers kept referring to these “28 Principles of the Founding Fathers”. So I began doing research. See, it is important to me to understand if this is a historical list that somehow Samuel Adams, George Washington and James Madison actually sat down around a cup of tea to write up, or whether it is just the typical conservative ploy to manipulate the American public by picking and choosing through the writings of the Founding Fathers.

Well surprise, surprise it turns out that the “28 Principles of the Founding Fathers” comes from a book written by W. (Willard) Cleon Skousen, The 5,000 Year Leap. Skousen was a Mormon conservative (and yes I did go to Wikipedia for this one so sue me.) that had a very long life and career. I won't go into it here, but please feel free to look it up and read the link. Suffice it to say he was extremely religious and very right wing conservative, which is the right of every American, so I am not necessarily disregarding his views, or downing them, as I am saying that his book is distinctly written from his point of view and therefore is biased and cannot be put on the same level of the Constitution or even the Declaration of independence.

Now it was only a matter of time before this line of research led me to America's premier idiot...Glenn Beck. In 2009 Glen Beck began promoting this book and calling it “divinely inspired”. Now frankly, this was enough reason for me to be skeptical about this book. Glenn Beck is a politician. He is a rude idiot who along with the rest of his ilk does not realize this is a diverse country and in this diverse country, not only are your views accepted but also the other views. They want to jump on their victimization band wagon and force us to accept their views, views in which they make it clear there is no room for us!

A great example of this is the 9/12 Project started by Glenn Beck. Now what Beck did was take the 28 principles espoused by Skousen in his book and narrowed them down to nine. He then proposed 12 values that are essential. Now the reason he chose to use the numbers nine and twelve is because he says that these principles and value would take America back to where we were on 9/12/01..the day after our 9/11 disaster. Now I have several problems with this Project and it's mission but I will get back to that. I want to first look at the 9 principles and the 12 values, particularly the 9 principles that Glenn Beck and his right wing nut jobs believe make you a “real” American. To quote Beck and his mission statement, “At the origin of America, our Founding Fathers built this country on 28 powerful principles. These principles were culled from all over the world and from centuries of great thinkers. We have distilled the original 28 down to the 9 basic principles. So, how do we show America what’s really behind the curtain? Read The 9 Principles . If you believe in at least seven of them, then we have something in common.” So the 9 principles are a follows...and keep in mind there is a score...seven of nine.

9 Principles

1.America is Good.

Now on the surface this seems like a no-brainer. Well of course I love my country and I believe my country is good. Here is a thought though. Are we as a country good? And by saying we are good, does that make other countries bad? Can we afford this “good/bad” mentality in this world community we are in. Which countries are “good” then? The countries that agree with us? Do you see my point? We feel we are traitors if we don't say America is good. It is our country and we love it. I love my country. So I will go with the “America is good” as long as it has the disclaimer...America is good...but not everything we do is good. I firmly disagree with the war in Iraq. I firmly disagree with our arrogance in dealing with the international community. We ARE the repugnant, arrogant assholes the world makes us out to be. We walk all over the world and demand that they accept it. Our arrogance is going to be our undoing. I have been accused of being of the group of people that are destroying America because of progressive thinking (liberal bleeding heart tree hugging hippies to put it in their terminology). We are cutting the strength of America(according to them). I argue that our cowboy, devil be damned attitude with the world is what will ultimately destroy us. Is America Good? Sure, America is Great. I love my country. BUT morally...no...I don't think America is necessarily good or bad. We are what we are. A country with ups and downs, good and bad points. That does not mean I love her any less. I mean, hell...I still love some of my family that are crazy nut jobs and yes, they still love me...somewhat.

So I guess when it comes right down to it I will have to say I do not agree with this point, based on the fact that “good” has too many moral implications and I am not sure we fit the bill...or that anybody has the right to decide who fits that bill...so I will have to say I am 0-1...eh..still have eight to go...so...maybe I have hope.

2.I believe in God and He is the center of my life.

Well this is also a no-brainer as well. If you have read my blog any you understand that I am an atheist. So this definitely leaves me out. I for one do not believe in God but it goes further than that. Very few Americans can truly say that God is the center of their life, even if they do believe in God. Face it, work, family, TV, internet and a bazillion other things take precedence over a God that in more cases than not is believed in merely by name and is not the center of their life. Then comes the question of which God? The “Christian” God? Because let's face it...the group that Beck is stirring up would not recognize Yaweh without the recognition of Christ as God, would reject Allah and would reject Buddah, Confucious, the goddess and the Great Spirit, not to mention any other deities or lack of deities the rest of us may or may not choose to believe in.

So now that puts me at 0-2.

