Love it Or Leave It

I heard it again today from one of these limited intellect so-called “conservatives” when we discussing the rightness or wrongness of America continuing to support Israel.

“If you don't love America, why don't you just use the mechanisms that the founders set up to go somewhere else?”

In other words, “Love it, or leave it.”

I have some problems with this argument.

The first is that it is so arrogant. It assumes that your stance is absolutely, unquestionably right, while mine is absolutely, unquestionably wrong. Yours is absolutely correct, world without end, amen. The problem is that we are all just people, doing our best to muddle through this experiment called “capitalistic democracy”.

I mean, if I WANTED to, I think that I could make a pretty strong argument that MY view is right, based on what the founders wanted, by reminding this person that George Washington... kind of THE founder... counseled that America should retain trade ties with every nation and political ties with none. And the parts of our relationship with Israel that aren't religious are political.

(PS – a quick note to my Jewish friends... if you're a big fan of America's support of Israel, you should know that the only reason that it's there is because the religious nuts believe that Jesus can't return until you rebuild the temple at Israel. After that, according to them, you can and WILL go to Hell.)

My second problem with this is that it indicates a weak argument. It says to me “I don't have an argument strong enough to logically rebut what you're saying, so instead, I just want you to go away so that I won't have to be confronted with your argument anymore.” If I close my eyes, the scary thing will go away in other words.

My final problem with this is that it is an absolute conversation stopper. Of COURSE I love America. America, to me, is a rich and complex structure that can evolve and change over time without weakening what it is. So, for instance, if the religious nuts ever DO let go of our government, and we're able to figure out a different way to proceed with Israel that won't cost us billions of our treasure every year and poison the minds and hearts of half the planet against us, that won't end America. Or if we reign in capitalism a little bit to... say... make health care available for everyone instead of allowing people to profit from the misfortunes and sickness of others, that won't end America.

What I love about America is that this guy is free to make an argument in favor our continuing to support Israel and I can make an argument against it. Nothing that either of us says will change America's policy, but we might each be able to influence the way that the other thinks of it.

That is, as long as neither one of us puts forward a stopper like “Love it or leave it”.

Peace.

Rev. Randal