If there were an emoticon for rolling my eyes, that would be my title.

Someone recently commented on Facebook that they wish President Obama loved this country as much as the Israeli Prime Minister loves his. This really caused me to stop and reflect. My first thought was, "Wow, how presumptuous of you to make statements about someone else's feelings or insinuate that he doesn't love this country as much." Then I wondered on what grounds or with what criteria their love of their respective nations is being compared. First of all, we all express and show love differently, so it seems illogical to base our judgement of love on body language, passion and intensity of speech, etc. Actions do speak louder than words, so perhaps that's what this person is basing their opinion on . . . but which of Obama's actions denote that his love of country is less than Netanyahu's?

Many have criticized the president because "he likes to apologize for America." Interesting, I always thought of apologizing as an act of humility, something that shows greatness of character, but apparently it is not regarded as such universally. There's a quote in a movie that I've come to love which states, "It takes great courage to see the world in all its tainted glory and love it still, and even greater courage to see it in the one you love." We are an imperfect nation made up of imperfect people. The fact that I recognize flaws in the system and mistakes we've made as a nation does not (at least to me) signify that I love my country less than anyone else. In fact, it could be argued that to love something as it actually is indicates a greater love than the love that is too fragile to admit and recognize the imperfect reality.

Perhaps, then, it's President Obama's political views that denote a lesser love of nation. Yes, that must be it, he doesn't love his country because he doesn't agree with you on what's the best way to run it. A true lover of country would do what YOU think is best, is that it? Differences of opinion are just that, differences of OPINION! Just because you believe something, doesn't make you right. So, if you want to convince me to "come over to the light," you better come at me with something more substantial than fallacies and demagoguery.

I have yet to observe anything in the president's words, actions or demeanor that would indicate that he does not love his country or that he is not doing what he thinks is best for our nation.

Political Warfare

It's discouraging to see all of the negativity in politics and frustrating to realize that no one has the truth. All information available to us can be slanted in any number of ways in order to "support" or "prove" any and all points of view on a given topic. It all comes down to who and what you choose to believe, not what's true or false. Therefore, I think it's rather pompous of anyone to act as though they have more than just their own opinions to aid them in their quest to "enlighten" others. In my opinion, there's far too many demagogic e-mails being forwarded, getting the masses all riled up over nothing more than opinions guised as facts. Let's not be progenitors of such ranting speech; instead let's make positive and productive contributions to both the morale and the welfare of our great nation by voting in accordance with our personal beliefs, also by getting involved in city councils and other public forums where changes in our laws and society can be made. Criticism, gossip, slander and negativism change nothing but your own character.