Today I am proud to be American.

In 1607, when white settlers first came to the place that would eventually become the state of Virginia, they brought with them enslaved black men and women from Africa, and they started the nation on a two-century course of shame. The United States was built by the blood, sweat and tears of enslaved people of black skin, on the backs of their torture, their torment and their pain.

On December 6, 1865, the Thirteenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States was ratified. It reads, "Neither slavery nor involuntary servitude, except as a punishment for crime where of the party shall have been duly convicted, shall exist within the United States, or any place subject to their jurisdiction." On that date, suddenly, everyone in the United States, no matter their color, was free.

On August 28, 1963, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. told the nation that he had a dream for his children - a dream of equality, a dream of true freedom, a dream that encompassed not only his own children, but every child in the nation: black, white, Asian, Hispanic or whatever race they might be. That every child might someday grow up to know that they could do anything they set their minds to, and no one could stop them based on skin color.

On July 2, 1964, nearly one hundred years after the last slaves were freed, the Civil Rights Act was passed. It prohibits discrimination based on race, color, religion, sex, and national origin.

On April 4, 1968, Dr. King was assassinated in Memphis, Tennessee, and a generation mourned his passing. People all over the world wondered if the United States would ever live up to the ideals of the American Dream.

And on November 4, 2008, Barack Obama was elected President of the United States of America.

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.

Today, I believe that the United States has finally, truly lived up to its potential. We have discarded the politics of division in favor of the policies of unity. We have repudiated racism, bigotry, and hate in the most decisive way possible. We still have a long way to go, and the road will be rough, but today I believe that we will finally get there.

Ttoday I stood up and, with twenty-four children's voices along with me, I recited this promise, and for the first time in over eight years, I meant it.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands: one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Today we got our country back. Let's not lose it again.





Today I am finally proud to be an American.

Just exactly what it is we're fighting for.

And this is what I found:

In case you haven't seen, I posted some icons on my icon journal in response to Sarah Palin's derogatory comments about community organizers.

......

(Follow the Fake Cut )

Hillary did not have to face any sexism in the media. I just want to point that out. Any time she said she was facing sexism, she was obviously blowing things out of proportion, trying to play the victim card, and whining that the big boys were picking on her.

That being said, Sarah Palin will not be doing any media interviews until the McCain camp is certain that she'll be treated with "respect and deference."

Wait, what?

So many people are so turned off by Sarah Palin that the anti-GOP side has literally become an anti-Sarah Palin campaign. Her negative publicity is so strong that nobody even bothers to hate McCain very much any more, because they're so busy hating that fucking bitch Sarah Palin.

I love it.

I don't think McCain could have slit his own throat any better if he'd tried.

♥

Or do we???

Jailing journalists is unacceptable in a democracy. But that's exactly what is happening at the Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota.

Award winning journalist and host of "Democracy Now" Amy Goodman was arrested by St. Paul police while covering a protest outside the Republican National Convention. Though clearly identified as press, Goodman was charged with "obstruction of a legal process and interference with a 'peace officer.'" Two of her producers were arrested for "suspicion of felony riot."

To tell you that this arrest was brutal and upsetting simply doesn't do it justice. Watch this video to see for yourself. Then take action.

I just e-mailed the presidents of CNN and NBC News (which oversees MSNBC) to demand that their networks cover this important story. I hope you will too.

Please have a look and take action.

http://act.credoaction.com/campaign/dont_arrest_journalists/?r_by=796-1606996-xEEdNAx&rc=paste

Thanks!

Also, feel free to copy this and email it to everyone you know.
( Who is Sarah Palin? )