America: Love it or leave it. How many times have you heard those words spoken or that thought expressed in other ways? If you have the opinions I have and you live in the kind of political climate in which I live, probably a lot. True story: I put up a profile on Classmates.com a while back, just to kind of drive some potential traffic to my writing, and I basically shared some of my opinions that I have shared here about the state of America, though in a much broader way. This guy that I hadn’t seen between my senior year and my 20th high school reunion and whom I haven’t seen since then writes to me basically sharing that sentiment. If I don’t like it here, why not just leave?

Usually this kind of thought is expressed by someone who otherwise presents no intellectual interest to you. But this is a guy I liked in high school, for the most part, and liked even more at my reunion. A dummy he’s not. So I was kind of surprised that he was expressing this viewpoint. Especially as what I wrote on the profile wasn’t nearly as outrageously leftist as some of the things I’ve written. But to give you an idea of what kind of political environment I live in here in Pensacola, we actually had a billboard that read "America: Love It or Leave It" in big letters.

Putting aside for the moment that the definition of loving America means many different things to different people, let’s take a really close look at what people are saying when they express that view. To ask someone to leave America because they disagree with your politics if, of course, the deepest irony possible. After all, America was built entirely on the structure of being able to openly express disapproval of your government. Remember, the founders of America were citizens of England at the time and they went far beyond merely expressing disapproval. So anyone saying “America: Love it or leave it” is, in reality, expressing the single most un-American sentiment possible.

But let’s move in closer. To say that you should leave the country because you find a flaw in it is to say that the system is perfect. You disagree with that concept? Look at it this way. Most of the time someone tells you to love America or leave it, it is said in response to a criticism of the country. And since you are being advised to leave simply because you suggested that something may be wrong with America, that can only mean that the person who is saying it believes there is nothing wrong with America. Because if there was something wrong and that person said it, then you would have the right to tell them to leave. Therefore, they must believe there is nothing wrong with America. That it is perfect. Flawless.

http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/19843

those who say "love it or leave it" should leave

It Probably Won't Leave You
America, Love It or Leave It
By BEN TRIPP

I find people that cry 'fascism' at the slightest erosion of their fundamental American rights just as irritating as the next guy. The next guy happens to be Heinrich Himmler, but you know what I mean. It takes a lot to get me riled. After all, just because the government is spending our tax dollars to get access to every citizen's phone records for nefarious purposes known only to a bunch of paranoiacs in the NSA, is that something to get upset about? At least we have phones. People in Shakespeare's time didn't have phones. Back then, if the government wanted to spy on somebody, it had to hire a couple of guys in slouch hats to follow them around all day. If you look on the bright side of things, if you see the ass as half-full instead of half-empty, you realize we've never had it so good. America is still the greatest country in the world, and if you don't like it, you are free to move somewhere else. This may change.

Somewhere else includes Sweden, where the citizens enjoy free health care, a guaranteed minimum standard of living, 12 months of paid childcare leave, universal accident insurance, comprehensive public transportation, the most sexually liberated society in the world, and tall blonde women with immense knockers. Or Norway, which has the highest standard of living in the world and is right next to Sweden, with similar women. Canada is also somewhere else; if you don't mind the total absence of palm trees, you can live pretty well in Canada. In fact Canada has the third-highest standard of living in the world, according to most major surveys; if you must have palm trees, the United States is in 6th place for quality of life worldwide. So you can do better, but you can do worse. Now I irrationally dislike the Swiss as much as anybody, but if you want a good life, Zurich is the place. It's the world's top-rated city.

Are any of these countries engaging in surveillance of their entire population? Not as such, but you can get some pretty dirty looks in certain areas of Oslo. So okay, the USA is having little fascisty moments, but let's not go nuts. Many countries torture their prisoners, we're not exactly trailblazers in that area. And who doesn't imprison people without charges or trial? I mean besides the rest of the developed world. Part of the problem might be that most of the really comfy countries don't spend very much on weapons and war, which I've always thought was one of America's more endearing traits. And why would anybody spend money on their own military industrial complex when they can use ours? I'd like to hear a word of gratitude from Europe, where America has troops of one sort or another in Albania, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Gibraltar, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Malta, Moldova, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden (no wonder they can afford dental care), Switzerland (bastards), Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, the United Kingdom, and a couple of boys at the Vatican City.

Or how about all you heathen devils across the Pacific? I'd start showing a flash of totalitarianism myself if I had a military presence in Australia, Burma, Cambodia, China, Fiji, Hong Kong, Indonesia, Japan (we give you soldiers, you give us Puffy Amiyumi), also South Korea, Laos, Malaysia, the Marshall Islands, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore (Asia's top rated city to live in is Singapore), Thailand, Tonga, Vietnam, and a sizeable fleet in the watery bits thereabouts. But heck, we have military in other places, too, so why should everybody get upset just because our government plans to militarize the border with Mexico for shamelessly political reasons having nothing to do with illegal immigration? Try North Africa and the Middle East, we have lots of O.D. Green stuff there: Algeria, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Diego Garcia (this isn't a guy like I thought, it's a place; thank heavens we didn't station troops on some Spaniard's chest), Egypt, India, Iraq (we still have troops there, apparently), Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Morocco, Nepal, Oman, Pakistan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Syria, Tunisia, the good old United Arab Emirates, and Yemen But why stop there? We also have troops getting hella suntans in Botswana, Burundi, Cameroon, Chad, Congo, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Cote d'Ivoire, Kenya, Liberia, Mali, Mozambique, Niger, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, St. Helena, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. These are places in Africa, for all you high school seniors that recently got tested on geography and muffed it.

