It was September 11th, 2001. We were a nation under attack, looking amongst our brothers and sisters, searching for answers. Soon we were told who the enemy was and how we were to stand together against this common foe. Hands were held. Flags were raised. Tears were shared. Songs were sung. Regardless of whether we were men or women, black or white, Christian or Muslim, gay or straight, Republican or Democrat, we were Americans. As we went to war, our president told us, "You're either with us or you're against us." There was no middle ground to be had. Dissenters were deemed traitors, as 90% were unified in trusting the president's call to action. Anti-civil rights legislation was passed in the name of security. Protesters were still scorned. Liberty was preached and praised, yet criticized. This all occurred as we were being told the attacks were due to envy of our way of life, a way to disrupt our freedoms.
Fast-forward to 17 years later. Another president who received fewer votes than his opponent is in the Oval Office. Gerrymandering is omnipresent. Voting rights are becoming more scarce. Billionaires control the airwaves during election season. Bakeries can refuse to serve gay couples. Restaurant owners are permitted to ask politicians with whom they disagree to leave. Celebrities are attacked for silent protests. Cancellations and firings occur due to a tweet. A constant stream of lies trickle down from partisan media sources to the public. Conspiracy theorists are given equal airtime as scientific researchers. Fact-checkers are deemed dishonest. All this occurs as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the Star-Spangled Banner in unison, or are told to join in prayer.
The United States of America may claim to pride itself on its freedoms, but at the end of the day it seems like many, especially those on the right, would rather simply be told what should be included in those freedoms than think and figure it out for themselves. For the modern-day Republican Party, the land of the free is just code for the land free of thought.
Fast-forward to 17 years later. Another president who received fewer votes than his opponent is in the Oval Office. Gerrymandering is omnipresent. Voting rights are becoming more scarce. Billionaires control the airwaves during election season. Bakeries can refuse to serve gay couples. Restaurant owners are permitted to ask politicians with whom they disagree to leave. Celebrities are attacked for silent protests. Cancellations and firings occur due to a tweet. A constant stream of lies trickle down from partisan media sources to the public. Conspiracy theorists are given equal airtime as scientific researchers. Fact-checkers are deemed dishonest. All this occurs as we recite the Pledge of Allegiance, sing the Star-Spangled Banner in unison, or are told to join in prayer.
The United States of America may claim to pride itself on its freedoms, but at the end of the day it seems like many, especially those on the right, would rather simply be told what should be included in those freedoms than think and figure it out for themselves. For the modern-day Republican Party, the land of the free is just code for the land free of thought.
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