NoBama NoMore
I woke up this morning and was getting ready when I saw yet another person wearing a 'NoBama' shirt. To give you a slight at my political stance, during the election season, I put a large Obama '08 poster in my window as I live in a 3 story building on the first floor which is the first building you see when pulling into the complex. I am a large advocate for change...
As I digress...
When I first saw these 'NoBama' shirts prior to the election, I thought they were fair game. People who wore them were showing distaste in a presidential hopeful - nothing wrong with that, it's a part of the political game.
When I see people wearing these shirts today - it shows a sense of Anti-Patriotism. A distaste for a man and that has not yet laid one foot into office, yet people are already showing a disliking for him. Why are we showing distaste for a man who has not had a second to make reform as President yet? Why are we creating groups against a man who hasn't the ability to anything yet. I know it may sound extreme, but if you are looking for a chance to hate on a man who has not done many tasteful things - lets look at our current presid..... Nah, that would be too easy.
Obama is indeed a democrat through and through, but he is definitely bringing rivals together in the same party and bringing in great minds from the Republican party - something that has not been done in a while. Sure, most of the people around him will be Democrats, but that's what happens when you win a political election - you help to bring in 'your own'.
Lets take the next month and a half to join together - in a sense of Patriotism and unity - and look up for the coming years. If you are heading into these coming years with a closed mind, then that seems like a personal issue to me. If we always had closed minds, women wouldn't be able to vote, America would still belong to the British, and the education system would be in shambles.
Labels: Anti-Patriotism, Change, reform, unity
posted by Rajiv! at
Thursday, December 04, 2008
2 Comments:
well said!
Mr. Bahl:
Before I begin, I would like to say I deeply appreciate our great friendship and respect your political beliefs (no matter how radically leftist they are).
NoBama is simply an expression of disagreement with President-elect Obama’s political views and ideas. Most of us can agree that we indeed need change, but it is vital that we openly debate what kind of change is needed. Wearing this type of shirt is not symbolic of “distaste” for the man and is certainly not a form of “anti-patriotism.” Further, this shirt does not represent an attack on him personally. Instead the shirt represents an opposition to the liberal proposals he has outlined during his campaign and after his victory. This shirt reminds us that although the majority rule (democrat controlled Congress and White House), the minority’s ideas should be respected and implemented as well
For everyone to blindly support everything that Obama advocates is not healthy for us. Continually challenging our leaders and demanding compromise toward moderate solutions from both parties have made this country successful and a model for democracy around the world. For example, while stronger regulation of the financial markets is needed, we cannot implement leftist, overly stringent regulation that will stifle the free market, which has allowed us to become the wealthiest nation on Earth. Compromise from both sides of the aisle will bring us to a reasonable capitalistic solution.
Moreover, I understand the excitement for this new leader. He claims he is not the traditional politician and promises to bring change in how Washington operates. In addition to changing President Bush’s policies, he particularly emphasized “turning the page” even from the Clinton years during the primaries. But I cannot help to wonder how he is going to bring about this change when his chief of staff and the majority of his cabinet comprise of former Clinton administration officials (Rahm Emanuel, Clinton, Holder, Geithner, Richardson and so forth). Maybe wearing the shirt after the election represents an opposition to Obama’s reversal on his promise to part ways with divisive Clintonian politics of the 90s.
Even though he hasn’t taken power of the presidency, people with these shirts are now expressing their support of conservative ideas to also be a part of the national debate and discussion with regard to the upcoming legislative agenda. Because here in America, everyone has a voice (especially people with money-just joking).
It is no coincidence that the First Amendment includes the right to free speech, press, and assembly. As a staunch conservative, I am appalled of reminding liberals of their hallmark belief in free speech and expression of all kinds. In sum, wearing this shirt is not being close-minded; for one to not wear such a shirt who disagrees with Obama would be unpatriotic.
I agree with you Mr. Bahl that we must unite. However, we must not unite under a single political perspective as some have indicated. Instead, while debating issues and expressing our disagreement (even through clothing), we shall unite under the principles of our democracy including checks and balance and our common mission to strength our nation.
-Your Conservative Secret Admirer
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