Liberals are true believers in democracy

Matt Sronkoski
academic adviser, College of Liberal Arts

Dear Editor:

This is in response to Alex Berezow's Thursday column, "Be ungrateful and blame America first: Part I."

I would like to start by requesting to Mr. Berezow not waste his time publishing Part II. This old "love it or leave it" rant is far too simplistic to waste another week's supply of ink. We have all heard it before. It's a tired and simplistic argument, which plays on people's fears and ignorance. Move on, man.

But since Part II will most likely appear Thursday, I suggest everyone consider the following while you are reading it:

1) Patriotism means "loving your country," period! To disagree with policies or to question the integrity of this or that administration IS NOT UNPATRIOTIC. Whether it is the domestic or the foreign policy of the temporary institution of a presidency, it IS NOT UNPATRIOTIC to be critical of that presidency. If this was the case, then Anne Coulter, Rush Limbaugh and any other Republicans who were critical of the policies of the Clinton administration were themselves unpatriotic. To be critical of a president and his policies does not imply hatred of one's country. GEORGE BUSH IS NOT AMERICA.

2) Most of the immigrants and foreign students who are critical of

American foreign policy really do believe in America; they just don't believe in George Bush. They come to America because they are inspired ˜ often more so than the average American ˜ by the democratic ideals expressed in our Constitution and fulfilled in our history. It is un-American to tell people to leave this county simply on the grounds that they have recognized we are losing sight of those ideals.

3) We need to get over the idea that democracy is somehow an essentially American phenomenon. There is no guarantee the United States will always be a democracy, and it is silly to think any other country is incapable of progressing closer to the democratic ideal than we currently have. If we are truly proud of the democratic system, we should spend less time being bubble-headed cheerleaders for the United States and spend more time promoting the progression of democracy at home and abroad.

So to all you Liberals, American and international, BE PROUD, STAND

TALL. YOU ARE THE TRUE BELIEVERS IN DEMOCRACY!

Matt Sronkoski
academic adviser, College of Liberal Arts

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