by Susan Kliebenstein

Created on: January 31, 2011   Last Updated: February 05, 2011

Beware of Blind patriotism.

We in the U.S. are accustomed to thinking of ourselves as a great nation, invincible, honorable and good. But we must not go on blindly ignoring those things which are not honorable and good. We should not continue to think of ourselves as invincible without regard for our obvious weaknesses. Our current economic status makes us seriously vulnerable; and our political machinery, our greedy banking system, and the military industrial albatross seem to be leading us blindly to our own demise. It is not an act of patriotism to ignore these dangers. Continuing to pretend that we are God's fair-haired child to whom no harm can come is perilous folly.

The Israelites made the same mistake and ended up being carted off to Babylon after they were invaded and their land was devastated in 586 B.C. Ezekiel 7 tells the sad story of the nation who believed that no harm would come to them because God's hand of blessing was upon them. But their idolatry, greed, and detestable practices brought them to the end of God's patience and the beginning of His wrath.

We, who have not experience a war on U.S. soil in several generations, have come to believe it could never happen. Yet even to God's beloved Israel He said. "I will bring the most wicked of the nations to take possession of their houses; I will put an end to the pride of the mighty." I fear that we have become arrogant in our might and ripe for God's wrath!

Likewise, it was the complacent patriotism of the German people, that allowed Hitler the free reign to carry out the enormous atrocities of the Third Reich. When we hear of violations of our own Constitution, we the people must no longer turn our heads and pretend not to understand. A nation of laws is worthy of a patriots pride. But when political outlaws and a press of controlled propaganda threaten our foundations, true patriots must rise up against the peril, no longer proclaiming pride but pronouncing SHAME upon those who profane our nations founding principles.

SHAME on the presidential orders that have invaded our privacy with wire taps, intrusive searches, and unconstitutional seizures. SHAME on those judges who have disregarded our law to obtain the political ends that they have desired. SHAME on our Congress that has enabled the creation of worthless currency backed by nothing in particular; to produce an unimaginable national debt which has dragged down the entire world economy. SHAME on us for our wasteful and greedy use of the earths resources. SHAME on us when we have not demanded a free and uncensored press.

You say you are a patriot? It is time to speak up, not in glowing words of the glorious nation, but in demands for the prosecution of those who have brought about the calculated demise of our constitutional principles, and numbed our sensibilities with rhetoric of fear garnished with "God Bless America." It borders on using the Lord's name in vain.

Freedom, Democracy, and the Constitution are worthy of our defense. But the current status quo in US politics, defense, and Commerce are desperately in need of the patriots wrath!

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