Stand Up
2004-01-16, 10:07 a.m.

Okay, another rant from Nimiiwin.

I read Margaret Cho�s blog and she wrote a bit on 1/13 about a gig she did for Moveon.org. Apparently the transcript of that was put on a website and referred to as a speech. Well, it riled up some people who emailed her the most vitriolic email you can imagine. It would seem that these people don�t have the intellect or even imagination to write a complete, clear sentence that doesn�t include racial, misognynist and/or homophobic slurs.

Margaret included their email addresses when she posted their responses on her website. Apparently, they�ve been deluged with people telling them off on Margaret�s, and our, behalf. These people seem to think that Asians, women, gays, lesbians, liberals are undeserving of American citizenship.

When exactly did America become a police state? Do you know that under the Patriot Act, any American citizen or anyone at all really, can be held without legal representation or any legal rights if they are suspected of �terrorist� behavior? Which could simply be looking too Arab. It isn�t Someone Else to whom this is happening. It�s You and Me. Maybe so far it hasn�t been, but it could be easily. They don�t have to have any probable cause or anything. The whim of the Feds is all it takes. Maybe even the whim of a local police officer.

When did it become a crime instead of our obligation to speak our minds, to make our thoughts known, to keep an eye on Our Government. That�s right, President Bush and others, Our Government. We�re supposed to be the land of the free. Remember that? It�s even in our national anthem. Remember? �O, say, does that star spangled banner yet wave? O�er the land of the free and the home of the brave.�

And Americans who speak out on this are silenced. At least the attempt to silence them is made. Remember the Dixie Chicks and what happened to them because they voiced their disgust over this war? One small example.

I went to Mexico in 1998 and I was astonished that when the men in the mercados tried to guess my nationality, they never once guessed American, even after hearing me speak. They guessed Italian, French, Greek but not American. Today I�m ashamed of our country and somewhat glad that I�m not noticeably American. At the same time, though I say I wish I could move to Canada, I won�t. Along with the privilege that comes with being American comes responsibility and I�ll stay and do what I can to change things here. No one said being free would be easy or simple. You don�t have to give up your career to become an activist or change careers to become a lobbyist but it is imperative that we all stay informed and speak out. To each other, to our elected officials and to our president. We must not stoop to their level of name-calling and vitriol. Remember Dr. King, whose birthday our nation celebrates on Monday. He and those with whom he worked accomplished much while maintaining their dignity and the respect for the position of President, Senator, etc. even if they could not accord the respect to the individual holding that position. Let�s not name call. Let�s not rise to the bait. Let those who disagree with us lose their minds and look foolish in public. It does us no good to follow suit.

Be informed. Please don�t assume that because you hear something it�s true. Don�t even believe me. Find out for yourself. Even if you disagree with everything I stand for, please stand up for what you believe in and do so with pride, dignity and grace.