That Which Offends Me

Earlier today, I got a post on our Facebook page from a well meaning soul, a post that offended me.  As with most of these things, it was not original, it started elsewhere and was re- directed to me. So much easier to be rude when the original words are not yours, so much less brave too.

It was the standard right wing fare, blame everyone else for their troubles etc. This one was specifically aimed at Immigrants, that most loathed section of humanity of which I proudly include myself. The thrust was "Why do you think you can (or how dare you) come to our country and be offended by our traditions". In this regard, it missed its mark by quite a margin. Here is the thing. I am a citizen of this country and as such am entitled to the identical rights and protection guaranteed by the Constitution. Every bit as American as the writers of this tripe, both the originator and my FB "Friend".

Now as to being offended by American "Traditions" I am unsure as to the meaning here so I will restrict myself to those things that do offend me.

I am offended by the level of ignorance of the American populace and by their apparent willingness to accept their ignorance without seeking to educate themselves further.

I am offended by the deterioration in the standards of public education here and by the number of attacks on it seemingly trying to destroy it instead of improve it.

I am offended by the level of control lobbyists have over government, Offended by organizations such as ALEC who actually write the legislation for politicians who must be among the laziest in the world.

I am offended by the lack of action by the Administration of President Obama in stopping this, in spite of the fact that he was elected on that very platform in 2008.

I am offended by the equally inept performance of said Administration in dealing with the CRIMINAL acts of Wall Street and the central banks that brought the world to it's knees.

I am offended by the Supreme Court and their partisan decisions to further the aims of such as the Koch Brothers at the expense of ordinary Americans.

I am offended at the very existence of the TEA party, a group of ignorant ill educated morons, barely literate who seem unable to come up with policies of their own but who confuse stopping any sort of improvement to the country with progress. You people are the very antithesis of progress and good government. 

I am offended by the size of the Military or Defence Budget while Veterans go hungry and homeless or just plain sick from repeated pointless wars, fought for the financial gain of corporations. Tanks the Army neither wants nor needs, Aircraft that totally fail in their objective (Stealth Fighters that can be seen on the most basic of Radar systems) 

I am offended by the continuing refusal of Congress to listen to the American People in regard to Gun Legislation, In spite of 90% support for the most innocuous controls, Background Checks/Registration etc , the NRA decides no and so Congress will not discuss it further. 

I am offended that there is even a discussion on the subject of so called Gay Marriage. The right of everyone to achieve the happiness to be found in a loving relationship is or should be inviolate. 

I am offended by the continuing attack on Women, on their ability to obtain an abortion, should it be necessary, the continuing closure of clinics that can cater to this need.

I am offended by the very existence of Fox News, who lie with almost every broadcast and do so openly, only for their moronic viewers to believe every word. There is no place for such an organization in any allegen democracy. 

I am offended by the laziness and apathy of the American voter who despite his children fighting and often dyinig to export democracy elsewhere in the world cannot be bothered to get off his/her ass and vote!

I am offended by "Christians" who insist on shoving their tortured version of Christianity down the throats of everyone else at every opportunity. These people are not christian at all, merely bigots.

I am offended by creationists.

And this dear reader is but the tip of the iceberg. So why stay? Because I am an AMERICAN. I want it made better and by remaining to point out the problems, I might actually help to return this Country to the greatness envisaged by the Founding Fathers, that maligned group of men who had more courage and foresight than this entire country possesses now and by continuing to support that which is right in defiance of that which is so clearly wrong.