Twisting ‘America’ out of Americans
Allan J. Ashinoff
September 26, 2005
"Nothing in all the world is more dangerous than sincere ignorance and conscientious stupidity."
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968)
I have a habit. It’s a nasty little habit that, apparently, most people do not share. I like to read. When I’m not reading literary classics I enjoy books on the cold war, Islam, states rights, government abuse of power, philosophy, and the biographies of great Americans like Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, Teddy Roosevelt, and Reagan. I mostly enjoy reading history and books on controversial contemporary topics since they help to understand what’s going on around us.
I’ve read Ayn Rand not for college but because I couldn’t answer the question “who is John Gualt?” in a chat room. I’ve read about Islam since the Gulf War started in 1991 to better understand the people we were fighting against and to liberate. I read Uncle Toms Cabin because Harry Bellefonte labeled, then Secretary of State, Colin Powel an ‘Uncle Tom’. Having never read Uncle Toms Cabin I couldn’t understand the significance of Mr. Bellefonte’s words. After reading Uncle Toms cabin I understand most clearly that Mr. Bellefonte was a very good singer.
In choosing a book I look for two things: 1) that the author has the experience and/or credentials to support his claims and views and 2) that the author views America as a great nation with a primarily good heart. That’s not to say that the authors I read aren’t critical of the U.S. government. In fact I learned a ton about the Patriot Act from James Bovards Terrorism & Tyranny. But if the purpose of an author is to discredit America by exposing and expanding its faults or the author deliberately manipulates factual information to strengthen his opinion then I have no respect for his work or use for observations. America was and is simply the greatest, kindest, and most influential nation to grace this earth in all of time. An author who can not understand this simple fact is not pruning the tree with his criticism he’s killing the root.
No matter how many books I read, or how much CNN, MSNBC, or Fox news I watch, or how many websites I frequent or blogs I participate in, I can’t escape the truth that I know in my heart from life experiences that America is basically good and its government, prone to corruption as it may be, is generally working for the people of this nation. No American President was evil. It’s just that some remembered that they were the ‘American’ President while others believed they belonged to the world. Some Presidents led the nation in the world while others led America to conform to the world. Some Presidents make decisions whereas others would have America defer to foreign entities to validate what is in the nation’s best interests and best for national security.
As I observe to the world around me I grow more concerned about America’s future. For Example, I was sitting at the local Barnes and Nobel drinking coffee and surfing the web between client sites and I overheard a group of four people a table away in their early 20’s talking. Judging from their behavior, attire, and topic I had to assume they were either from ASU or the local community college which are both within reasonable distance to the bookstore.
The topic of the moment for these boys was the military draft. Apparently one of their professors put the notion in their head that a draft was eminent since recruiting goals were down. I heard talk about flights to Canada, going to Mexico, and even disappearing. One boy suggested taking drugs everyday or getting himself arrested so when the recruitment came about he would fail to meet eligibility. Another talked about meeting the draft board in a dress and everyone laughed. They spoke these words in a light tone but their laughter was masking some genuine concern.
It was at that point I couldn’t contain a chuckle and their heads turned to me. The one with the nose ring and blond hair highlights said something to the effect that ‘I wouldn’t find things so funny if I were young enough to be drafted.’ This twenty something boy was perfectly serious and his eyes showed deep concern. I could literally feel the four boys looking into me as if I were some heartless beast. I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or feel pity for how twisted some professor got them.
I explained that the proximity of my table to theirs didn’t allow for much privacy and I apologized for listening in on their conversation. I further explained that I’ve served this country in peace time and that I am fairly well read in history and adequately understand what the government can and can’t do with regard to a draft. After assuring them there was no immanent draft and that Bush never proposed such a thing I offered to prove my assertion online. A quick web search showed them that only an act of congress could enable a draft and that to date only Democrats have even suggested the idea well over a year ago. In fact one article even made a point that their choice for President, John Kerry, was one of those who supported a draft along with his democrat cohorts. After showing them the web article from The Hill magazine and another article to verify The Hill story from truthorfiction.com they were noticeably relieved.
We spoke for about forty five minutes where I sadly learned just what some young kids are thinking these days. These 20-22 year old young men, none of whom registered for selective service, were convinced that America is evil and conspiring to destroy anyone that stands in the neo-con path of world domination and the redistribution of wealth to the top 2% of America’s wealthy elite. At the crest of the unspoken but obvious plot were the pseudo-Satan George W. Bush and the demon Karl Rove and the rest of the neo-con goons. When I questioned the validity of their claims they looked at me like I was the devil himself. I reminded them that if the draft wasn’t pending as they were told perhaps there were other things that might not be true as well. I offered to use the web to dig for answers for a bit and they took me up on it.
