My America

Andrew Sullivan posted this nifty quote from Newt Gingrich on his site, RE: the mosque in Ground Zero: “The time for double standards that allow Islamists to behave aggressively toward us while they demand our weakness and submission is over. The proposed ‘Cordoba House’ overlooking the World Trade Center site—where a group of jihadists killed over 3,000 Americans and destroyed one of our most famous landmarks—is a test of the timidity, passivity and historic ignorance of American elites.”

This sort of thing makes me want to vomit. Violently. What makes our country great? Freedom—yes. Opportunity—yes. But, first and foremost, the richness of diversity. The mix of races, of languages, of cultures. It’s an incredible thing; something that should be celebrated, but is increasingly bemoaned by the far right. They choose to use this diversity as a weapon—to convince ignorant, rural whites that “they” are infringing on “your” rights. That your country is being taken over. That we’re in the midst of a culture war, and “we” can’t lose.

Wanna know the best symbols of American greatness? A burning flag. A Nazi salute. A mosque alongside Ground Zero. A gay pride parade in Oklahoma. That unpopular movements have a place here is a powerful sign that everyone and everything has a place here.