I have expressed my discontent with the standard political labels, like liberal/left and conservative right.
American Digest proposes “rebranding ‘conservative’ and ‘Republican’ with ‘American’”.
I appreciate the sentiment, and you should definitely read his essay. Gonna have to think about it, because far too many people are convinced that “American” means imperialist, corporatist, fat, lazy, racist, homophobe, sexist, and on and on endlessly. Doesn’t matter that to the extent that those things are true, they mostly arose from the liberal progressive left; that’s what people have been trained to think.
I’m going to start using it nevertheless, if only to cleanse the name. It’s as good an escutcheon as any, and what stains and muck attach to it have mostly been thrown by its — our — enemies.
I’m going to have to explain it, every time I say it. That’s fine. People need to hear it.
I am an American.
Tags: American Digest