By
Jeff Dickson
October 31, 2007
There are a few things in life that you just don't do.
You don't eat yellow snow, listen to LaRouche people, get into sketchy white vans (no matter how much free candy they promise), and you certainly don't wear other schools' logos around campus.
Husky Pride, baby: That's what it's all about.
Yet, every day on the way to class I see at least half a dozen people brandishing a Notre Dame shirt, an Ohio State hat or a god-forbidden pair of USC shorts.
At least no one wears any WSU gear (unless they're dressing up for Halloween as someone who wasn't smart enough to get into the UW, of course).
As a whole, Husky Nation is an extremely loyal group. Not many schools would continue to pack their football stadium student section after a five-game losing streak. But there still lingers a self-loathing minority that continues to irk the rest of us.
They're the people who feel the need to yell out to the rest of campus that this was not their first choice or that their bff, Jill, goes to whatever school.
To those people, I offer this: We all have the privilege to not only attend one of the finest universities in the world, but also to live in one of the greatest cities in the world, home to some of the most successful and influential people of our time (Bill Gates and William Boeing to name a couple).
There are those days when you're standing in Red Square and look down past Drumheller Fountain and see Mt. Rainier smiling back at you. How can your blood not turn a brilliant purple?
Contrast that to those other schools: USC is in the middle of Compton, Ohio State's mascot is a freaking nut or something, and don't even get me started on Oregon. How could you wish you were anywhere else?
But even with such obvious reasons to be downright boastful about your school, some people will shy away from displaying their pride. One of the reasons is that pride has developed a negative connotation.
The major misconception is that people tend to confuse ignorance and arrogance as pride. Being proud does not mean turning a blind eye to your faults, nor does it mean ignoring the presence of others that are equally great.
Being proud simply means being confident and comfortable with who you are and what you represent and not being afraid to show it.
The biggest problem with this lack of local pride is that it tends to stem into a deterioration of national pride.
There are still many red-white-and-blue-blooded Americans out there. Unfortunately, their voices tend to be drowned out by the much louder voice of USA nay-sayers: For example, the moronic Oregon fans who started a chant during the national anthem at the football game.
People argue that the reason their patriotism has slipped is because the United States has mutilated their world reputation with foreign policy choices. But the same sentiments and actions felt today are very reminiscent of Sept. 10, 2001, when there wasn't a war overseas.
After the tragedy of Sept. 11, the nation banded together. Suddenly, there was a greater conflict than Republicans vs. Democrats, and there was an American flag outside every house — reminding people that we are all still Americans.
But here we are a mere six years later, and people have somehow forgotten. There are absurd utterances from lame candidates like Ron Paul about Sept. 11 being a governmental conspiracy, and just like that we find ourselves dealing with pithy party disagreements while thousands of troops are protecting our right to not be proud enough to wave the flag.
On top of that, you see incidences like the one that occurred in my hometown of Reno, Nev., just the other day. Someone had the nerve to fly a Mexican flag above the American flag. Aside from being illegal, such an act is absolutely infuriating.
Whether you are an illegal immigrant or legal expatriate, there is a reason that you are here. You came here because of the vast opportunity that our country offers.
This is still the greatest country in the world. Our lack of pride in that fact is destroying our unity as a nation.
That needs to change.
Such a strong sentiment starts at the local level — being true to your school. Pride is not something that you have; it's something that you are. Patriots who lived by that basic code founded our country. It's time to get back to those historic roots.
I'd rather go to hell with purple in my veins and stars and stripes in my heart than to spend a moment denouncing my pride.
In the immortal words of Lee Greenwood, "I'm proud to be an American. God Bless the USA!"
[Reach columnist Jeff Dickson at opinion@thedaily.washington.edu.]
20 Comments
#1 Cary
on October 31, 2007 at 12:18 a.m.(Makawao, HI | Unverified Name)
Excuse me, but where did you ever see Ron Paul imply in any way whatsoever that Sept 11th was a government consipiracy. If you can show me, I won't vote for him.
#2 Joe M
on October 31, 2007 at 12:19 a.m.(Houston, TX | Unverified Name)
Ron Paul has categorically denied that 9/11 was a government conspiracy. Please make sure you have accurate facts before making such statements.
#3 Israel
on October 31, 2007 at 12:26 a.m.(Morrison, CO | Unverified Name)
It's amazing what people will do for hits these days hu!
Ron Paul and 9/11. Mrs Dickson would ashamed of you for telling lies about another person, especially when it's for your own gain. I have a mind to call her in the morning and let her know what you're saying. In fact, I will.
#4 FBain
on October 31, 2007 at 12:32 a.m.(Los Angeles, CA | Unverified Name)
I love these college kids who support the war but decide to stay out of it.
