Maybe my aggravation threshold is set a little too low, but when I read this "Abandon Ship" diary this morning, my outrage meter needle swung into the danger zone.
The diary - entitled "Abandon Ship? Best Countries for Progressives to Move To" - asks the question:
OK, if the Supremes strike down Obamacare, should we progressives just take our ball and go home? To a new home, that is, in a more sensible country?
The diary has spurred some interesting comments, none more so than the words of a 12-year-old child of commenter concernedamerican:
Our 12 year-old son had this to say when I ran by him the possibility of our becoming expatriates, should Obama lose in November:
"I love my country too much. I wouldn't want to abandon it. I'd want to stay and try to make things better."
Out of the mouths of babes.... or youth.....
That's one more thing to add to my long list of small problems. --my son, age 10
by concernedamerican on Wed Mar 28, 2012 at 08:11:36 AM CDT
There are plenty of compelling reasons for a person to leave their home country. My mother and her parents came here from Nazi Germany during World War II. Good idea, and good timing. Sadly, other relatives were not so fortunate.
If your homeland is the scene of genocide, civil war, famine, natural disaster, disease, torture, religious persecution or some other truly grave peril, the benefits of leaving and settling elsewhere to begin a new life may be well worth the risks, costs, and heartache. Even then, I can't imagine anyone making that decision without extensive reflection, soul-searching, and anguish.
Leaving over one Supreme Court decision (which by the way has not even been reached yet)? Only in this land of the uber-cushy would we anyone be contemplating leaving the United States for more Progressive pastures over this.
Follow along below the logic gap for more...
I've had the good fortune to travel extensively for business and pleasure, not only to nearly all of the US states, but also Canada, the UK, Germany, Switzerland, France, Italy, Mexico, the United Arab Emirates, Australia, Bermuda, and beyond. There are plenty of things to recommend about any of these places, but there's no place like the US of A.
It's not just that we have better toilet paper; that's a given.
In our relatively short history as a country, we've achieved a great deal, but we're definitely a work in progress. Progress should be the domain of Progressives: this is our natural laboratory, the place where our ideas and aspirations can have free reign, unfettered by repression. We have everything, and everyone, that we need to effect the changes we believe in.
So when a so-called Progressive looks for the escape hatch, I want to say:
"Fine: go ahead and leave if you're not willing to do any of the heavy lifting. But when you get to the gleaming shores of wherever you're headed, could you please check whether they have some courageous and energetic progressive-minded people to ship OUR way?"
Every day, people risk separation from their families, arrest and deportation, or even their very lives to come here to the United States. Most of us are the descendants of immigrants; brave folks who left their jobs, families, and homes because they believed that America offered them a chance to start anew. Here they can raise their family, practice their religion, engage in their profession, participate in their community, and vote in our political process without many of the repercussions that loomed over them in their country of origin.
Is it perfect? Of course not. Our country is like a sprawling, dysfunctional family. We may despise the behaviors of our relatives, but they're our family. We find ways to work it out. We don't give up altogether on the idea of family.
If we're truly "Progressives", what could be more fundamental than fighting for our ideals right here, in our homeland?
When I encounter Tea Party "Patriots" who want to "take our country back", I advise them that they'll have to wait, as I'm not done with it quite yet.
As a Progressive, I want to take this country forward. No matter where I roam, this marvelous, complicated, messed-up, maddening, but still very promising place is my home.
You wouldn't let squatters come in and take over your house. Why let Right-wing idealogues live rent-free in your head? They're clearly frightened that their way of life is endangered. Let's make sure that this isn't just paranoia on their part.
Stay and fight.