On Saturday, September 12, Tea Baggers across the nation held rallies. In Washington DC, some "tens of thousands" of people showed up (no, it wasn't from 1 - 2 million, as Conservative talk-show wingnut Michele Malkin claimed, she made that up) waving signs and shouting LOUD NOISES.
From what I could tell, they seemed to be sort of unfocused about exactly what their message is, so I've tried to distill it:
1. They hate President Obama. For a variety of reasons: he's a Communist, he's a Fascist, he's a Socialist, he's an illegal immigrant, he's a racist with a deep-seated hatred of white people, he's a Muslim, he's a secret terrorist... the list goes on ad nauseum.
But from what I can tell, they hate our President mostly because he isn't white.
2. They hate fascism, and they hate socialism, and they don't know that fascism and socialism are very different, opposing concepts.
3. They hate health care reform. Government managed health care is socialism, and will cost too much... but don't touch my mom's Medicare or my VA health benefits!
4. They hate government spending... sort of.
$900+ billion to fight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? No problem. But NOT ONE DIME to improve the quality of life for Americans!
5. They hate... well, that's pretty much the crux of their message.
They hate.
Now, for Teabagger events in Alaska:
As the Anchorage Daily News reports, Alaska had its own 9/12 demonstrators, and15,ooo 150 or so showed up at the Delaney Park Strip.
The verbatim statements quoted in the article underscore the glorification of ignorance, and you can read the short article yourself.
But there is one person quoted whose Wacky™ "Birther" statement actually bothers me, so I must include it:
Why should Bird's LOUD NOISES bother me any more than the statements of any other "Birther" wack-job do?
The article didn't mention the fact that Bob Bird teaches at Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska, and has been teaching there for many years.
He teaches U.S. History and World History, and Government.
THAT'S why it bothers me.
From what I could tell, they seemed to be sort of unfocused about exactly what their message is, so I've tried to distill it:
1. They hate President Obama. For a variety of reasons: he's a Communist, he's a Fascist, he's a Socialist, he's an illegal immigrant, he's a racist with a deep-seated hatred of white people, he's a Muslim, he's a secret terrorist... the list goes on ad nauseum.
But from what I can tell, they hate our President mostly because he isn't white.
2. They hate fascism, and they hate socialism, and they don't know that fascism and socialism are very different, opposing concepts.
3. They hate health care reform. Government managed health care is socialism, and will cost too much... but don't touch my mom's Medicare or my VA health benefits!
4. They hate government spending... sort of.
$900+ billion to fight wars in Afghanistan and Iraq? No problem. But NOT ONE DIME to improve the quality of life for Americans!
5. They hate... well, that's pretty much the crux of their message.
They hate.
Now, for Teabagger events in Alaska:
As the Anchorage Daily News reports, Alaska had its own 9/12 demonstrators, and
The verbatim statements quoted in the article underscore the glorification of ignorance, and you can read the short article yourself.
But there is one person quoted whose Wacky™ "Birther" statement actually bothers me, so I must include it:
"(Obama) is a fake, he is an illegal alien, he is a fraud. Barack Obama, where is the birth certificate!" event speaker Bob Bird, last year's Alaskan Independence Party candidate for U.S. Senate, said to scattered cheers from those gathered.That statement from Mr. Bird truly disturbs me.
Why should Bird's LOUD NOISES bother me any more than the statements of any other "Birther" wack-job do?
The article didn't mention the fact that Bob Bird teaches at Nikiski High School in Nikiski, Alaska, and has been teaching there for many years.
He teaches U.S. History and World History, and Government.
THAT'S why it bothers me.
Note: I've been informed by a usually reliable source that Bob Bird has recently retired... yet, he is still listed as a Government and history teacher on the Nikiski High School website. Until I have confirmation, the above will remain unchanged.h/t to Mudflats, Shannyn Moore, and Dennis Zaki for the image.
6 comments:
Wolfe, I am writing with tears in my eyes. Tears of mirth that is.
Why is everyone giving these folks so much attention? The president doesn't take them seriously and neither does the secret service.
Let 'em bellow and scream, let them flaunt their education and tact.
Who cares if Bird is a teacher? There are communists, socialists, and even pedophiles teaching class all over the country.
Any press for these splinter groups is just gas on the fire. let them sputter and spew, without fuel, they will flame out.
It's time we shifted our attention to the real issues and lose focus on the fringe.
Just thinkin'
Luv your stuff.
Sleante
Normally, Griff, I would agree wholeheartedly. They're nuts.
Let 'em rant.
However, the mainstream media continues to give them credibility, instead of marginalizing them as Teh Wack Jobs™ that they are. Fox News even paints some of them ( like Joe Wilson) as true American heroes.
So it's up to the 70% of Americans who aren't crazy to speak up.
Adding:
Bird being a teacher is inconsequential as long as he doesn't espouse his wingnuttery to a generation that will accept his teaching without question.
Since his teaching assignment is history and government, color me suspicious.
Isn't it great Wolfe?
You and I can be somewhat polar on some issues, yet civilized debate occurs and we even agree at times. This be one of them. It is time for the 70% to start speaking up. It is time for the mainstream media to publicize that. I also agree about the teachers, right or left is irrelevant, just let the students pick their own path.
Luv your blog man.
As a former student of Mr. Birds, I can say from experience that what he teachers is the constitution. He teachers how the constitution was formed, and what the meaning of it is. To gain perspective on the Bill of Rights, he shows us, from history, how it has been used and abused. He taught history and the constitution to me, and from that knowledge, i have come to the realization that many do not know the Supreme Law of th land. Let us use the second amendment for example. Most think that it is there to give us our right to own fire-arms. They are wrong. As indicated in the Declaration of Independance, we have something called natural law. Natural law is given by God, not man, and it is the right to defend ourselves. The second ammendment says that our rights shall not be INFRINGED by the government, not that the government gave us the right to keep and bare arms. Upon futher studying of the constitution, my class learned that the Bill of Rights is there not to protect us, but to keep the government from growing into what it is today. IF you disagree with me, then by all means, do your research and prove me wrong. I would dare say that most of the kids that go through Mr. Birds class are more informed about the supposed "Sumpreme Law of the Land" than most of our elected officials. Either that or we our country is being run by corrupt group of people.
In closing, i would like to state one more thing. When Frankling was asked what they had given the people, he responded by saying "a republic, if we can keep it".
And now I ask you, is this Mr. Bird really that far off?
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