AngryBlackBitch

One of my top ten favorite blogs to read is AngryBlackBitch. Often I agree with her, often I don't. But she seems to me to be a person that walks her talk with all sincerity. And I admire her always for saying what she feels and believes. I walk a very different path than she, but it often seems we walk side by side. Funny that. She is always an interesting read, you should go visit.

This is a post of hers from Sunday, May 13. With this rant, I could not agree more:

"Some folks have taken a rather laissez faire clueless citizen to all knowing government approach to the current NSA citizen phone call list collection thing. Basically, these people put for the argument that we…the citizens…should step out of the way of government and let government do what it will because government is looking out for us.

This bitch takes the patriotic stand….the American stand…and the stand that our Constitution demands we each take. The future of this nation is at stake. We are in the midst of a domestic battle over the balance between liberty and security.

And we have been here before…way back during our colonial past…when Security was called The Crown and the pursuit of Liberty was called Treason.

This government is of a bitch, by a bitch and for a bitch (wink).

So, in the spirit of our founders and full to bursting with bitchitude, this bitch presents to you my patriot rant as a clarification of our collective job description as American citizens.

ABB’s Patriot Rant…
Most Americans study the Revolutionary War at some point in our lives. Along with the details of specific battles and the historic speech laden moments there is a very clear definition of the patriot.

This nation was founded by radicals. The rest of the folks were loyal to the monarchy. Speaking out against the monarchy was illegal…they called it sedition and it was punishable under law. Every single published quote…every single speech…every public gathering or meeting…every act of melting household items to make bullets or hording food to feed soldiers…all of that shit was radical as a motherfucker.

So, when my fellow citizens verbalize a blind and unquestioning respect of an elected office in the face of questionable right trampling policy they are speaking the language of the loyalist not the patriot.

When citizens indict fellow citizens for criticizing our government they are speaking the language of the loyalist and not the patriot.

A bitch is concerned that some of us who have been born Americans really don’t
understand the responsibility of citizenship. It is important to remember that the final check in the check & balance plan is the power invested in each citizen.

We tarnish our legacy and insult our history when we embrace the ideology of non-involvement, blind trust and apathy rather than live up to our responsibility to check elected officials on the shit they do in our name.

We have a role to play and that role is to be active citizens...to vote, challenge and critique our government.

Of the people, by the will of the people and answerable in all ways to the people.

This patriot takes that role very seriously.

Trust? Read Thomas Paine and you will read the language of the questioner…the challenger…the patriot.

Respect? Read Alexander Hamilton and you will feel the passion and careful consideration of the role of political power literally vibrate off the page.

Apathy? Read Benjamin Franklin and you will be reading the words of a man who had long ago earned his retirement when his nation called upon him to serve…who was in the winter of life when he raised his voice to power in the face of war, tyranny and oppression.

We have a role to play…and those who choose not to play it are anything but patriots.

We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

This is the spirit that fueled the Civil War to settle long unsettled issues…the Suffrage Movement to address hypocrisy…the Civil Rights Movement to address some more hypocrisy and the Feminist Movement to continue that addressing process.

Those were not acts of rebellion so much as the actions of responsible citizens who were being radical within the framework of a nation that infuses radical responsibility into the citizen contract.

What has been established in our name…by the blood, sweat and tears of citizen patriots…is ours to uphold.

This patriotic bitch is prepared to go to the wall in defense of that shit...with my fist raised and my voice loud.

Here endeth the lesson."

Concerning Clapotis II, I am down to less than 70 stitches on the needle. And while I didn't get any knitting time in this weekend because I was too busy playing catch up on all things NOT-boat, I am going to sit this evening and knit for an hour...no matter WHAT!!!

Simply Recipe's "Martha's Chinese Chicken Salad"

"The marvel of all history is the patience with which men and women submit to burdens unnecessarily laid upon them by their governments."
William H. Borah