The Fake Courage of Patriots

Few developments in politics in America have surprised me as much as the utterly sheep-like response to revelations that the government is tapping everyone’s phones. [I know– a purist may quibble. The government is actually only collecting all of the phone numbers you have called. They haven’t started actually listening in on the conversations yet. But why shouldn’t they? The idea has now been test-marketed. Nobody objects.]

Americans wax more effusively and eloquently than anyone else in the history of the world on precious freedoms and liberties. And then they trade them away in a flash for a handful of beans.

It is really, really very stunning. The one mitigating factor in the pantheon of disagreeable traits of Americans has always been the high value they seemed to place on freedom and democracy. Sure Americans can be loud and bombastic and ignorant, and sometimes supremely indifferent to the value of a community– but they always used to err on the side of civil liberties.

And I find it more than unfortunate to discover that none of it is true. It’s an absolute tragedy. It’s positively depressing. It may be the end of the biggest charade in the history of the world. Freedom is squat. The constitution is a hallmark card of fuzzy, effusive sentiments about human dignity and liberty. The Bill of Rights? If the government decides we need any rights, I’m sure they’ll get around to granting them.

I should have known. The support for a constitutional amendment banning flag-burning is a pretty clear indicator. Why don’t they just pass constitutional amendments banning atheism, homosexuality, and lustful thoughts while they are at it?

There are some other things I know I am going to find out in the near future.

1. Most Americans don’t really believe in God.

2. Most Americans don’t really believe that truth is better than lies.

3. Most Americans don’t really believe that it matters where Paris Hilton is sleeping tonight.

4. Most Americans really do like seeing nudity on television.

5. Most Americans would sell their own mothers for any of the following prizes:

  • an appearance on Leno or Oprah
  • tickets to front row seats at the Superbowl,
  • a Big Mac

I was also amazed, given my disappointment elsewhere, with the fact that the jury did not sentence Zacarias Moussaoui to death after it was determined that he thought bad thoughts about the U.S. after 9/11. Then I found out that it was merely one juror of the 12. So the vote of one person was all that stood between an execution for crimes never committed and life in prison for crimes never committed.

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