“Right” Convention, Wrong Country?

Listening to the various speakers during the Republican Convention, I got the distinct and very uncomfortable feeling that this event was taking place in some other country.

A country where about one-half of its people are unpatriotic, disloyal, defeatist, “do not support the troops.”

A country where only the ruling party believes in the culture of life, personal responsibility, hard work, and the rule of law.

A country where about one-half of its people “don’t put country first,” do not really love their country. A half where its military heroes are no longer considered heroes because they belong to the wrong political party, to the wrong half.

An opposition party that is, in Michael Reagan’s words, “liberal-infested, elitist.” In addition, according to Rudy Giuliani, a party that is afraid to say “Islamic terrorism,“ and that has “given up on their country.” A party that “would rather lose a war than lose an election.”

A country with an opposition party that is trying to elect as President a “Marxist-leaning, terrorist-loving, funny-looking, funny-named demagogue,” who will be a disaster for the country.

A country where just about one-half of its people lack moral or religious values, are elitists, and just plain “whiners.”

A country where the ruling party claims a monopoly and sole rights to the country’s flag, to its national anthem, other national symbols, and even to God.

My feelings that this convention was not being held in the U.S.A. were reinforced when the cameras scanned over a sea of faces supposed to represent the diversity, the kaleidoscope that is the United States of America, but, instead, was 99 percent white.

The words of the speakers did not ring true; did not match my recollection of the country and the people that so generously welcomed me into their midst, and adopted me, 50 years ago. The country and the people for whom I proudly served in its military for 20 years.

Yet, when candidate John McCain appeared on the stage in St. Paul, and I heard the incessant chanting USA! USA! USA!, I knew that I was in the right country—just that the “atmospherics” and the trappings were wrong.

I love the country that allowed me to become a naturalized citizen. That permitted me to serve in its armed forces. That gave my family and me the opportunity to share in the American dream. I love all 300 million Americans. I believe that “both halves” of our country are patriotic, have family and moral values, are God-fearing, love their country, and respect each other.

Furthermore, I firmly believe that once the extravagance, the exuberance and the theatrics of the political moment subside, the two halves will come together again. They must.