I asked about the sources for their views explaining I was genuinely curious. They told me their information came from the democraticunderground.org, Michael Moore’s movies, yahoo chat rooms, blogs, the Arizona Republic, the cable news channels, teachers and friends, and a host of other sites I can’t entirely recall. I asked them if they ever stopped to look into the validity of the assertions made by Moore or by the websites they visit or by their teachers and each said no since all the info was basically the same. When they watch TV it hinted at what they saw and heard online and that coincided with their professor’s views. Why should they waste time relearning what they already know?
I explained who I was, what I’ve done in my life, about my living my American Dream, about my military service and about my concerns for the America they were inheriting and would control one day. I waxed nostalgic about an America who knew her role in the world and how American’s never needed to feel guilty about their nation’s actions in the world. I explained terrorism to them and my encounter with it in the 1980’s. I’ll give them credit; they listened to me and genuinely seemed interested. I answered a slew of questions on everything from money, to foreign policy, to hurricane Katrina, to nuclear disarmament, to illegal immigration, and a lot about Bush. Naturally, I had to defend almost every answer I gave and in many cases had to consult the web to prove I wasn’t making stuff up just to dispute their views. Thank God for Google search!
Unfortunately, it was fast approaching my meeting time and, from what I understand, they were late getting back to campus so the encounter had to draw to a close. As we shook hands and went our separate ways I invited them to take part in my website to contribute and to learn. I truly hope they take me up on the offer. Even those who disagree with me on my site, and there are more than a few, can teach these kids how to think for themselves. It appears schools are putting out sheep these days; Sheep that don’t know how to validate their perceptions and rely on others who may not have their ‘education’ in mind.
These kids had a desire to know the truth. They had a desire that I saw in their eyes to believe their country wasn’t evil, corrupt, or the great Satan waiting to steal their lives. They now understood the value of the war in Iraq and why it had to come to war when it did. Like a domino effect they saw the draft was bogus and their minds opened up to the possibility that maybe other things being pressed on them were not quite what they’ve been told either. With a little luck one of them will see the day’s events through his own eyes for a change.
Repairing a corrupt exchange database was not nearly as enjoyable as my discussion with those kids a few days ago. I do hope that the young men I met were sincere in wanting to learn if not on my site then out on their own. America’s future is at stake and I fear for political gain everything good about this country must be consumed to feed an alien movement which has established a toe hold in American politics and is struggling for growth. America is worth preserving for future generations. Our children need to be able to differentiate between propaganda for political gain, rhetoric, and genuine news. The only way to discriminate from the gluttony of information pushed into our heads from television, the web, and newspapers is to take the time and effort to look for answers that fit ones default premise of reality. Unfortunately that default premise of reality is taught by our parents and parenthood has been under assault for quite some time. As parents have less and less time the schools have greater influence on a child’s development than they should have. When our children are taught more about Mexico City than Washington DC in their history books, how can American students comprehend who and what America is or what America expects from Americans? To what degree do we continue to allow schools to portray thinking as the world does is to evolve from a primitive mindset? American culture and values are primitive in American schools? Quite to the contrary every aspect of America such as ethnic tolerance, racial tolerance, religious tolerance, economics, business, technology, military might, military responsibility, charitable giving, disaster assistance, and more prove without doubt that no one has anything monumentally constructive to teach America that it hasn’t already learned by itself.
America is worth the time and effort to discover the truths that are consistently going unmentioned by the media. These truths are obscured by the media in an effort by those with un-American agenda to steer society into failed socialist philosophies. I guess a free society where one can choose his own destiny and the level of his happiness without worrying about the secret police is intolerable to Demlibopeans pseudo-socialists. Parents and teachers have a duty to work together and in unison to direct America’s kids how to think independently. America is in desperate need for a knowledgeable generation that is unashamedly able to say ‘I’m American’ and convey the pride that comes only with understanding what those words really mean. If the American people can not come to realize what America is, she will become a thing unrecognizable to our founders and perhaps to those only a generation or two ago. If we allow hope and opportunity to be lost to the mediocrity and societal need of the Demlibopean mantra we will have effectively gutted the American Dream and stepped far away from the source of our strength. America would cease to be America.
“We are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams.”
