Great Leaders, Decsion Makers, and Listeners: The real images of Patriotism

 I really liked our last class meeting the scenarios were thought provoking because they were debatable. I have been told that I am perusing the wrong major because I do like to debate, but I never thought about issues like the ones brought up in the scenarios as having to do with patriotism. I had this narrow American Revolution idea of patriotism, mainly because that's the example school gives you. Patriots are people who would live and die for their country no matter what we are asking you to die for.
  The picture that I brought in last class to demonstrate patriotism was of my sister in her army uniform. Which is the normal view of what is patriotic which would be true I support the troops because that is a huge sacrifice that I know I am too selfish to make. (just being honest) Although I view anyone who is serving this country by putting their lives at risk with the up most respect I do disagree with why they are having to do so.
  After 9/11 every one had their flags out because united we stand. Also after 9/11 the decision to go to war was made with scare tactics that  "terrorist" were gonna kill us all and we had to fight a war against them. We also need to find Osmana Bin Laudin who was hiding out in a cave making threatening video tapes. Our President used rhetoric to gain support for an unnecessary war. He played on the emotions of the people to rally them into an angry state to where if you were against the war you were not a patriot. It was bad for a while like people threatened the Dixie Chicks because they spoke out and wouldn't go along with the blow up ask questions latter mentality.
  The post post 9/11 problem is that we are still in a country that we didn't need to invade. It is upsetting that people who were in power at that time are now pointing the finger at one another saying that they really didn't want to go to war but there wasn't any other way. Or there is the opps! our bad information story being told that they knew it was somewhat irrational but it seemed rational at the time. That is unacceptable behavior by a leader but in America we don't have leaders we have polaticians.
   Its funny that the more I pay attention to the news the term leader isn't used that much we use goverment titles which at least to me gives it a businness feel. It comes off just the opposite of what Ella Baker said a leader should lead. Without some form of personal title it all just seems like official bussiness which in some regards people avoid. I have heard numoruos times that you Never disscuss polictis at the table or ever. That goes against patriotism it would be benificial for us to conversat about the issues that affect us all. The problem is that people have attachments to parties and they won't let go. I am guilty of that I am a libral all day everyday I really don't like rebupblican policies or ideals. However I am going to challenge myself to take away the label which I causes me to automactilly redicule the other side and see what I learn it will be hard but I am going to try that. Having a narrow mind means that there is no space for broader thoughts to evolve.
   In response Patriotism the points brought up are ones that I would like to further explore because there are a lot of things that I feel could be done differently or not at all however there is no real avenue for your voice to be heard without dismissal. People would rather have the ease of misery instead of the discomfort of working to change the cause of their misery. It is hard to be heard and taken seriously as a student or in a work place in fact if your heard too much you risk loosing your job.
      I also would like to comment on the issue of the black male deviante. I have something they should add to that like an interesting thing for them to observe when it comes to behavoir and consequences. Every school I attended throughout my precollege years was prodomatly white, but my mother taught in an almost all black school on the "other" side of town. I noticed the differances between the schools and their perspective locations more and more as I got older. But all though the mannerisms were different when it came to the nature of disruptive behavior I noticed that the "white" children who were trouble makers at my school were a constant problem all year and were never expelled where as the boys at my mothers school would have three issues and would be sent to alternative school or expelled. Yeah that should be investigated further like within a few schools place two boys one black one white and have them behave the same way with the same teacher and see what would happen to each boy.