American patriots bear the weight of being labeled domestic terrorists
Joe Biden crossed into very dangerous territory last week.
In a speech from Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pa. he declared that anyone who disagrees with him is a threat to the country. It was the speech of a dictator.
And like every other radical, Marxist, tyrant, he accused you – we, the people – of being the enemies of the state. He is engaging in oppressive, authoritarian behavior, yet he says you are the “clear and present danger” to our democracy.
He is the one forcing Americans to be vaccinated against their will. His administration is the one that just raided the home of his chief political opponent.
He is the one who’s had court after court rule his administration acted unlawfully: From the nationwide moratorium on the eviction of renters to banning new oil and gas leases on federal lands to restraining U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). From not enforcing immigration law to forcing doctors and hospitals to violate their religious beliefs by performing abortions and transgender surgery to imposing new greenhouse gas emissions caps on the nation’s electricity supply. Biden has repeatedly failed to execute “the laws faithfully” and to “preserve, protect and defend” the Constitution.
And yet, despite this evidence, he says you – we – are lawless for dissenting. In fact, he says, “MAGA Republicans do not respect the Constitution” and “do not believe in the rule of law. They do not recognize the will of the people.”
He systematically attempts to erode John Adams’ belief that “we are a nation of laws, not of men,” yet he says you are lawless if you disagree with him.
White House Press Secretary Karine Jean- Pierre put it this way: “When you are not with where the majority of Americans are, then, you know, that is extreme. That is an extreme way of thinking.”
Does that mean that Democrats, who aren’t with the majority of the country on 90% of the issues in this country, are extremists, too? Does that include the 88% of Americans in this country who believe this country is on the wrong track, including 51% of Biden’s own party? Are they extremists?
Was Abraham Lincoln an extremist who stood firm that “a house divided against itself cannot stand”? Was Martin Luther King Jr. a threat to our democracy because he sought a nation where his children would not be “judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character”? Both of these men held beliefs that initially were not with the majority of Americans.
Under this administration, though, both Lincoln and King would be considered threats to democracy. Of course, this is absurd. But not for the Left.
You see, the Left thinks you are too ignorant to understand, too weak to resist and too free to embrace ideas different from theirs.
And where does it end once we start drawing subjective lines around free speech or free expression? History is littered with the regrets of millions who became silent or chose appeasement over truth, including Neville Chamberlain’s appeasement of Hitler. By not choosing principles, though, or not standing firm, we become no better than the one who feeds a crocodile, hoping it will eat him last.
I mean, what happened to agreeing to disagree? Or trying to make your point with facts and figures rather than dehumanizing – and now criminalizing – those with whom you disagree?
Growing up, we used to say to those who had differences of opinion, “Well, it’s a free a country.”
The real question going forward now is, “For whom?”
Louis R. Avallone is a Shreveport businessman, attorney and author of “Bright Spots, Big Country, What Makes America Great.” He is also a former aide to U.S. Representative Jim McCrery and editor of The Caddo Republican. His columns have appeared regularly in 318 Forum since 2007. Follow him on Facebook, on Twitter @louisravallone or by e-mail at [email protected], and on American Ground Radio at 101.7FM and 710 AM, weeknights from 6 - 7 p.m., and streaming live on keelnews.com.
