What Is A Patriot?

So...It's not longer patriotic to question our government and correct their mistakes as the Constitution tells us we should. But rather, "patriotism", is blindly following our governments policies, while on the sidelines we watch thousands of innocents...as well as our own brave men and women, being killed.

They say we are at war because these "terrorists" want to kill innocent Americans...Why would they want to do such a thing? Is it because were (mostly) Christians, and they're Muslim?...Is it simply cultural differences?...Or could it be because we've been in the region for over 50 years, trying to keep them in line. Now, it's true a lot of the resistance we're currently facing is coming from surrounding countries of Iraq, but how many of them were simply innocent Iraqi people fighting to defend their homes as well as their homeland? I know that if some foreign governments military (or even my own, for that matter) were to come into my home, with guns in hand, ready to trash my house and kill anyone who showed resistance; I'd be putting up a fight as well.

However, no one has invaded MY home and pointed their guns at me. And yet, we've invaded their country with the reasoning that they pose a direct threat to the American people. Which, regardless of the truth to this statement, gives us no right to put our lives (besides the ones that we have lost in Iraq), and our security (besides the security that we have lost as a result of our interventions), over that of the innocent Iraqi population.

In addition, what gives us the right to say that one government or another, is not allowed to have certain weapons, in order to defend themselves. I mean, this is true with gun control as well. It is statistically proven, that in areas with 'limited' gun control crime rates are DECREASED. This is because, regardless of whether the criminal has a gun or not; if he thinks there is a chance that his victim may, he is far less likely to try to commit a crime against them. And even more so if he KNOWS his victim is armed and ready to defend him/herself, the chances are slim to none that he will attempt any sort of aggression towards that person. Having a nuclear power should be looked at the same way. I don't care who you are or how mad you are at the U.S., there's nobody stupid enough to even attempt to drop a nuke on us. That's because, even if they did manage to get one through our defense system, whatever country that bomb came from; there would be nothing left but a hole in the ground. After that there's nothing left to fight for.

It's just funny to me that, now were so focused on invading these countries, now that we've suffered a major attack; but we never stopped to ask why people on the opposite end of the earth would possibly want to attack us. They're certainly not trying to take us over. I mean, who would want to take over a country that's on the verge of bankruptcy anyway? And, if it's an attack on our freedom, then why were we so quick to hand it over (with the enactment of the "Patriot Act")...to..."surrender" these freedoms?

These "Neo-Con" Republicans are so focused on preventing terrorism BEFORE it happens, that WE have literally, BECOME the terrorists. With our preemptive, and invasive foreign policy, the hatred that 9/11 has caused amongst our own country, has the same effect within the Middle-east. But...I suppose it is hard to see that, from so far away.

The fact is, that we have been in their region since 1953, when we assisted Britain in a plot to remove then Iranian Prime-Minister Mossadegh from power. This was a result of his efforts to return his countries oil, from Britain's control, to his own people. Of course, we tied this in with the Cold War with Russia, but the point is...since then, whether it was Iraq, Iran, or Afghanistan, we have seen it as our place to step in, and control the direction of the Middle-east's economy and politics.

Another thing I find interesting is how the Republican and Democratic parties have swapped places as far as their positions on America's foreign policy is concerned. The following video is one of Al Gore, from 1992 speaking against Iraq, and former President George Bush's failure to act against his attempts to develop a nuclear power.


Who hasn't changed his stance on foreign policy?...That's right...Ron Paul.