Priorities and Patriotism

Last night's television news showed a stark contrast between the downtown celebrations of Mardi Gras in New Orleans, while only blocks away devastation and decimation reigned on the poor people. According to one news source, the city spent $2 million dollars to host this lavish spectacle, saying it was good for the people. Which people--the wealthy, or the poor needing their yards cleared of debris, who cannot find homes, who cannot find food, or jobs, or help? The same hold true about the needy and homeless across the country. Cities can somehow quickly come up with hundreds of millions of dollars for sports arenas, but cannot come up with enough money for social services programs, after-school programs, recreation programs, homeless shelters, good paying jobs, etc. I am very proud of our military--they have rallied and served our nation in this crisis. But we also need to fight at home for our neediest, our poorest, our most helpless, and our most homeless. Patriotism is wonderful when we fight abroad preserving democracy, but we also must put aside partisan fighting to give that same "liberty and justice for all" spirit to every citizen. People must be fought for at home--that every one has a good paying job--not outsourced for the sake of a few executive; People must have affordable housing--not luxury homes for just the wealthy. If we are so patriotic, why aren't we defending the rights to having products made at home here in the USA, real jobs get created, where people can afford to live comfortably, and where people can get good affordable medical care. American Patriotism means that we stand for our own citizenry first, not give it all to other countries. Our country is not capable of solving the world's problems--we need the remaining 150 or so countries to help--and we need to clean up our own homeland first. Poverty, discrimination, joblessness, homelessless and no affordable medical care, especially for anyone--is this the American ideal? Or is the the new patriotism--fighting to keep people living this way while doling out every tax dollar to every country around the world? When you look at your checkbook, even with "low" priced products, do you feel incredibly squeezed more and more? Do you feel that you have to work 2 or 3 jobs just to keep a low-income apartment? What about the 2.5 million individuals who filed a record number of personal bankruptcies in the U.S. in 2005--aren't these the real indicators that patriotism is mis-guided? If you do, write your congressional delegation where you live, your governor, and your local officials. Get involved-vote-take a stand, do something. If you fill a seat in your church--don't just give money--act for those who cannot get a voice or get heard. Stand for those who are not being taken seriously. Make it crystal clear that we need a new America--where we join hands with everyone, no matter how different they may be from us--we are Americans -- one and all. The next time you say the Pledge of Allegiance, say it not only to the flag, but to your fellow Americans. That is the real message of liberty and justice for all, and is the real spirit of Patriotism.