I know what you're thinking: what about the Western Hemisphere? Because if we had troops there, you could almost understand why maybe we picked up some bad habits. After all, we send Latin American soldiers to our 'School of the Americas' to learn how to torture people, then we mingle our troops with their troops, some of our boys and girls are bound to find out about waterboarding. In countries like Antigua, Argentina, the Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, Bolivia, Brazil, the British Virgin Islands, Canada (did we invade them or did our troops just end up there by mistake?), and some others like Chile, Columbia, Costa Rica, Cuba (we have a nice little outpost at Guantanamo), the Dominican Republic (thanks for all the cigars), Ecuador, El Salvador, Grenada, Guatemala, Guyana, Haiti, Honduras, Jamaica, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Suriname, Trinidad and Tobago, Uruguay, Venezuela, and a couple of shrimp boats.

I think that pretty much explains why we're having a little case of police-stateitis here in the US, and I'd appreciate it if all you peaceniks would just back off and go exercise your human rights somewhere else. Wherever that is, there will probably be a few American tanks and some bombers and things, but at least you won't be keeping the rest of us awake with your shrill cries over phantoms of lost liberty. There may be other countries with higher standards of living, with better governments more responsive to the wishes of their electorate. Sure, there may be countries where freedom and human rights are more than just catchphrases to be tossed out the window the minute it's inconvenient, such as I admit does happen in the United States now and then (especially now). Indeed, with poverty, racism, inequality, a disintegrating infrastructure, corporate control of the government, and the spiraling degradation of the environment, some crybabies could claim that America is no longer the greatest nation in the world. But don't. Because America probably has troops in your immediate area, and we will not hesitate to kick your ass.

I love America(land of Heaven) ,That is why I would like to put our govt on trial for War Crimes,and treason, and bring our Troops home NOW!! I would like to do this soon,before our leaders give the other countries more reasons to remove us off the map. I love this Country and want to try to save it.

Other countries are getting tired of us occupying more and more of their countries. That is what we are doing in these places, and they are hating us more every day. Why are we still occupying places like Germany??? Is it because we are their friends? Why are we building new military bases in many places, you don't suppose it is a way of occupying them??? Do you suppose the Common Iraqis want us building all those bases over there, Is it so that we can occupy Iraq for the next 100 years. I think it is called the Zionist One World Order!!(Israel Rule the World) Remember many countries call us Little Israel!! I hear that Russia and China will flatten America if they have to , in order to remove all Zionist trouble Makers. And those Zionists are hiding behind our American soldiers.The Nation of Israel is hiding behind our soldiers TOO!! I Love America , BRING our Soldiers home and save THEM and AMERICA(Land of Heaven)!!!Hey,I love America, if you don't love America and our soldiers, Why don't you LEAVE

Why is that. I mean people don't have to agree with everything the government is doing to love their country. I mean if you don't love it you could leave it and have a good life in another country. What if when I tell someone "love it or leave it" I am letting them know that they should find a place they love and live there so that they can be happy and experience a better life.

I mean if your friend was dating someone and they didn't really care for them wouldn't you tell them to dump them and find someone better?

Iam glad our founding fathers didnt feel the way you do......they would just have looked at the good and said "OH well things are mostly ok just gorget about it"..

Hey Lindyy..
you get that feeling too about SMO???

Symbelmyne,

Unfortunately, unfortunately.

Wanted to say something a long time ago about him and his ignorance.

Lindyy

Oh, I am incognito tonight. Like my new 'look'?

Lindyy

Why thank you, and you are as charming as ever, my dear.

Or, he had too many of those 'silly mushrooms'.

This has nothing to do with someone saying the holocaust never happened.

I do not like favoring Israel above America, that is treason and it is a form of Zionism. It is letting Israel work on taking over the World by Using US troops. There are some mighty fine outstanding good jews (who do not believe in the TALMUD)(do not hate Christians), and there are some really bad ones too,Talmudists Ones,(believe in the TALMUD) who hate ALL CHRISTIANS, you too ,if you are Christian,(They do not believe in Jesus) and would not hesitate to kill you in a New York minute. They have no scruples toward any Christians.(watch out for your kids)They do not consider it murder to kill a Christian.(TALMUD says so) That is why some countries call us the GREAT SATAN,or Little Israel, because they believe (know ) that We have Ones like this in our govt.

Smo don't hate Jews , he just is not in favor of people who hate Christians(TALMUDISTS) (SATANISTS) and ones that favor Israel above the US(ZIONISTS) There are lots and lots of real fine Jews who are non of the ABOVE. And there are Gentiles (non JEWS) who are SATANIST and also Zionists , that (favor Israel above the US). SMO is not in favor of all non Jews in our govt either, I think we have some very bad ones of them too, who are PARTNERS with the Talmudists and the SATANISTS. The New World order Bunch is not all Jews, Some are gentiles who think, and plan on sharing the One WORLD ORDER with the Talmudists

Whats any of that have to do with loving America?

SMO is not playing with a full deck. I have no idea what he is tryig to accomplish or say, but he is making America look very, very bad. That, is shameful.

A Christian, he is NOT.

Lindyy

dont blame it all on smo others are doing there small part. the following Link is very horrible they are the photos taken at ABU Graib by american troops tortureing Iraqis. If you have a weak stomach dont look. But nothing could ever make america look any worse than this. Not some blogger or flag burner nor a right wing fanatic foaming at the mouth could ever ever make this country look any worse http://www.thememoryhole.org/war/iraqis_tortured/

me gusta espanol???

My you are one scary dude...ever heard of the Dead Sea Scrolls? Dont you know where Christians came from? What do you know about the Talmud any way, ever even read it???? Muslims are anti Zionist and attack any who support Zionism, like the US..Jews do not believe that Jesus was the mesiah, But we know he was a dedicated jewish rabbi..Zionism is the belief in taking back Israel instead of waiting for it to be delivered by god....as I said, one scary dude, dude....