Ronald Reagan First Inaugural Address January 20, 1981
Martin Luther King Jr. (1929 - 1968)
I have a habit. It’s a nasty little habit that, apparently, most people do not share. I like to read. When I’m not reading literary classics I enjoy books on the cold war, Islam, states rights, government abuse of power, philosophy, and the biographies of great Americans like Washington, Lincoln, Franklin, Teddy Roosevelt, and Reagan. I mostly enjoy reading history and books on controversial contemporary topics since they help to understand what’s going on around us.
I’ve read Ayn Rand not for college but because I couldn’t answer the question “who is John Gualt?” in a chat room. I’ve read about Islam since the Gulf War started in 1991 to better understand the people we were fighting against and to liberate. I read Uncle Toms Cabin because Harry Bellefonte labeled, then Secretary of State, Colin Powel an ‘Uncle Tom’. Having never read Uncle Toms Cabin I couldn’t understand the significance of Mr. Bellefonte’s words. After reading Uncle Toms cabin I understand most clearly that Mr. Bellefonte was a very good singer.
In choosing a book I look for two things: 1) that the author has the experience and/or credentials to support his claims and views and 2) that the author views America as a great nation with a primarily good heart. That’s not to say that the authors I read aren’t critical of the U.S. government. In fact I learned a ton about the Patriot Act from James Bovards Terrorism & Tyranny. But if the purpose of an author is to discredit America by exposing and expanding its faults or the author deliberately manipulates factual information to strengthen his opinion then I have no respect for his work or use for observations. America was and is simply the greatest, kindest, and most influential nation to grace this earth in all of time. An author who can not understand this simple fact is not pruning the tree with his criticism he’s killing the root.
No matter how many books I read, or how much CNN, MSNBC, or Fox news I watch, or how many websites I frequent or blogs I participate in, I can’t escape the truth that I know in my heart from life experiences that America is basically good and its government, prone to corruption as it may be, is generally working for the people of this nation. No American President was evil. It’s just that some remembered that they were the ‘American’ President while others believed they belonged to the world. Some Presidents led the nation in the world while others led America to conform to the world. Some Presidents make decisions whereas others would have America defer to foreign entities to validate what is in the nation’s best interests and best for national security.
As I observe to the world around me I grow more concerned about America’s future. For Example, I was sitting at the local Barnes and Nobel drinking coffee and surfing the web between client sites and I overheard a group of four people a table away in their early 20’s talking. Judging from their behavior, attire, and topic I had to assume they were either from ASU or the local community college which are both within reasonable distance to the bookstore.
The topic of the moment for these boys was the military draft. Apparently one of their professors put the notion in their head that a draft was eminent since recruiting goals were down. I heard talk about flights to Canada, going to Mexico, and even disappearing. One boy suggested taking drugs everyday or getting himself arrested so when the recruitment came about he would fail to meet eligibility. Another talked about meeting the draft board in a dress and everyone laughed. They spoke these words in a light tone but their laughter was masking some genuine concern.
It was at that point I couldn’t contain a chuckle and their heads turned to me. The one with the nose ring and blond hair highlights said something to the effect that ‘I wouldn’t find things so funny if I were young enough to be drafted.’ This twenty something boy was perfectly serious and his eyes showed deep concern. I could literally feel the four boys looking into me as if I were some heartless beast. I wasn’t sure if I should laugh or feel pity for how twisted some professor got them.
I explained that the proximity of my table to theirs didn’t allow for much privacy and I apologized for listening in on their conversation. I further explained that I’ve served this country in peace time and that I am fairly well read in history and adequately understand what the government can and can’t do with regard to a draft. After assuring them there was no immanent draft and that Bush never proposed such a thing I offered to prove my assertion online. A quick web search showed them that only an act of congress could enable a draft and that to date only Democrats have even suggested the idea well over a year ago. In fact one article even made a point that their choice for President, John Kerry, was one of those who supported a draft along with his democrat cohorts. After showing them the web article from The Hill magazine and another article to verify The Hill story from truthorfiction.com they were noticeably relieved.
We spoke for about forty five minutes where I sadly learned just what some young kids are thinking these days. These 20-22 year old young men, none of whom registered for selective service, were convinced that America is evil and conspiring to destroy anyone that stands in the neo-con path of world domination and the redistribution of wealth to the top 2% of America’s wealthy elite. At the crest of the unspoken but obvious plot were the pseudo-Satan George W. Bush and the demon Karl Rove and the rest of the neo-con goons. When I questioned the validity of their claims they looked at me like I was the devil himself. I reminded them that if the draft wasn’t pending as they were told perhaps there were other things that might not be true as well. I offered to use the web to dig for answers for a bit and they took me up on it.