Now the teacher in me tells me that for me to pass this test I have to score 100% on the remaining seven...because...for me to have something in common with this group of “true” Americans I have to have seven of nine. (and every time I write that I have mental images of some sexy borg chick in a cat suit...sorry only trekkies would get that.)

3.I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.

Ok. So on the surface (as is the case with most of these) this sounds really good. I do strive for honesty on a daily basis. But does my being more honest today mean I was less honest yesterday? What was I less honest about? And if I am totally honest today does that mean I am not following this principle. Ok so that sounds like I am splitting hairs, which possibly I am but it brings me to a more important point.

What do they consider truth? When I accuse the Republicans, the Party of No, of being obstructionists and they say they are not and that they are defending the Constitution and our liberties. I say they are lying.....they say I am lying...does that make me less dishonest? Do you get the point? I can only strive to be honest to the best of my ability, but it is obvious that in their book I am not being honest, so regardless of how much I insist on my honesty it will always be considered a lie...and therefore a pointless effort. So while I agree on principle I still do not meet their criteria...

So on THEIR scale I am batting 0-3....keeping score? By the way...I am already out...

4.The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.

Well DEFINITELY do NOT sign on to this one. For two reasons. First the first part of this is an obvious dig at the gay and lesbian community. This is the crux of the argument the conservative right makes, that only a man and woman can make a family. So I definitely do not sign on with this principle. Further more I have seen many situations where the parents need to be reined in. And there is nobody to rein them in except the government. The rise of abuse of children and neglect of children is a clear indication of this. Granted within reason and outside of criminal activity the parents are the ultimate authority. But this “principle” does not allow for exceptions.

So now I am 0-4....this is just getting worse and worse...I may have to move to Costa Rica after this....

5.If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

Finally something we can agree on! This one I totally agree with. This would of course include the big business bed fellows of the Republicans right? Not just ACORN (which by the way...good riddance to bad rubbish.) This would apply to everybody. And nobody, including war criminal George W. Bush would be above the law, right? Just asking...don't get so riled up about it.

So that puts me at 1-4...shew...I was getting scared there for a minute.

6.I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

I agree with this for completely different reasons. This is where the Tea Party nut cases want to hang their hat on issues like Health Care Reform. I am in agreement fo a right to life...so does the whole equal results have to do with a healthy life? You can have life...just really doesn't matter if it is a healthy one or not. You have a right to liberty, except when the federal government feels the need to suspend due process (Patriot Act ring a bell?). You have the right to the pursuit of happiness, unless you are a gay wanting to marry your partner, then your happiness must be sacrificed for my sensibilities...because how I see the world around me is MUCH more important than your pursuit of happiness. As for the no guarantee of equal rights, we clearly understand this has to do with government hand out programs. It has been kind of surprising how many of these people out protesting government assistance programs are on Social Security, Disability and other government socialist programs.

So I am going to cheat and say I agree with this one just so I can be 2-4...I agree with it...just not how they intend it.

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

Woot! I am on a roll! I agree with this one. Well...wait...once again, I agree with it completely...and differently than intended by the Tea Party activists. I agree I do work hard for what I have and cannot be forced to give charity to anybody, including the faith based charities supported by Bush and Co. I totally agree that I work hard for what I have and I have the right to choose whom I want to share it with. Of course, you also have a right to go to your church where your god demands 10% of everything you make to support his business operations. But I digress. We also understand that this is the conservatives way of saying, I dont have to give my money to help those around me, the homeless, the hungry, the abandoned or the sick. I can give it instead to people that really need it, like the Insurance Industry, the Banking Industry and dumb Brunnettes that want to run for President. I am not going to go into this one in depth except to say that there is a difference in charity and helping those in need, in essence it is the difference of being a living, breathing participating part of the world around you or just a cancer that feeds off of people, making your wealth on the backs of hard working Americans and then telling them to choke on their own troubles. And yes you are right Mr. Scrooge, you are entitled to your elitest, self centered, grabbing, grubby self...just have the decency and respect to mail your check back to Uncle Sam while you are standing at his door step insulting him. Remember that whole honesty thing?

So since I mean this completely and totally differently than the Tea Party nutjobs I will have to mark it off...damn...2-5

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

Well here goes another one that I actually whole heartedly agree with. And I wish more progressives and liberals and democrats would practice. If the Tea Party nut jobs win in the mid terms it will be because they are the only voice being heard. Now the only problem with this coming from these idiots is that the Barbie Doll face that Palin has put on them, not too long ago (while running as Vice President of the United States) did her damndest to divide this nation. And anybody that agreed with President Obama was simply un-American. Because the REAL Americans voted for a REAL American Hero. I will never forget the way it incensed me as i watched her stump speech, and watched her make a big deal about real Americans would see it their way. Sure it is politics...but it is also hypocritical for these people to defend their own right to disagree...yet call me un American when I don't agree with them. And go so far as to tell me that I am destroying my country because I have the audacity to disagree with them on what path this great nation should take.

