Being Un-American

Republican Congresswoman Michele Bachmanns' call for a "penetrating investigation" into Congress to determine if congresspersons are anti-American. America, this is dangerous and incendiary. The assertion is that liberal congresspersons hold views that may be anti-American.

This assertion clearly evokes images of the aggressive and un-American activities of Senator John McCarthy, who in his effort to define others as un-American became himself such a one. The fear evoked of good American citizens and the destruction of so many lives were harrowing.

Senator McCarthy hearings fostered an atmosphere of immense fear and mistrust and completely sought to destroy the lives of those who thought differently from Senator McCarthy, one man. One woman could also incite such an environment. Is this what we want to go as a country?

The danger and incendiary aspects of Mrs. Bacnmann's comment is that it justifies demonizing and vilifying others who hold a different perspective than yours. It justifies a kind of narrowness that lead to Fascism and the destruction of the lives of those who hold different opposing views. There were no Republican anti- Americans on her comments. The suggestion was that Democratic US Senators and Congresspersons should be interrogated to see if they hold anti-American ideas.

Here is Mrs Bachmann:



What does this say about the Americans who put these Senator and Congresspersons in office. The implication here is that liberal Americans are anti-American. This sort of talk is the kind that leads to division, destruction and death. History proves that when you incite others with such comments, especially in this post 911 era, that there are those who will enact the language spoken and respond violently. Is this the kind of administration we want in Washington?

Mrs. Bachmann should be sent home. It is very apparent that she like, Senator McCarthy, while seeking to root out un-American activities, is indeed herself engaging in un-American ideology that the country nor the world needs. Send Mrs. Bachmann packing. Her extremist views, which she tried to attach to Senator Obama, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, and Senator Harry Reid, who are all good Americans serving their country, are dangerous indeed.

Conservatives and conservative leaning newspapers are endorsing Barack Obama. They obvious do not believe with Mrs. Bachmann that Barack Obama is a danger to America. The conservative leaning Chicago Tribune writes, "We have tremendous confidence in his intellectual rigor, his moral compass and his ability to make sound, thoughtful, careful decisions. He is ready."

The LA Times, another conservative leaning newspaper, writes that "We need a leader who demonstrates thoughtful calm and grace under pressure, one not prone to volatile gesture or capricious pronouncement. We need a leader well-grounded in the intellectual and legal foundations of American freedom. Yet we ask that the same person also possess the spark and passion to inspire the best within us: creativity, generosity and a fierce defense of justice and liberty. The Times without hesitation endorses Barack Obama for president."

What does it say of Mrs. Bachmann who wishes to call the American people who sent US senators and congresspersons to represent them as American and what does it say about US papers with millions of readers un-American? This is what Congresswoman Bachmann has done. She has through association called many Americans un-American by our choices. This, in fact, is un-American, as was the actions of Senator McCarthy.

America, this kind of ideology is very incendiary and dangerous. The language and sentiments, in fact, are anti-American. Is this the direction we want to go as a nation?