#5 mieses
on October 31, 2007 at 12:52 a.m.(Agoura Hills, CA | Unverified Name)
May I suggest that when your sophisticated rhetoric is not busy deploying big words such as "lame", it might find a little time for research.
#6 crazy
on October 31, 2007 at 12:55 a.m.(San Diego, CA | Unverified Name)
May I direct your attention back into itself and point out that maybe the very low level of education in this country is the very source of everything that you have written about.
#7 Neo-Conned
on October 31, 2007 at 1:05 a.m.(Saginaw, MI | Unverified Name)
Maybe you could go back and review your article obsessing over the "boundless bombardment of belittling blurbs", and apply those observations to discover how you ended up being wrong on so many issues. By the way, it's "Liberty".
#8 JP
on October 31, 2007 at 1:30 a.m.(Camarillo, CA | Unverified Name)
Dude ... you need to get a job at FoxNews. Ron Paul has said time and time again that he does NOT believe there is a conspiracy. There's no excuse for this kind of ignorant (and arrogant) smear. Plus, when you use that smear as a justification to call him absurd and lame; words I think better describe your pathetic article.
#9 richard
on October 31, 2007 at 1:34 a.m.(Los Angeles, CA | Unverified Name)
Pardon me? Ron Paul has never claimed that 9/11 was a government conspiracy. If you'd like to respectfully disagree with the man on real issues, fine. But at least have the intellectual fortitude and honesty to actually research what he has said and believes. You have clearly done neither. And I agree with what FBain said: "I love these college kids who support the war but decide to stay out of it."
#10 John in FL
on October 31, 2007 at 2:26 a.m.(Saint Petersburg, FL | Unverified Name)
Blogging inaccurate information about Ron Paul would be one of them.
Perhaps their motivation for attending the school is different than yours. As an adult, do you think you should really let it bother you so much?
Perhaps those individuals you speak of are focusing on displaying their pride on their office wall above their office desk.
I will agree that pride gets a bad rap, but your article isn't doing anything to change that.
I would say that pride in oneself is in fact ignorant arrogance. To confuse being proud as turning a blind eye to your faults is also failing to realize that being satisfied with oneself is the first step in failure. Ignorance is the failure to be aware of all that is within reach above and below.
Do not confuse lack of respect for lack of pride. These individuals were exercising their right to free speech peacefully which in my book makes them just as red-white-and blue blooded as those who mumble the Star Spangled Banner because they forgot the words, or never knew them.
You are correct in so much as US foreign policy has not strayed from the current policy in over 50 years now. 9/11 did not change that. What changed is that the very freedoms which so many Patriots of the past have fought for are being stripped away by that very same policy making engine. The Patriot Act is anything but Patriotic. It has paved the way for our Gov't to treat its people worse than it treats foreigners.
People got scared after 9/11. The classic heard mentality. Safety in numbers. You are correct, there is a greater conflict than Red vs Blue. Many of us, dare I say the majority of us are still waking up to that fact thanks to Congressman Ron Paul's message.
Just because you see a pair of USC shorts doesn't mean the rest of the country has gone back to sleep. PLEASE POST A LINK TO RON PAUL'S "UTTERANCES" OF GOV'T CONSPIRACY. If you can't find one then maybe you are failing to be aware of what is above and below yourself. Please describe to me how you believe it is required to have 100's of bases in 100's of foreign countries to "protect" our rights. Our rights are granted to us through the creator and those rights can never be taken away. I believe in our troops and I believe they are all doing what they believe they should be doing as individuals. I support their individual efforts. I believe they have done their job successfully and they deserve to come home and be praised before another individual has to die.
Flying a Mexican flag above the America flag on sovereign USA soil is illegal. Sporting a Notre Dame sweatshirt on the WSU campus is not. Tolerance is a founding principle of this country. Love it or leave it, but don't try to take it away from someone else.
Like the free govt handouts that we cannot afford because we are paying out of the nose to "protect" ourselves in over 100 foreign countries.
Ideally speaking, yes it is the greatest country in the world. In reality, we are not divided we are all enjoying the same fate. The first step in getting this country on the right track is to SWALLOW OUR PRIDE. We must humble ourselves and sacrifice our personal satisfaction in order to preserve the ideals that once upon a time made this the greatest country in the world.
Irony. It is more local than you think. It starts within your own heart. When give up desire you have to feel satisfied with your school and your peers on campus, you will begin to appreciate that as individual's, your peers and you share a fundamental value that far surpasses any symbol such as a flag or uniform. Its called freedom.
Irony. No one is asking you to give up pride in your school or your country. What I will ask you to do is go find out who Ron Paul is because trust me, you do not want to go to hell being ignorant about this man's message.
In the immortal words of the founders of this nation.
"We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America."
"This is still the greatest country in the world. Our lack of pride in that fact is destroying our unity as a nation."
