|
| Home --
Feature --- Blog --
GrayMan Forum --- Speechwriter --- Anti-Campaign Legend of a Ghost --- Biography --- Bibliography --- Archives --- Links --- Contact |
|
Featured Links:
Who is the "GrayMan"? Gray Rinehart is the author of one book, Quality Education, and many articles, essays and papers. Check out The Legend of Gray's "alter ego" to find out more about the original "GrayMan" of Pawleys Island, South Carolina.
|
The Anti-Candidate's Position on PATRIOTISM. Patriotism -- by which I mean the love of one's country and the willingness to sacrifice for it -- shouldn't be an issue for any citizen. It should be automatic, like breathing. I love my country and always have: one of my earliest, faintest memories is of holding the flag for a kindergarten ceremony, and a heartfelt rendition of "God Bless America" or "My Country, 'Tis of Thee" or "The Star Spangled Banner" is a sure way to dampen my eyeballs. So I am bothered by and vehemently disagree with those who say -- and those who just imply -- that the U.S. is somehow a fount of evil. Some try to cloak the harshest criticism in patriotism itself, with the non-sequitur that it's somehow patriotic to speak ill of one's country; for many of them, criticizing certain policies and positions is not enough as they move quickly to condemnation, effectively hiding behind the flag they're trying to burn. Some try to condemn those of us who are openly patriotic by equating our heartfelt devotion with blind obeisance. Precious few have put their disdain for the U.S. into action and gone elsewhere, and I actually have more respect for them than those who rage against their own country while they enjoy the benefits of the freedoms and economic, social, and personal possibilities the country provides. One of my old bosses once challenged me to identify a place on the earth and a time in history I would rather live in than in the U.S.A. right now. I thought of a few possibilities -- one in particular that crossed my mind was Florence under the Medici family -- but none of them could compare to the United States. I don't mean in terms of material or resource wealth, since in individual terms that’s not the best indicator of happiness or contentment (cf. St. Paul), but in terms of possibilities: nowhere else at any time in history has afforded so many possibilities to so many people. Every patriot should recognize and celebrate that as the mark of a great nation. Not perfect, necessarily, but great.
"That government governs best which governs least." -- Thomas Jefferson Governing least ... we'd be happy to.
CONTRIBUTE TO THE ANTI-CAMPAIGN. The Anti-Campaign needs money for all kinds of expenses: crayons and coloring books, groceries and gasoline, neckties and Net access. Send your non-tax-deductible donations with the full confidence that we will treat your money as our own and spend it on whatever we want -- like expensive dinners at which we will entertain only ourselves. It'll be just like the real government, only this time you gave your money voluntarily. In fact, be sure to write "gift" in the memo block of your check. Any contributions are not tax deductible; repeat, not tax deductible; I-tell-you-three-times, NOT tax deductible. We appreciate your money. (And you, too, of course ... but we really appreciate your money.) Want more information on the Anti-Campaign? Want to be added to the list of potential anti-running mates? Want to be considered for a position in the anti-cabinet? Contact the GrayMan, but notice that the e-mail address is set up to avoid spammers; be sure to fix it so it's in the proper format. If we get your message, we'll be happy to answer your questions. (Maybe.) (Sometime.) And we'd be honored to address your club or organization or class to discuss the Anti-Campaign. (For a small honorarium, of course.) (And a meal.) (And maybe baked goods.)
|
|
Page last |
Copyright 2003-2008 by Gray Rinehart. All rights reserved. |
|