PATRIOTISM

"We all have power. Some of that power is personal, some is institutional, and some is historical. The goal is to identify and accept the power that we do have, and creatively use that power in the service of social justice. Denial of the social realities that shape our lives blocks our efforts and undermines our ability to produce true social change." - DeRosa and Johnson

“If you live in America, you show respect for this great country. If you don't like it, then get out! It is as simple as that.’ –Mike D

“Mike D that is the most perplexing kind of simple-minded approach to the complexity of what it means to be an American. Being a parrot mimicking behavior is not the height of citizenship. Mindlessness has gotten us where we are today as a nation. It takes intelligence to be a citizen of this country, and the main group of Americans who tend to over emphasis patriotic songs are ignorant of what being an American means to other ethnic groups. It takes great intelligence, and a lot of thought to be an American citizen, and the implications of our policies, our supremacy, and the definition of patriotism, citizenship, and responsibility spread far beyond the pledge of allegiance.

How can the intelligent Americans ever forget the horror of millions of Americans, and our congress people sign over, without thought, absolute authority to a President, who the months before September 11, 2001, been severely ridiculed for the shallowness of his understanding of world affairs, and his lack of an historical perspective of the world, and American politics, and history! The sleep that fell upon millions of Americans, myself included, who could not grasp the meaning of President Clinton’s repeal of the Glass-Steagall Act of 1933 has placed us in the current mess we are in now. It takes great intelligence and deep introspection to be an American citizen. Simple-mindness is not an option of a super power.” –Gregory E. Woods