Who has made me your enemy?
This post comes about as a result of an email, a Facebook post, and the reaction of a family member.
I got the email early yesterday afternoon - one of those 'FW;FW;FW:' jobs entitled 'The Grey-Haired Brigade.' The jist of the email was that Old People, back in the day, saved the American Way Of Life, saluted the flag and know the words to the Pledge of Allegiance, and those young ingrate Obama voters have gone and pissed it all away. I usually just delete crap like that, but for some reason I peeked at this one, and it set me off. The part that got me pissed went something like this (emphasis added for the parts that really ticked me):
We have loved this country, fought for it, and died for it, and now we are going to save it. It is our country and nobody is going to take it away from us! We took oaths to defend America against all enemies, foreign and domestic, and that is an oath we plan to keep. There are those who want to destroy this land we love but, like our founders, there is no way we are going to remain silent.
It was the young people of this nation who elected Obama and the Democratic Congress. You fell for the "Hope and Change" which in reality was nothing but "Hype and Lies." You have tasted socialism and seen evil face to face, and have found you don't like it after all. You make a lot of noise, but most are all too interested in their careers or "Climbing the Social Ladder" to be involved in such mundane things as patriotism and voting. Many of those who fell for the "Great Lie" in 2008 are now having buyer's remorse. With all the education we gave you, you didn't have sense enough to see through the lies and instead drank the 'Cool-Aid.' Now you're paying the price and complaining about it. No jobs, lost mortgages, higher taxes, and less freedom. This is what you voted for and this is what you got. We entrusted you with the Torch of Liberty and you traded it for a paycheck and a fancy house.
And it only got worse from there - this part in particular:
Well, don't worry youngsters, the Grey Haired Brigade is here, and in 2012 we are going to take back our nation! We may drive a little slower than you would like but we get where we're going, and in 2012 we're going to the polls by the millions. This land does not belong to the man in the White House nor to the likes of Nancy Pelosi and Harry Reid. It belongs to "We the People" and "We the People" plan to reclaim our land and our freedom.
I felt my blood pressure going up as I read this, as I realized that the sender of the letter considered me - a part of her own family, no less - as part of a group who 'drank the cool-aid' and put a big house over knowing the words to the Pledge of Alliegance, or something (for the record, I do know those words, but that's apparently not enough to keep me out of that group who the Geezers are going to have to save, riding to the rescue on their (Medicare-financed) Hoverounds).
Now, anyone who knows me will tell you that I have more than my share of grey hairs. The difference between myself and whoever wrote this email is that I don't see myself as a self-appointed savior of the American Way Of Life. I'm just an old dude who plays guitar and believes what I believe, and I've got no problem with 'live and let live,' either. I'm just an old liberal who is proud of being an old liberal.
Then a few minutes later, I get another email - this one from another family member, who felt the need to yell at my dirty kind like this:
I agree with you, yes we may be a slower and not able as well, but we can make it to the poles (sic) in 2012, so come on ll you who helped make this Country what it was before the BIG CHANGE lead us down the wrong road to socialism. Get with it gang.....DO YOU LOVE THIS COUNTRY.....
I looked at the email in disbelief, as it dawned on me that at least two of my own family members consider me - their little brother, for cryin' out loud - as part of that dirty crowd who voted for Socialism and forgetting the words to the Pledge of Alliegance. Or something.
Well, that tore it. I hit 'reply all' and sent back this to everyone in the address bar:
Do NOT send me this stuff any more.
I disagree profoundly with many of you about a lot of what’s in this email. I am a proud Democrat and will go to my grave a proud Democrat.
SCREW this ‘Socialism and evil’ garbage. It is wrong, and you are wrong for referring to a duly elected government of the United States in such a manner.
I want no part of these emails. Take me off your forward lists, because these types of emails are so wrong it’s an embarrassment.
And save your Tea Party rhetoric. They are the problem, whether you see it or not.
So I went on Facebook and posted pretty much the same message there. That set off yet another wave of invective from the 'DO YOU LOVE AMERICA' family member. That little exchange culminated in this little gem being posted...
Your (sic) that one that is taking AMERICA AWAY FROM ME>>>>>>>>>
Now without going into too much detail, let's say I've helped this family member out financially a number of times and have never asked for anything in return - not even asking for repayment of the money. I just consider it the good liberal thing to do - take care of family members who need it. The godly, Christian thing to do, if you will.
And here I am, being scolded by this family member who I've never hesitated to extend a hand to if it was needed, and being told that I'm 'taking America away from her.
Good. Fucking. Grief.
So I responded, keeping it general, reminding this family member that this house has never shied from the good works of charity. And I asked a question that I do not expect an answer to, but I had to ask in hopes it will make my family think a little bit about what they're accusing me of. The question was this:
Who has made me your enemy?
I plan on using that question quite a bit in the future, because I have the feeling that my days of being accused of Stealing Freedom from Those Who Are More American Than Me are nowhere near over. Feel free to use it yourselves if you want. It's a good question, and maybe it'll make people think of what the fuck they're saying.