THESE are the times that try men's souls.
After reading the diary about Michelle Bachmann's despicable words, after reading repeatedly about Sarah Palin's hateful comments, after reading about the defacement of signs for Barack Obama in my very blue state of Maryland, I am beyond disgusted.
And I feel the need to reclaim the words "All American."
They do not own that phrase. Let's make that abundantly clear.
Let me tell you a little about my background.
My family traces its European ancestry back to at least the 1630s in Virginia. So, it is entirely possible that members of my family would have read Thomas Paine's words shortly after they were written on this very soil.
Members of my family crossed the Cumberland Gap with Daniel Boone many generations ago. I have tremendous pride in the pioneer spirit which runs through my veins.
My grandfather was a proud graduate of the United States Military Academy Class of 1915, the Class of Generals. He was an intelligent and thoughtful man who served his country valiantly in the first World War, who valued education above all and always taught respect for the flag.
And above all, I do wonder what my grandfather would think of the hatred being spread in the name of "America" by some of these people.
Sarah Palin, Michelle Bachmann, I ask you: What gives you the right to claim that your definition of All American is the only one that matters?
Your vision sickens me. Really, utterly, physically sickens me. The America to which you appeal is not the one I recognize, nor one in which I would want to raise my children.
The appeals of Sarah Palin, of Michelle Bachmann, of oh so many members of the right wing noise machine, are beyond appalling. These are not appeals to what is the best of America but an appeal to what is the worst, a narrow, racist, xenophobic hatred of the "other." This is far, far from what represents the ideal of this country. This represents the most base, the most repulsive aspects of what our country could be, if we were allow this to take hold. And it scares me to the very core.
As a bona fide, died in the wool All American Hockey Mom, I take pride in the diversity of ideas and backgrounds that have made our country great, and continue to challenge ALL of us to aspire to be our best, to work the challenges that face us. I have met, learned, and worked with many wonderful, tremendously talented and intelligent people who hardly look like my very WASPy self. And I know that I am so much the better for it, as is our country. I am so utterly blessed to have known so many people of so many backgrounds, and one of the most amazing things I have learned from them is this:
There is truly no other place on the Earth that has the freedom and the spirit that America does.
And that is what I work to teach my children about the beauty, about the blessings, about the sheer dumb luck, of being born in America. Every single day.
So when I see the kind of hatred, the fear, that is being pushed by the people on the other side, I really do wonder if they recognize what I see as the beauty of this great country of ours, the true freedoms and opportunities that my forebears fought for. That so many have fought for without taking up arms. That people I have also known who walked along Dr. King, who have spoken up for freedom without bearing arms, those who have also fought hard for their visions of a great country, a shining beacon on a hill.
In the end, we are all Americans.
Governor Palin, Representative Bachmann: you are part of America.
But America is much, much broader than are you and your narrow, repulsive view of this truly great country that belongs to all of us.
You do not own the term American.