Sunday, April 1, 2012
Take a Hike
Jensen mentions in his article that he is often told that if he doesn't like America he can leave. He responds to this with the idea that he is exercising his right to become part "of a struggle to make real a better world" (6). While I understand where he is coming from, I can't help but feel a little resent towards this response. Why should he struggle to make the world better through writing articles? Why shouldn't he leave? I do realize that these are somewhat ridiculous questions to ask, but I want to entertain the thought for a few minutes. One of the main arguments against patriotism in this article is the fact that freedom, democracy, etc. are not American ideas. It is also mentioned that some other countries do a better job exercising certain of these characteristics. So, Robert Jensen, go there. Go live where you can be happy and have a great democratic government with plenty of personal freedoms. Some people might see this as giving up on America, or giving in too easily but is it really? Why do we pick majors in college? We like subjects, but we are also usually better at these subjects. Why am I not a science major? I detest the subject and I have been utterly unsuccessful in it over the last 6 years. So I gave it up and I'm now a Sports Management major, something I like and I think I might be pretty good at. Is it really that terrible for me to give up science? I don't think so. Is it really that bad for a citizen to get fed up with their country and leave? I don't think so. It doesn't seem like such a terrible idea, so why not give it a shot Jensen?
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I often get the same response from people: Well, if you don't like it, then leave! My response is usually something along the lines of your advice to Jensen: I will, as soon as I may. Honestly, you would be hard-pressed to argue with a harsh conservative on the ethics of certain policies. America is unlikely to change; though it is a noble goal to try to change America from within. It is for that reason that I think that progress could be better founded in other countries. You can always lead by example which I think is usually the best way to do it. So, I think it would be reasonable for him to leave.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, I think it is also completely unfair to tell him to leave. America needs to see some obvious changes and trying to suggest that those opposed to America should leaveis essentially forfeiting freedom. Those people who choose to stay here are reinforcing freedom. Freedom is measured not in assent, but is measured in dissent because if everyone agreed all the time, there would be no need to have freedom. If Jensen wants to stay here, he should be able to stay. If he wants to leave, he should be able to leave. Nobody should tell him to do either. They can suggest it nicely, but in the end, his choice is his alone.