#11 Joshua Richards
on October 31, 2007 at 4:42 a.m.(Virginia Beach, VA | Unverified Name)
Good journalism requires one to research a topic before reporting it. You are either ill informed, or outright lying.
#12 Mark Twine
on October 31, 2007 at 6:10 a.m.(Geneseo, NY | Unverified Name)
Jeff,
You have a great future with FOX News!
#13 Miranda
on October 31, 2007 at 6:27 a.m.(Grove City, OH | Unverified Name)
You are a terrible journalist.
#14 Abraham Klein
on October 31, 2007 at 7:01 a.m.(Kassel, Germany | Unverified Name)
It is preposterous how you distort the facts.
Ron Paul did not question 911!
Ron Paul is not an internet phenomenon! A real phenomenon is that people like you and mass media still do not (want to) see RP's supporters.
#15 Ann
on October 31, 2007 at 9:54 a.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I'm not, ah...really sure where to begin. Seriously, I don't know where to start. I'll stick to simple points to make it easy for Jeff. I simply can't let myself be as infuriated about this article as Jeff is over the waving of a Mexican flag, because his whole point is about how wonderfully free this country is and how proud we should be, then immediately grabs that statement out of the air and shoves it up his rear by complaining and suggesting we can't wave a flag other than an American one? Hey Jeff, who really cares which one is on top. It's 2007. "We" now means more than just Caucasian. You're like the middle-aged, short man I used to work with that was a complete a**hole simply to cope with his insecurities. Who cares if you're short?
I work here, I didn't go here. So, I can wear my bucks hat if I want to. Even though we screw it up at the end of every season, we happen to hold the #1 spot for some time (in years) now. Funny, I think that's called loyalty! Isn't that what you were trying with great difficulty to say? Or maybe I simply couldn't weave through all the crap I just read.
Thanks for the entertainment tho, I needed that on a Wednesday.
#16 Ben S
on October 31, 2007 at 12:47 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
First off, it is a law that no flag can fly above the American flag. For good reason! We live in the greatest country on the Earth and should be proud of it. Even if you left one country like Mexico and came here, YOU MADE THE CHOICE TO LEAVE ON COUNTRY FOR ANOTHER. It is this lack of American pride that is tearing apart America from the inside. Also, it is horseh*t when people wear other schools colors. If you work here but attended somewhere else, fine. But if you attend classes here YOU ARE A HUSKY. take pride in that. Lastly, I'd like to point out that Mr. Dickson here is not a journalist and has never claimed to be. He simply writes opion articles for the daily, AKA not a journalist.
#17 F.L.
on October 31, 2007 at 2:16 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
I don't disagree with Ron Paul on every issue, but as every candidate needs to be evaluated as a whole, so too does Ron Paul. I'm always a fan of internet flaming so I'm all for everyones previous posts to continue. However, I stumbled across this link which seems to support Ron Paul's acceptance of an investigation into 9/11 which seems to me to confirm Dickson's assertion.
The link to the site with an MP3 link:
http://www.total911.info/2007/01/prez...
Direct link to MP3:
http://prisonplanet.tv/audio/170107pa...
I think Ron Paul could do some things well, such as manage our finances better (who couldn't do a better job than the current administration/congress?), but he loses my vote when he says he'll abolish the Department of Education (among other government agencies) and he loses my vote further when he takes his stance as Pro-Life (making him anti-abortion). Maybe in a utopian society unwanted babies wouldn't be conceived and we wouldn't need federal agencies that aren't 100% efficient... maybe then I would vote for Ron Paul, but as it stands I'm going with the less radical D candidate (whoever that may be).
I also applaud the guy who was up at 3am in Florida posting replies to an internet article about a pres. candidate. Heh. *golf clap*
#18 Ann
on October 31, 2007 at 3:05 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Why yes, we have truth!! How could I have blamed the government and their decisions instead of myself? I simply forgot that it's my fault! It's the people of America! It is my lack of pride that is tearing apart America from the inside, not the people that actually have the power and follow-through! They are making it super easy to be proud right now, and all I'm doing is tearing them down! I cannot believe what I've done! How could I possibly be SO UTTERLY STUPID AS TO THINK OTHERWISE.
#19 Daren
on October 31, 2007 at 5:41 p.m.(UW Campus | Unverified Name)
Jeff,
I think you display a bit of ignorance and arrogance yourself with your dichotomy of UW students as being either "proud" or not. Further, you choose to condescendingly refer to the latter as the "self-loathing minority that continues to irk us." How is that not arrogant?
And what if those students who wear other schools’ clothes are transfers? For whatever reason, they left their old school to get their degree at UW. They made a choice to leave where they came from just to be here. I can see UW pride in that. However, I don't see why pride should be evidenced by a homogeneity of UW sweatshirts probably. Secondly, wherever one’s loyalties should lie, are others not just as capable to be “confident and comfortable†with who they are to not be like you?
