In relation to the community that I live in, I often go against the status quo. At least when it comes to the majors - politics and religion. I’ll say it right now, just to get it over with. I’m a Liberal Atheist. Now, see, I’m pretty positive I just lost a few readers! Calm down before you click on the x to leave the screen though. Please, hear me out.
I was born into a Catholic family. That is, my mother’s entire side of the family, though mostly Lebanese, is Catholic. People think that just because you’re an Arab, all of the sudden you’re a Muslim. Oh, sorry. I guess I left my hajib at home! My father’s family is also Catholic. Perhaps you would assume that I too, would be Catholic. Ah, but you are so wrong!
One day when my father and I were walking to the mailbox, I asked him if he believed in God. At the time I was going to a Wednesday night bible study with my friends - simply because of my friends, not because we ever went to church. My dad said no. I asked him why not and he said, “Because I can’t see him. There’s no one up there.” I looked up into the sky and thought to myself “Well, of course! That makes perfect sense!”
Basically, ever since that day I’ve rejected God. From later elementary school on I’ve only stood for the Pledge of Alligence. I see it like this: I love my country and I love my ability to have freedom of religion. I love my soldiers and I have respect for them for risking and sometimes losing their lives to protect my right to not believe in God. This is why I stand. It is respectful. I do not put my hand over my heart because this to me, somehow, signifies my pledge to God. “One nation, under God...” is something I cannot agree with and so I do not repeat the pledge and I do not cross my heart. As an American, I have a right to do that.
So now, to the picture. This depicts President Obama ALSO not putting his hand over his heart. When I first saw this picture, I didn’t think much of it because that is exactly what I do. But Obama is Christian (let’s not even get onto the “he’s a Muslim terrorist!” controversy) and his reasons would not be the same as mine. For me, he was going against the status quo. In a “Christian nation” and when running as President of this Christian nation, it was extremely wrong for Obama to not put his hand over his heart during the National Anthem. And shortly after that is when the political mess heated. This photo was used in ad campaigns to send the message that Obama is not patriotic, that he doesn’t care about or respect our country and my goodness, how can we elect someone that doesn’t even have the decency to put his hand over his heart?
I’m not going to try to explain his actions because to be honest, I don’t know why he didn’t. But just as this section of the book has shown, there’s a level of expectance that people have for politicians. Obama didn’t have to say a word and already his image has been tainted. I go against the status quo by not putting my hand over my heart - this doesn’t mean I don’t love my country and that I wouldn’t back up my country until the end. It just means the way I love my country is different. And even though people may get attacked for not following the status quo, they should keep on doing what they’re doing or nothing will ever change. Change can be good. Change can lead to tolerance for all view points and I think now more than ever that is something that we need.
First off I like to mention that Obama is an American citizen, he was born in Hawaii and there are papers to prove it several times over. From the looks of this blog entry it would seem that you are standing on a neutral ground, not totally supporting or totally disagreeing with what is going on in the picture. One point that you made is that this country needs change which is what Obama’s whole campaign for president was about. Obama’s very being and role as president is literally the epitome of change for our country thus far in its entire history. Obama has achieved a new level of tolerance which is now considered acceptable by becoming president, in other words thanks to him the stereotype of the white man being the head is now lowered.
ReplyDeleteNow with this picture I am surprised that Obama, being president and all, does not have his hand over his heart. I personally do not agree with what he is doing in this picture, it almost feels like a slap in the face. In today’s society, as an American, people kind of have expectancy for one with such a high position to at least follow the country’s procedures and traditions. I don’t know any other leader in history that has not show the highest respect for their country by at least following the procedure of their country’s anthem. There is being different and then there is being ridiculously different and in this case I think Obama is just being a tad bit ridiculous by not at least doing this small gesture. I support Obama however; I don’t think he is the best president we have had so far; he has been one of the better presidents as of late though. If Obama wants to create a more tolerant America then I think he should at least show some tolerance himself by acting his role properly as a leader of a nation.