What is a Patriot? Or Where Were You When The Rights Went Out?

What is a Patriot? Well, there is the "Love It or Leave It" view, those with the "my country right or wrong" viewpoint. The folks who believe anyone who speaks out against the President or the Government is a traitor. They equate disagreement with disloyalty. There are no shades of gray; you're either for them or against them.

I call this Pep-Rally Patriotism because it's so similiar to support for one's school or favorite sports team. Go Yankees! Go USA! But politics is not a sporting event; it's about real consequences, real people, real life and death issues. It's a very different ballgame.

Then consider, the other view of a Patriot. The one who takes a stand and speaks out against injustice. Think of Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Sojurner Truth, Abraham Lincoln, Rosa Parks, and Martin Luther King, Jr.; to name just a few. They rebelled against the status quo. And they are considered American heroes because of their dissent. They took our American ideals to heart and put them into action; and our country and world are better for their courage.

So who is a real Patriot? Unfortunately the Administration and much of Congress seem to prefer the first model. This is particularly alarming as they are pushing for the renewal of certain aspects of the Patriot Act, and even adding new provisionsto help "protect" our country. It's not enough that the government can review your library records and bank accounts without your consent or knowledge; now that want the let the FBI do so without contacting a judge for a warrant.

But terrorist actions were thwarted before 9-11, as well as after. And as Deep Throat showed us, even FBI investigations can be politically influenced or controlled. Those checks and balances, and the Bill of Rights are in our Constitution for very good reasons.

Ask anyone what makes American great, and they likely won't mention our courageous Armed Forces, our cunning technology, or our kick-ass SUV's. They will mention our liberties and opportunities. Our civil rights, and their judicious use by Americans of good conscience, have sustained our nation for over 200 years.

Yet the Bush Administration says that we must compromise on these rights to protect our nation. Nevermind that they have shortchanged our police and fire departments, and underfunded important national security initiatives. Nevermind that their foreign policy agenda has created even more anti-American fervor around the world. The so-called Patriot Act will keep us free.

They tell us America is safer, but they want us to keep living in fear. And they are banking on that fear, as they whittle away at the very rights that make America the greatest nation in world history.

I love this country as dearly as any Patriot, Pep-Rally or otherwise. And it seems to me that if we give in to fear, then the terrorists win.

Yes, we need to take measures to improve national security, as well as intelligence and investigation techniques. But we also need to stand up for country and Constitution. Because if we don't, it won't matter how many soldiers we have in how many different corners of the globe. Without the cornerstones of our democracy, our sacred civil liberties, America is just another place on the map.

So who are the true Patriots? Those who want to cower in fear and whittle away our civil rights. Or those who are using those voices to preserve those precious liberties?

I'm betting on the latter. They have the better track record. Go USA!