Not my President, but still my country

[Pete (Premo)]

Saw this on a bumper sticker yesterday and it caused me to ponder the concept. It seems that the idea of the bumper sticker is in conflict with itself.

In my mind the concept of "government by the people" and a "Republic" means that even though the representatives elected may not be the one you voted for they are still YOUR representative and being a grown up sane person means that you just deal with it. It is what separates us from 3rd world shiat holes like Somalia and Sudan and other places where they have an election and the opponent and their supporters decide that since they didn't get their way practice sedition.

Look at what happened in Mexico a year ago. One side won, the other side decided they simply would not accept it so they took over Mexico City and were disruptive. Finally it ended but what if it didn't? I didn't vote for Bill Clinton but he was MY president. If Kerry had won I would have been displeased but he would have been MY president.

I think it was John Adams who was elected for the first time from an opposition party and he said that transfer of power was THE defining moment in our history. A party in opposition of the party in power won and the party in power relinquished power to the new elects without sedition, revolt, a coup or any dust up. Have we "progressed" to a point where our national identity is that of a bunch of spoiled brats throwing tantrums and unravels the basic concepts of our national being by throwing juvenile tantrums be it via a bumper sticker or speech?

I understand free speech and the idea of opposing or conflicting philosophy and voicing those opposing views but when does free speech end and sedition begins?

[vraiblonde]

Stupid people have stupid bumper stickers. If it's your country, and someone is the president of that country, then that person is your president. You may not agree with him, but he's still your president.

This sort of juvenile bull#### gets on my nerves. I feel a strong urge to egg cars that have stupid bumper stickers on them.

[Xaquin44]

eh, I can see where it comes from. I mean I didn't vote for the guy, and his actions and ideas certainly don't represent me as a person. However, I love my country.

edit: and Vrai, as for juvenile bull####, I've seen you lump every single liberal into one category, which is juvenile bull#### too (same as any person that thinks everything is cut and dry).

[Cowgirl]

Maybe they could have worded the bumper sticker differently. I completely understand the meaning though....just because you love your country doesn't mean you have to love your President.

So do y'all think we have to blindly follow and worship our President just because he was elected?

[cattitude (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

Maybe they could have worded the bumper sticker differently. I completely understand the meaning though....just because you love your country doesn't mean you have to love your President.

So do y'all think we have to blindly follow and worship our President just because he was elected?

Key word is "blindly." Of course, you don't have to agree with everything he does, that's practially impossible. But I think you respect him and support him and be objective. In fact, I think it is being a responisible citizen to question and understand the actions of your president.

[Cowgirl]

Originally Posted by cattitude

Key word is "blindly." Of course, you don't have to agree with everything he does, that's practially impossible. But I think you respect him and support him and be objective. In fact, I think it is being a responisible citizen to question and understand the actions of your president.

But I thought one of the benefits of living in this country is the ability to speak your opinion. It's not like the bumper sticker said "Death to our President."

[Larry Gude (Premo)]

...Che'

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

But I thought one of the benefits of living in this country is the ability to speak your opinion. It's not like the bumper sticker said "Death to our President."

The point is the dichotomy of loving your "Representative Republic" but hating or not accepting the result of the representative republic process.

In my mind it is similar to loving peanuts but hating the taste of peanut butter.

[vraiblonde]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

So do y'all think we have to blindly follow and worship our President just because he was elected?

How did you get that from my factual comment that the elected leader of this country is still your president, whether you agree with him or not?

[Pete (Premo)]

Originally Posted by Cowgirl

Maybe they could have worded the bumper sticker differently. I completely understand the meaning though....just because you love your country doesn't mean you have to love your President.

So do y'all think we have to blindly follow and worship our President just because he was elected?

You don't have to love or worship him but you do have to follow him. It is part of the process you proclaim to love when you say you love your country. Voicing opposition is fine and one of the basic concepts that make America great. However proclaiming that he is NOT your president is 100% contrary to what makes America America.