Patriotism and the Limits of Tolerance

The Way We Were: Ellis Island

If anyone ever tells you that America has been an intolerant nation, tell them to go back and rethink their position. (Feel free to rephrase the admonishment in a more suitable fashion for the particular circumstance).

America, while having some obvious growing pains over the years, has been a beacon for souls all over the globe seeking a better life, and while those souls have been subjected to a sort of hazing early on, they have been accepted and embraced in the long term. Part of the reason for the ultimate acceptance of these people has been their willingness to assimilate into our society and become what they came here to be; Americans.

It used to be that new arrivals to America landed in New York Harbor and stood in line -- often long lines -- to swear their allegiance to their new country, and they meant the words they used. So grateful were they to be in a new home that offered the freedom and opportunity denied in their homelands, that they spoke the oaths of allegiance with reverence.  That is no longer true.

No Reverence for America Today

Today, there are an estimated 11 million people living in the Land of the Free that do not belong here legally. They have sneaked into the country and -- contrary to their predecessors -- not only have refused to accept the glory of their new home, but work tirelessly to change it into a mirror image of the country from which they fled, to be kind. Others expend a similar energy in the pursuit of destroying America completely. And we "tolerate" them for fear of being labelled intolerant.

Such is the disease we suffer today that resulted in the attacks of 9/11 and, more recently, the Boston bombing. There are people living all over this country who have no love of this great nation, and some who actively plot her demise, and every attempt at increased scrutiny is treated as hateful and wrong by the Liberals, the very group that would feed the lion in hopes of being eaten last. We invite our own end by this insanity, and it has to stop.

America is a great country which should be a safe place for all her citizens to enjoy, and I believe it will be again. To get to that place, though, will require some serious soul searching by not only our inept politicians, but by our incredibly gullible populace, as well. I feel that whatever the outcome, however, will have no bearing on the minds of true patriots who live in what our beloved media refer to as "flyover country".

I live in a Liberal stronghold, but my heart is in the patriots' section, and I know that eventually, the forced level of what passes for tolerance will disappear if terrorist attacks continue. Just as the Japanese discovered after Pearl Harbor, America -- or more precisely, Americans -- can be the best friend the world has ever seen while potentially the worst enemy ever known. And for all the jihadists who plan future attacks, our tolerance has limits.

The perception of many in the Middle East of American "weakness" is a dangerous misconception, one that I almost hope our enemies continue. On the other hand, I do not want to see more Americans die, even if they are somewhat complicit in their own tragic end. But I would be remiss if I didn't at least attempt to warn our enemies of the potential peril of an all out assault on this great nation. Despite our differences, Americans will fight together as brothers no matter what.

What you may fail to recognize is that no matter how much you may hate us, this is a country we all know is worth fighting for, and we will do so in a manner in which you may not comprehend.

We will fight for love.

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