I think your grievances against “USA nay-sayers†is misdirected. Isn’t one of America’s great sources of pride its diversity? An allegiance to upholding rights of minorities, espousing fairness, and an openness to a more cosmopolitan society are things I think are great about America. While American soldiers are fighting in other countries for what you label as our “right to not be proud enough to wave the flagâ€, isn’t equally as patriotic and “American†to fight for their right to not be wrongfully committed to wars that risk their lives and strain their families? And perhaps those students on campus whom you point out not wearing their UW merchandise are already one step ahead of you; maybe they are patriotic and proud enough to already look beyond petty school rivalries and simply see as all as Americans.
And guess what, my UW sweatshirt is made in Mexico. Pssh.
#20 John in FL
on October 31, 2007 at 8:31 p.m.(Saint Petersburg, FL | Unverified Name)
I followed the link that F.L. posted. At the risk of hijacking this thread, I'd like to point out that the comments Ron Paul made in the text link absolutely do not confirm what the original poster said. It doesn't even imply a conspiracy. 9/11 was the biggest massacre that has ever occurred in our countries history! Whether we like it or not, the 9/11 "investigation" will never be over. That book will never be closed. If you believe the governments story 100% you are extremely naive. I for one would like to know who told Rudy Guiliani that building 7 was going to collapse. I'd also like to know why the steal was all taken away and sold to China before all the victims had been identified or a complete forensic analysis could be performed. These questions and MANY more have never been answered. Inside Job, I doubt it. So does Ron Paul. But we'd like to know the truth about some of these things. A couple more things that get overlooked.
They didn't find the black boxes for any of the planes, yet somehow they get an intact passport? RIIIGGHHTTTT you believe that?
The stock puts on the airlines.. Cell phones at 30'000 feet.. The NORAD stand-down.. Pancake collapse at free fall speed.. The unprecedented planned power outage the weekend before.. The removal of the bomb sniffing dogs that same weekend.. The lava pool that smoldered for weeks after the collapse.. The chemical signature of thermate in tiny microscopic grains blasted 100's of yards away from ground zero.. The trade centers owner who claimed complete ownership and immediately took out a heafty insurance policy that specifically covered total destruction of his property in the event of a terrorist attack..
These are just questions. Questions the current ruling elite would love to be ignored. Personally I believe 9/11 has too many unanswered questions and the official govt investigation which started a year after the crime didn't even come close to answering the most important ones. Oh and its been over 6 years and no indictments or court proceedings have occurred. Hell no one even lost their jobs or were condemned for this huge govt failure.
Finally, take a look at what Ron Paul said in the cited link.
http://www.total911.info/2007/01/prez...
"HON. DR. RON PAUL: Well, that would be nice to have. Unfortunately, we don't have that in place. It will be a little bit better now with the Democrats now in charge of oversight. But you know, for top level policy there's not a whole lot of difference between the two policies so a real investigation isn't going to happen. But I think we have to keep pushing for it. And like you and others, we see the investigations that have been done so far as more or less cover-up and no real explanation of what went on."
Not a conspiracy, but a cover up. Obviously the govt is holding back some of the truth for national security reasons. But most of the questions that truth and freedom lovers want answered have to do with the evidence of the day. Its easy to see the motive. Profit and political capital. What did you expect from politicians? Most people who want the truth are no longer interested in the motive. They basically want to know WHY the remains of the victims were tossed in the garbage without a second thought.
The money that the department of education wastes would be better placed in the hands of local government. There is absolutely no need to tax the nation so that illegal aliens can be provided a free education.
Also, Ron Paul's personal stance is that the Federal Gov't does not have the authority to legislate individual rights and freedoms. In other words, we don't need laws like Roe vs. Wade to tell us it is ok rip life from our bodies. And we don't need to be protected by Congress if our bodies and minds are at risk of being harmed by dangerous pregnancies. Rather, we should teach personal responsibility and accountability to our children and young people. Likewise we should address the lack of morals that cause otherwise physically healthy pregnancies to be considered justifiably harmful to future of that mother and child.
As a man, I will never have the physical experience of being pregnant so I cannot condemn nor deny the right of a woman to do with her body as she pleases. Neither can Ron Paul which is why as a leader he will not ban abortion, but rather return that responsibility back to where it belongs. The individual. Remember Life Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness. Together they represent freedom. Remove one of those and you are left with none of them.
Thanks for the golf clap. I type 120 wpm and I work the late shift. I do actively search out Ron Paul articles because the issues he raises are driving the debate and will likely alter the course of our country and the world, forever.
IF you read all of this, well golf clap to you as well.
Post a comment