"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness."
It has been said that patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel. I say that there's a line between patriotism and jingoism, and that the Bush Administration crossed that line long ago. I love this country and the principles on which it was brought into being:
ALL people are created equal
ALL people have rights upon which it is wrong, nee evil, to infringe
It is the duty of government to protect the rights of all people
The government derives its right to govern from the people, not the other way around
That should that government ever run counter to the principles upon which it is founded, the people have the right to get rid of it and form a new government
The moment the Bush Administration crossed the line into jingoism, it proved that it does not regard all people as created equal, as it has sought to infringe upon the rights of all, and more heavily upon select groups. It has acted as if it is a soverign entity, deriving its power from itself. Therefore, we who would oppose it should remember that right is on our side when we cast our votes in November to rid ourselves of this most corrupt and decrepit Administration which has done America a total disservice!