I asked about the sources for their views explaining I was genuinely curious. They told me their information came from the democraticunderground.org, Michael Moore’s movies, yahoo chat rooms, blogs, the Arizona Republic, the cable news channels, teachers and friends, and a host of other sites I can’t entirely recall. I asked them if they ever stopped to look into the validity of the assertions made by Moore or by the websites they visit or by their teachers and each said no since all the info was basically the same. When they watch TV it hinted at what they saw and heard online and that coincided with their professor’s views. Why should they waste time relearning what they already know?
I explained who I was, what I’ve done in my life, about my living my American Dream, about my military service and about my concerns for the America they were inheriting and would control one day. I waxed nostalgic about an America who knew her role in the world and how American’s never needed to feel guilty about their nation’s actions in the world. I explained terrorism to them and my encounter with it in the 1980’s. I’ll give them credit; they listened to me and genuinely seemed interested. I answered a slew of questions on everything from money, to foreign policy, to hurricane Katrina, to nuclear disarmament, to illegal immigration, and a lot about Bush. Naturally, I had to defend almost every answer I gave and in many cases had to consult the web to prove I wasn’t making stuff up just to dispute their views. Thank God for Google search!
Unfortunately, it was fast approaching my meeting time and, from what I understand, they were late getting back to campus so the encounter had to draw to a close. As we shook hands and went our separate ways I invited them to take part in my website to contribute and to learn. I truly hope they take me up on the offer. Even those who disagree with me on my site, and there are more than a few, can teach these kids how to think for themselves. It appears schools are putting out sheep these days; Sheep that don’t know how to validate their perceptions and rely on others who may not have their ‘education’ in mind.
These kids had a desire to know the truth. They had a desire that I saw in their eyes to believe their country wasn’t evil, corrupt, or the great Satan waiting to steal their lives. They now understood the value of the war in Iraq and why it had to come to war when it did. Like a domino effect they saw the draft was bogus and their minds opened up to the possibility that maybe other things being pressed on them were not quite what they’ve been told either. With a little luck one of them will see the day’s events through his own eyes for a change.
Repairing a corrupt exchange database was not nearly as enjoyable as my discussion with those kids a few days ago. I do hope that the young men I met were sincere in wanting to learn if not on my site then out on their own. America’s future is at stake and I fear for political gain everything good about this country must be consumed to feed an alien movement which has established a toe hold in American politics and is struggling for growth. America is worth preserving for future generations. Our children need to be able to differentiate between propaganda for political gain, rhetoric, and genuine news. The only way to discriminate from the gluttony of information pushed into our heads from television, the web, and newspapers is to take the time and effort to look for answers that fit ones default premise of reality. Unfortunately that default premise of reality is taught by our parents and parenthood has been under assault for quite some time. As parents have less and less time the schools have greater influence on a child’s development than they should have. When our children are taught more about Mexico City than Washington DC in their history books, how can American students comprehend who and what America is or what America expects from Americans? To what degree do we continue to allow schools to portray thinking as the world does is to evolve from a primitive mindset? American culture and values are primitive in American schools? Quite to the contrary every aspect of America such as ethnic tolerance, racial tolerance, religious tolerance, economics, business, technology, military might, military responsibility, charitable giving, disaster assistance, and more prove without doubt that no one has anything monumentally constructive to teach America that it hasn’t already learned by itself.
America is worth the time and effort to discover the truths that are consistently going unmentioned by the media. These truths are obscured by the media in an effort by those with un-American agenda to steer society into failed socialist philosophies. I guess a free society where one can choose his own destiny and the level of his happiness without worrying about the secret police is intolerable to Demlibopeans pseudo-socialists. Parents and teachers have a duty to work together and in unison to direct America’s kids how to think independently. America is in desperate need for a knowledgeable generation that is unashamedly able to say ‘I’m American’ and convey the pride that comes only with understanding what those words really mean. If the American people can not come to realize what America is, she will become a thing unrecognizable to our founders and perhaps to those only a generation or two ago. If we allow hope and opportunity to be lost to the mediocrity and societal need of the Demlibopean mantra we will have effectively gutted the American Dream and stepped far away from the source of our strength. America would cease to be America.
“We are too great a nation to limit ourselves to small dreams. We are not, as some would have us believe, doomed to an inevitable decline. I do not believe in a fate that will fall on us no matter what we do. I do believe in a fate that will fall on us if we do nothing. So, with all the creative energy at our command, let us begin an era of national renewal. Let us renew our determination, our courage, and our strength. And let us renew our faith and our hope. We have every right to dream heroic dreams.”
Ronald Reagan First Inaugural Address January 20, 1981
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