It’s taken me decades but I finally understand my reaction when right wing ideologues would shout “love it or leave it” at those of us protesting against what we viewed as actions America had taken that were antithetical to our beliefs in what America, and being an American meant. Values enshrined in our founding, and reiterated for generations: justice and equality for all; opening our arms and doors for the less fortunate and oppressed; raising people in our country and around the world out of poverty; providing humanitarian aid, medicine and sanctuary; a belief in science, education and a shared responsibility to the land and people.
It’s become clear what those doing the shouting were really saying: We hate that vision of America and democracy; get out so we can create the country we’ve always wanted; take your immigrants, your gays, your welfare mothers and leave; we will create a haven for our kind, who worship the real God. We will take from the land and water what we want and deserve.
We had it backwards. As we can see, the right never loved the America that was, but yearned for an authoritarian, dictatorial fascist regime. People who live in fear crave a “strong man.” We know how that always ends.
Peter Weitzman
Northampton