Happy Independence Day

[Bob Juch]

It’s America’s birthday. The day when millions of people grill, spend time at the lake, probably drink a little too much and set off some fireworks (with safety in mind, of course).

Well, that’s what I’ll be doing.

And as we all know, when it comes to “patriotism,” conservatives seem to believe that they’re the only true patriots. You know, because us liberals clearly hate America and our Constitution.

I must make one point very clear, when I say “conservatives,” I mean conservatives. See, Republicans haven’t always been conservatives. In fact, it wasn’t until the 1950′s and 60′s when the Republican party decided to embrace the South’s blatant racism, hoping to lure white voters to their side. That’s when the Republican party become the “party of Southern conservatives.”

Because, as we all know, conservatives love to point out that Abraham Lincoln freed the slaves and he was a Republican.
Which is true, but he wasn’t a conservative.

It’s as if these people willfully ignore the fact that every state that fought with the South during the Civil War was also a state that opposed integration, the Civil Rights Act and now almost every single one of those same states is strongly Republican.

Clearly the party has changed since the days of Abraham Lincoln.

But as we all take a day to celebrate the Fourth of July, I say we take a look at a few of the freedoms Southern conservatives (modern day Republicans) have opposed throughout our nation’s history:

Freeing the slaves
Allowing women to vote
Desegregation
Interracial marriage
The Civil Rights Act
The Voting Rights Act
Women’s rights
Same-sex marriage

That’s quite the list of ignorance, bigotry and racism.

History shows it hasn't mattered if it’s 1860, 1960 or 2014, states like Texas, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Georgia, South Carolina – they all opposed (or oppose in the case of ongoing battles on women’s rights and same-sex marriage) every single one of those fights for freedom listed above.

And “shockingly” every single one of those states is strongly Republican.

So, on this Fourth of July holiday, if you happen to encounter one of your conservative family members and engage them in some kind of political debate, I suggest you reference this article to showcase just how ignorant conservative ideology has been throughout American history.

Have a great holiday and stay safe!

- See more at: http://www.forwardprogressives.com/four ... yPhkB.dpuf

[silverscreenselect]

Somehow, I think you're going to get a lot of flack posting this post with this heading today.

[Bob Juch]

Somehow, I think you're going to get a lot of flack posting this post with this heading today.

Why? Isn't that what independence and freedom is about?