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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsThis should be our national day of mourning...
by PZ Myers
I grew up with the Vietnam war in the background. It wasnt the hippies, or the protests, or the myth of people spitting on returning veterans that made me doubt my country: it was the National Guard raising their guns and firing into a crowd of students at Kent State. It was a duplicitous Richard Nixon resigning in disgrace. It was Henry Kissinger committing war crimes and being rewarded for it.
The Iranian hostage crisis was the dominant news item when I went off to college. It was wrong, and Irans descent into theocracy was a catastrophe. But what troubled me was my countrys long support for the tyrannical Shah of Iran, which had led to this crisis, the way Ronald Reagan stole credit for its resolution, and how that administration smoothly segued into total corruption, trading arms (can we stop doing that?) to Iran to shuffle money under the table to murderous right-wing killers in Nicaragua. It was Oliver North becoming the brave face of American policy.
Rest: http://freethoughtblogs.com/pharyngula/2016/07/04/happy-fourth-of-july/
metroins
(2,550 posts)I'm not going to feel guilty on our day of independence.
Today is a great day to celebrate.
cherokeeprogressive
(24,853 posts)Egnever
(21,506 posts)No
MohRokTah
(15,429 posts)Gabi Hayes
(28,795 posts)which religion has its day of atonement?
that's what we need here. where to begin, the choices are myriad:
LongtimeAZDem
(4,494 posts)Ask the indigenous populations of the Southwest how they felt about the Athabaskan incursions. The ones that survived, that is.
Gabi Hayes
(28,795 posts)the Athabaskans?
and the genocide committed against the Neanderthal?
and who caused the Permian extinction? bastards
ret5hd
(20,491 posts)JEB
(4,748 posts)we are a nation without a conscience.
We can celebrate the birth of our country while still being mindful of it's imperfections.
Just reading posts
(688 posts)murielm99
(30,733 posts)You can do the guilt trip if you want. Some other time for me, thanks.
yourpaljoey
(2,166 posts)ileus
(15,396 posts)rollin74
(1,973 posts)Happy 4th of July!!
REP
(21,691 posts)Not the signing of the Constitution. Major fails all around for "look at my self righteous hand wringing" while getting basic facts wrong.
yeoman6987
(14,449 posts)Enjoy your family. That's what today is about. No working today is a bonus. Appreciate what you have living here.
Silver_Witch
(1,820 posts)Especially not anymore. Working as usual along with all the others who MUST work to fuel the cars that drive to the beach or parks to watch the fireworks. They are pretty - but they make me weep at all the loss.
Adrahil
(13,340 posts)I will celebrate.
My country aspires to liberty and justice for all. It hasn't achieved it yet, but with our help, it sometimes inches closer to that goal.