so score is now 3-5

9.The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

This is true. Unfortunately, this is not what Beck and his project or the Tea Party believes in. This country is a democratic republic. We vote for our officials, and we send them to do a job for us. They campaign and they make promises on which they campaign. Like it or not, President Obama ran his campaign on this promise and we voted him into office to do exactly what he did. Not only did we vote him in to do exactly what he did, but we also sent him enough clout in the House and Senate to get it done. He did not let himself be swayed by a rabble of loud and uncouth idiots. He did what he was elected to do. That is not taking over the government. That is not spitting in the eye of the American people like the Rethuglicans have made it seem. He did whate he was put in office to do and what he promised in his campaign. Now the concept of an elected official actually doing what he was voted to do and what he promised to do on his campaign may seem like a foreign idea to the Rethuglicans...but it is what happened. Whether the Tea Party thugs like it or not, a majority of the American people voted him into office, not only with a clear command of the electoral college that the conservatives like to play so well, but also with a demanding lead in the popular vote. So shut the fuck up assholes...our president did what we voted him into office to do. And if your obstructionist Party of no will not work with him then he is going to do what he said he was going to do. Don't like it? Tough. We put up with Bush and him walking your line for 8 years so suck it up butter cup!

So I am all for this one so I guess I still fail at 4-5...but that is ok...I didn't want to be part of your little club anyway!

12 Values

So now we have 12 principles and I am going to avoid going too much into detail on these so just brief bullet mentions:

* Honesty-Already covered it. I won't waste your time and mine.

* Reverence-Reverence? For our system? For our elected officials? For our country? For our countrymen? Does the Tea Party even KNOW the meaning of the word "reverence"?

* Hope-Hope in what? All I hear from the Tea Party is the near destruction of our country, the hoisting of the Red flag and the end of freedom as we know it. If these clowns had a positive thought blow through their mind they would have brain freeze from the breath of fresh air!

* Thrift-Thrift? As in 2 trillion dollars of war debt in countries we had no business being in the first place? Give me a break!

* Humility-look...I am beginning to sound like a broken record...do I have to go over this? Any need to talk about their arrogance anymore? Or are you getting the picture.

* Charity-This is a joke....'nuff said!

* Sincerity-Some of these people are sincere...sincerely stupid..but still sincere.

* Moderation-moderation would indicate some self control...we have seen enough to know this is not their strong point.

* Hard Work-They are of course the only hard working Americans...is why I am watching them spend 2-3 days in front of the Hill protesting...oh and I am watching them from the break room of my job...while it has been confirmed that many of them are there on their Social Security and Disability checks.

* Courage-There is a fine line between Courage and stupidity.

* Personal Responsibility-This is code for no more government assistance. I think it was Representative Weiner from New York that put in a bill to repeal Medicaid and then dared the Republicans to vote for it?

* Gratitude-These people don't know the meaning of gratitude. Just hate, racism and the tantrums of a spoiled child.

These are all values that I actually support, but the actions of the Tea Party speaks much louder than their words.

Why I am against the 9/12 Project

1. It politicizes one of the most tragic events in our History

Beck claims the 9/12 project is NOT political. he is a liar, and is making a name for himself and profiting on the graves of our fellow Americans. The tragedy of 9/11 was neither a Republican or Democrat tragedy...it was an American tragedy and he is a shamless piece of shit to capitalize on this day that will forever live in pain in the hearts and souls of every American.

2. America needs never go back to 9/12/01

Why? Because on 9/12 we were a nation brought to our knees. On 9/12 we were a nation in pain. We were vulnerable. Vulnerable to attacks from without and vulnerable to attacks from within. I find it ironic that the Republicans are calling Health Care Reform the greatest attack against our freedoms. The day that Beck wants to take us back to is the day that we as Americans, blinded by pain and by insecurity, allowed our leaders (at that point and time mostly Republicans whether you like that truth or not) to pass the Patriot Act, the greatest attack on our freedoms that has ever been allowed. Somehow these Tea party idiots think that the Patriot Act was ok, simply because it has the word Patriot in it and because W was president. We still have no idea what the far reaching implications of the Patriot Act will linger on and continue to corrode away our REAL freeedoms. No. We do NOT need to go back to 9/12 Mr. Beck. We do not need to be one nation to the point that we cannot disagree. We have parties because we ARE different. The only way you see a United America is if we gather under your banner and your cross and all line up with your principles and your views.

No...I for one never want to go back to 9/12 nor ever want to see my nation back where we were on that day...and shame on you Glen Beck, and shame on you Tea Party "Patriots"...you would bring this nation under the slavery of your views and your beliefs...get used to it shit bags...your time has come and gone...