>>Check out Barbara Kingsolver's words at:
>>
>>http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2001/09/25/ED34658.DTL
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>I sincerely hope that the author of this article does not feel what she writes:
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>"Patriotism opposes the lone representative of democracy who was brave enough to vote her conscience instead of following an angry mob. (Several others have confessed they wanted to vote the same way, but chickened out.) Patriotism threatens free speech with death. It is infuriated by thoughtful hesitation, constructive criticism of our leaders and pleas for peace. It despises people of foreign birth who've spent years learning our culture and contributing their talents to our economy. It has specifically blamed homosexuals, feminists and the American Civil Liberties Union. In other words, the American flag stands for intimidation, censorship, violence, bigotry, sexism, homophobia, and shoving the Constitution through a paper shredder? "
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>This is NOT what patriotism is about. The people who have said and done the things she references are NOT true patriots. I stand by the need to go to war with the terrorists, but we need to stand together to win. The bigots who are taking advantage of this tragedy to further their own cause are not patriots, they are un-American.
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>I didn't vote for Bush, in fact I think he rigged the election. I have never really liked him. But right now, with this 'New War', I fully support him (something I never thought I would say) because we need to. Bickering over little stuff will get us nowhere.
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>The attacks were in no way related to homosexuals, feminists, the ACLU, the Muslim religion (most Muslims consider Osama Bin Laden to be blasphemous) or most Arab Americans. These people are all part of our country and we should all band together on this: The attacks were caused by terrorists, and these terrorists, regardless of race, religion, sex, age, sexual prefernece, and all those who support them need to die to prevent more innocent people from dying throughtout. the world. Unfortunately, they cannot be reasoned with.
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>THAT is patriotism.

And, to be blunt, you are either with the USA in its fight against terrorism, or you are for the terrorists. There is nothing to negotiate. The Islamic fundamentalmentalist want us convert to their form of religion, as demonstrated by the Taliban, or they want us dead. You negotiate by surrendering. As Bush said, "There is NO middle ground. " Pacificism is not the 'higher moral ground", it is folks enjoying liberties paid for by other people's blood and sacrifice.