The Birthers
The “Birthers.” A euphemism referring to those in the United States who attest their firm belief that Barack Obama, 44th President of the United States, is in fact an alien born and bred. Or more specifically, Mr. Obama wasn’t born here, and as such has no Constitutionally legal authority to be the President, and therefore is counterfeit. The Constitution of The United States, the laws and conditions upon which this country is defined, requires anyone who seeks to become “the leader of the free world,” i.e., The President, must be born right here in the good ol’ U.S. of A., for those of you who didn’t know. Thus, some have taken to calling them “Birthers,” as in people who question the origin of Obama’s birth. Generally those parroting this mantra are what folks on this side of the globe call “conservatives.” People prone to lean to the right of the political and social divide: the God-fearing, we built it so we own it, nation(alist) first type of souls. This has ostensibly compelled others to engage in what on the surface appears to be yet another pointless, silly “debate” about something designed to waste the energies and raise the malice of otherwise thoughtful people, on absolutely nothing – again. By and large those who’ve taken issue with this claim, that Barack isn’t one of us, certainly those who have access to a regular presence on American mass television and radio, have essentially dismissed these individuals with a sort of “we are somewhat amused, but not really taking you dunderheads seriously,” attitude.
As birthers tend to jump from one accusation and exigent fantasy to another (and their “critics” have jumped right with them) there’s no need to waste energy renaming these people whatever the latest thing which upsets them so. No matter the noise coming from their mouths, it’s the same rabble who initiated the “Obama isn’t a real American” charge. So “Birthers” they shall forever remain. Commonly the general response by the people representing themselves as progressive has been to respond to those clinging to this notion with ridicule, by suggesting that “Birthers” (the term almost sounds endearing) are like an embarrassing relative one feels more pity for than love. Notably their need to respond at all – obsessively, to the tiresome ultraconservative tactic of monotonous bleating gives these reactionists a form of legitimacy they most likely wouldn’t have had otherwise. Which, as media liberals give so much attention to what their claimed opponents are saying and doing, and sparingly little to their “kindred spirits,” frankly I’m not all together sure if this isn’t also part of the little game being played. At any rate what the amused critics may not be gathering in what they perceive as mere reactionaries once again making themselves look and sound foolish is how these people are suggesting with their dishonest demand to view and verify his many times viewed and verified birth certificate, is that the Hawaiian born Obama is in fact not the President of the United States. That he is where he is – illegally. A number of reasonably fair-minded people have intuited that the goal is to draw attention to the President’s interracial origins purposefully to inflame racist passions. Others think it’s simply a stall tactic to give those with Republican sympathies time to design a more original oppositional strategy (and no doubt mainstream “progressives” will hoot and holler about those as well), while at the same time wearing down the nation’s people with negative noise about Obama in an effort to tarnish his luster, to bring him down to size. Certainly these people have those things in mind. But still, as all experienced in the lessons of life adults know, there is a beginning, and there is an end. In this thing these people have begun (and continue to pile extreme sham charges atop) there is a natural and ultimately predictable end result. What other possible conclusion can there be? Essentially, this conviction about the alleged illegitimacy of Barack Obama may one day reach the mind (or minds) of someone who decides that since he’s not legitimately our President, that he is there – even though he has no right to be, and for whatever reason the apparently moribund legal system has failed to correct this mistake (this injustice), than his removal – by force, by violence, is ultimately the only appropriate alternative left, and would by definition not be treason. Perhaps even an act of patriotism. Some of these people might not even view it as murder, considering the mindset many have brandished. At most only a killing. Simply an insignificant death. Such a scenario is hardly foreign to this country’s history. After all, these people aren’t calling for new elections to make the new office holder (presumably not Obama, since he isn’t “natural born”) legitimate, to set things right. I’ve heard no calls for such a wish from them. Few among them demonstrate consideration about consequences (such as playing chicken with the Constitution, or dare in the destruction of average people’s lives with bogus legal “solutions” to made-up problems). For this group the logical terminus is Obama’s removal. Over this nation’s many chronicled years the “terrorists” who’ve destroyed the most American lives – have been American-born Americans. As their vitriol and tactics becomes only more venomous the well-worn road they’ve deliberately determined to take is obvious. Whether this group appreciates or not the fact that their acts have consequences, their ways have happened too many times before for anyone to feign surprise at the potential for what may follow. If the roles were switched and left-wing advocates spewed similar invectives about conservative darlings while holding placards and effigies encouraging violence against specific people, bearing firearms in “peaceful protest,” shouting threatening slurs to passersby while proclaiming they may start taking what’s “theirs” by force through authority of Second Amendment “remedies” – but still insisting themselves mere free speech proponents with no hatred or ill will towards others, what would your honest impression be? Throughout America’s history people such as these reactionaries have always insisted they weren’t hate-dealers, or exponents of violence, but instead misunderstood defenders of what’s right against what’s wrong. Even though hate and violence is what they inspired. They pointedly take offense only to the charge of mob-think, but none when their ugly cousins stand shoulder-to-shoulder next to them. They make no direct indictment to the boors among their gang they claim meager attendees, whom are usually defended by them as “justifiably angry” though perhaps a tad over-the-top, but still well-meaning. (They’ll insist “others” are truly to blame for the venom. As if it mattered.) It’s fair, therefore, to indict them all together. And the progressives’ response in these periods have always been to play the role of “well, they’re just hicks letting off steam” commentators. Too busy to pull themselves away from appearing immersed with weightier matters, while looking dignified and above it all. The reasonable examples we should all follow. So they say. With allies like this . . . . Though it’s simple to blame particular noisy trouble makers for whipping this pack into a frenzy, the individuals amongst them are self-possessed, and therefore bear the responsibility of their activities and words. These people are consciously selective about their ignorance of facts, when it suits them. The information available to others who know better is just as available to them. Free speech advocacy is the virtue in which they anoint themselves. It’s from behind this artifice they employ the excuse devised to justify this deep-seated want to abuse others. To tear someone else down. To put “others” in their place. Because they seem incapable of building themselves up – without tearing someone else down. A group who appear to believe they – and only they – have a birthright to the societal privilege they demand. Less ironic than hypocritic, this “birth” right. The right to dictate how others exist within their own personal lives. Faulting the unaccountable prima donnas with indignation is too easy – and never works anyway. (They’re interchangeable and replaceable. And easily forgotten.) The source of this is the stubborn belief of too many that they deserve more than they have, and that it’s because of others and not themselves that they don’t have it. It’s a child’s view. An unction. Requiring nothing but to find another to blame. (Sadly, the left often plays this dodge too.) That con artists exploit this is unfortunate. But if it weren’t there in the first place there’d be nothing to tap. Freedom of speech is not a virtue, or a shield. To exercise it, likewise. It’s simply a right, to be employed responsibly. As with all rights It is I think time to stop chuckling about the conduct and rhetoric of this crowd, at what they continue to repeat, and repeat, and repeat like an annoying jingle, which manages to creep into your thoughts in spite of your desire for it to go away. Time to stop casually referring to them as sore losers, or any other relatively cutesy put-down, and start calling them what they really are – disgruntled bigots, who are espousing something quite inflammatory, and dangerous. You may read “The Birthers” in its original publication at www.zafrasa.net
About the Author
Terry Cerata is an independent researcher, progressive, and discerning citizen.
Effigy – Lucrezia Borgia
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