If you grew up in the ’80s like me, many of you probably spent Saturday mornings watching the WWF and Hulk Hogan’s Rock ‘n’ Wrestling. You knew every line of Hulk’s trademark theme song and sang along before he pummeled the latest WWF heel. Come on, sing it with me now. “I am a real American/ Fight for the rights of every man/ I am a real American/ Fight for what’s right/ Fight for your life!”

Ahem… *clears throat* Sorry about that.

Things sure seemed simpler back then. The baby faces of ’80s television and movies told you who the heels were and who to stand behind; simple, cut and dry, black and white; training, prayers, vitamins, and apple pie.

Then in the ’90s there was the rise in the antihero. These were characters that were neither good nor bad, but somewhere in the middle. Some would even switch allegiance every few months, becoming baby faces or heels, or vice versa. It made for intriguing television because you never knew what was going to happen next.

The point is that just as those characters evolved, so, too, did the American cultural landscape; it is far more diverse and complex now. With the explosion of social media public opinion and interest can change instantly and our perceptions need to constantly change with it to adapt to the ever-changing variables.

There’s been a great deal of rhetoric in recent years with pundits along the entire political spectrum arguing about whom or what defines a “real” American, and therefore, who deserves the rights and protections as guaranteed by the Constitution; some of the talk is downright hateful and bigoted. But if you take the time to listen to some of the logic used in these arguments you begin to see the flaws.

Members of Tea Party factions claim that any foreigner is not an American. Some even believe that the first or second generations born to naturalized immigrants are still not truly American. To them, every person of foreign origin, whether they immigrated here legally or illegally, is not a real American and should get out immediately. Hmm, ask any member of a Native American tribe and they’ll probably agree. After all, they’ve been dealing with illegal immigrants since 1492.

You have those who believe it is tied to idealism, and the myth that unless you toe the line and agree with the majority on every issue and follow the status quo, you are not only unpatriotic, but not a “true” American. To this group, idealism and patriotism are synonymous. This is not only a logical fallacy, but a definitive one as well. Adlai Stevenson once said that, “Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.” Smart man; kind of makes me proud that I went to Adlai E. Stevenson High School.

According to the federal government, anyone who is born within the borders of the United States or on U.S. soil is automatically granted citizenship as a birthright. Those who legally travel to the United States, set up residence, denounce allegiance to their country of origin, and follow the required steps of naturalization leading to reciting the Oath of Allegiance are then lawful Americans with all the protections and rights entitled to them.

So it really burns my biscuits when I turn on my computer, ready to waste a few hours playing on social networking sites, and see countless re-posts by users with something like the following:

“I am an UN-APOLOGETIC AMERICAN! I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for all! I grew up reciting this every morning in school. We no longer do that for fear of OFFENDING SOMEONE! Let’s see how many AMERICANS will repost this & not care about offending someone”

Some quickly and blindly fall in line and assume that it is their “patriotic duty” to copy and paste the statement, so as to not be branded as un-American.

There is a reason specific words in the viral message are in all capital letters. It is to draw attention to those words and the emotional responses they elicit in an attempt to obscure or hide the underlying truth of the message. But if one takes the time to actually read the statement in its entirety, one is reminded of Luke 6:39 “Can a blind man lead a blind man? Will they not both fall into a pit?” The success rate of the statement’s popularity rests on the assumption that most will act as mindless sheep and be compelled to focus on the emphasized words rather than read the whole and evaluate for themselves the validity of the statement.

Now, I want to make it clear that I have no problem with someone exercising their right to express their opinion, even if that opinion is fed by and perpetuates hate. That’s what makes it great to live here. I would spend my life defending someone’s right to post this every day.

What I do have issue with is the insinuation that only a “real American” would agree with this and that by copying it to your status you are affirming 1) that you agree 2) that anyone who doesn’t re-post it does not agree, and therefore is not really a patriotic American and most insulting is 3) a real American doesn’t care about offending, and thus disrespecting, another’s right to live their life according to their own choices, free of discrimination.

So why should I care if those who feel this way are offended by my refusal to agree? Am I not being a true American by not caring if they are offended? After all, it’s their stipulation, not mine.

But the truth is that the most troubling issue I have with this whole thing has to do with taking offense and speaking my mind. Those who post things of this nature always get offended when someone replies with a rebuttal. They immediately get defensive and angry. They fire back with emotion rather than rationality. Even in the realm of text-based communication you can sense the seething anger in every keystroke; yet they can’t understand why the other side can be equally committed to standing their ground.

The reason for this is from a mix of fear and arrogance. The mere fact that someone disagrees is seen as a personal attack and the fear resides in the mistaken idea that that you are being accused of wrongful reasoning in your assessment of the particular topic; and since you are always right, therein lays the arrogance.

Most of the time, if I see this viral post, or something similar, and just shrug it off. I may disagree, but they have a right to say it.

As the campaign season kicks into full gear I’m starting to see things like this again in various postcard-sized graphics; and as my mind centered on the issue and I decided to speak up for the other side. To play Devil’s advocate, as it were.

On a side note, I love the many postcard graphics virally spreading through cyberspace, but people- please check your spelling and grammar before posting them. The laughable mistakes take away from the messages you’re trying to convey.

I had commented on this “Un-apologetic American” post early in 2011 but rather than single any one user out by commenting on their post, I made a general statement through my own page; a much more respectful move on my part I figured. With a spike in the original message making the rounds again, I decided to update that response.

“My rebuttal to the viral “I am an UN-APOLOGETIC AMERICAN! I pledge allegiance to the flag of the USA, and to the REPUBLIC for which it stands, one nation under GOD, indivisible, with LIBERTY and JUSTICE for all! I grew up reciting this every morning in school. We no longer do that for fear of OFFENDING SOMEONE! Let’s see how many AMERICANS will repost this & not care about offending someone” post. Read on below.

If you are offended by this, just remember, if you don’t want my opinion, don’t shove yours in my face.

You know what? I am also an American- born and raised with the same rights as you to not stand in blind obedience to the flag of the United States of America when in protest of national policy.

I’m proud of my personal faith and choose not to push my god on anyone else; you are free to believe in yours without question from me. “Liberty and justice for all” is unconditional; and freedom of religion means all religions.

I grew up in the same schools you did. These are institutions for learning science, history, and critical thinking skills, not conditioning centers for select groups to spread fear and intolerance of those who pray in the privacy of their own homes to different gods, or none at all.

Real Americans can think for themselves. I don’t care if anyone does or doesn’t re-post this. That’s what freedom of choice means. I don’t need the validation of “likes” and re-posts to be proud of my right to an opinion.

Furthermore, I see nothing wrong in apologizing for wrong doing. As an American, no, as a human being, I mature and learn through the humility of admitting when I am wrong. If something I say is offensive to someone I don’t huff my chest and say, “That’s your problem.” I ask why they were offended and discuss as adults where we can meet in the middle. If we can’t then that’s that. They have their view and I have mine. Life and relationships aren’t defined by a single issue.

To paraphrase a popular expression, if I may, opinions are like assholes. Everyone has one, and everyone’s shit stinks; just don’t shove it in my face and let it rip.

If your intent is to put these issues on the table and open the matter up for discussion, then don’t get dismayed when someone answers the call with something that you might not agree with.

Well, that’s just my opinion. I could be wrong.

 

 

©2012 R. Wolf Baldassarro/
Deep Forest Productions