Proud to be American

A friend and colleague from CTS, Le Anne Clausen, was put in jail this week for protesting the School of the Americas last year. I'm going up to the McHenry County Jail tomorrow to visit her on the fourth day of her 30 day sentence.

It strikes me that the School exists largely because of the same mentality that attacked the Rev. Dr. Jeremiah Wright over his comments from the pulpit at Trinity UCC. At what point in American history did it become taboo to question the government? When did we forget that the American Revolution was fought for things like freedom of speech and the ability to protest the government?

There have been mistakes during the American democratic experiment over the past 232 years. The Iraq War is one. The School of the Americas is another. The internment of Japanese Americans during WWII is another. Slavery is another.

All of this (and the many I didn't mention) might make my title somewhat ironic. I remain however, proud of the American possibility - and the fact that here I am free to dream, to voice that dream, and to act on that dream. As I noted in my post a few days ago, Zimbabwe seems to be going through difficulties that we (hopefully) won't have. I imagine that no matter what twisted dreams Dick Cheney may have, George W. Bush will step down in January and peacefully allow his successor to take office.

I can only pray that Le Anne's courageous stand against injustice will make a small ripple in the pond of justice. I don't know how big of a wave has to be generated in that pond to make a difference, but we need to start somewhere.