Glenn Beck's 9-12 Project

1. America is good.
2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

Honesty
Reverence
Hope
Thrift
Humility
Charity
Sincerity
Moderation
Hard Work
Courage
Personal Responsibility
Gratitude



Are you familiar with this? It's the Nine Principles and Twelve Values of Glenn Beck's 9-12 Project.

"The 9-12 Project is designed to bring us all back to the place we were on September 12, 2001. The day after America was attacked we were not obsessed with Red States, Blue States or political parties. We were united as Americans, standing together to protect the values and principles of the greatest nation ever created."

If I recall, and I was young, so please do excuse me, wasn't it fear and shock that "brought us together" because we were uncertain of what would happen next? Weren't we united by rage against our enemies? And how exactly were we protecting "the values and principles" of anything? Also, greatest nation ever created? Isn't that rather arrogant?

Of course, I am highly critical of this 9-12 Project, not just because it was founded by Glenn Beck, who I despise, but also because of how ridiculous it is.

1. America is Good

America is an idea. Well, while it is a place, the values, principles, everything about it is an idea, just like any other country. Whether an idea is good or not is a matter of opinion. To claim America is good, that's fine, but to what extent? Some claim that, it's patriotic to follow the President (well, a REPUBLICAN President; Bush, anyone?), for example. What makes America "good?" Because of our freedom? Well, other nations have freedoms similar to ours. Sure, there's going to be discrepancies, but still. that's only to be expected. What is it that America has, that other nations do not? And if you say "the greatest-" stop right there. The concept of "best" is mere opinion. For example, some say we have the greatest health care system in the world. If that's true, then why is it other nations do not adopt it? Why is it that there's such fierce argument that it needs to be reformed?

America is something, I'll grant that. And that something changes person to person. But "good" is a merely an opinion, and I, for one, will not accept the idea that America is good as a principle to live by. Because that leads to nationalistic complacency, perhaps even to the extent of blind devotion. I believe in the idea of wanting America to be better, but to do so, we must be both critical, and open, of America, and our government. Nationalism and complacency leads down a dangerous path.

2. I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.

It shouldn't be any surprise that this here is what I am most critical of out of the whole damn thing. Mr. Beck, you truly do not understand one of the greatest pillars of America. Freedom of religion.

America, it is not a Christian nation, as much as many Republicans wish to believe. It is Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Wiccan, Agnostic, Atheist, and any other belief within it. Your God is not my god. Your God is not the center of my life. Your God is not America's, as much as you may deny it.

The Pledge of Allegiance, "under God" was officially added in 1954, not when it was first wrote.

"In God We Trust" was added onto our currency in 1864, again, not at the concept of our national currency.

Take your God, and keep your God. The fact that a belief in God is slated as one of your principles sickens me.

3. I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.

Glenn Beck. On Fox News. Need I say more? Hypocrisy. Of course, just about anything is better than publicly admitting on the radio that he hates some of the families of 9-11 victims.

4. The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.

Sacred. An interesting choice of wording. Not only did you essentially make it religious, what a surprise, but what is "the family" exactly? From him, I expect the usual man+woman+marriage argument. But once again, the definition of what a family is, is merely an idea, and as I stated earlier, ideas are opinionated. And, "ultimate authority," another interesting choice in wording. When it comes to personal, private matters, such as raising your children, I wholeheartedly agree. But what exactly does this "ultimate authority" hold? What is "ultimate authority"?

5. If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.

In a surprise, one I actually agree with.

6. I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.

I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, of course. I completely agree, that is one of the greatest concepts of America. But there is no guarantee of equal results. No guarantee of equal results? What exactly does that mean? That no two people are the same? That things change in life, so the same pursuit may not satisfy you as much later? Or, and I hope this is not it, that the rights of some must be sacrificed for others?

7. I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.

This is, an interesting one. While I basically agree with the concept it is trying to convey, I feel almost certain that this is a double-entendre, it's latter meaning being anti-Socialist. Knowing how Republicans and Fox News have represented socialism, I'm sure of it. But also, I think it's against taxation, especially a progressive tax based on annual income.

8. It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.

Again, I agree with this. But it's so ripe with hypocrisy.

9. The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.

And lastly of the principles, I agree. But it is far easier said than done.

Overall?

Believe in God. The government can't control us. I have my rights. And America is good/great/the best/what the fuck ever.

Not much about actually unifying the masses, is there? Unless the masses suddenly become conservative like the Republicans. This is more about the right's way of life over unity of all Americans. Of course, this is Glenn Beck.

When did socialism become okay in this country? Hm, I don't know, was it when Social Security was founded? How about welfare? Medicare? Our modern police and fire departments? And quoting Nancy Pelosi? I thought she was one of those god-forsaken socialist liberal elites? Terrorists on the run? Surely you mean in the Middle East, and not America; last time I checked, we haven't been attacked since 9-11. And of course, you don't want your children indoctrinated; unless it's anti-tax, pro-gun, and pro-American, like in Reagan's speech to the children, right Mr. Beck?

Oh, family is sacred, under God. I called it. Oh, but here's a kicker; opinions cannot be un-American, but can be anti-American!

"Anti-American rhetoric would be anything that's destructive to the Constitution and as the Founders understood it."

Now correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't it we who are trying to understand the Founders? And "destructive to the Constitution," what is that exactly? Well sir, I think you are being anti-American then, since I believe you are supporting a violation of the First. I also suppose supporting, say, gun control laws is also anti-American. Funny how wide of a range such a vague statement can be used for.

Oh yes, Mr. Beck, this is definitely worth my time. Right, it's not about the parties, it's about the principles. Much of which is very strongly support by Republicans. Not about the parties at all.

Anyhow, Mr. Beck, I'll be happy to fight. For -my- principles, against arrogant fools like you.

And remember; they don't surround us. We surround them. Or as Stephen Colbert so rightly puts it:

"Who are them? Them's the ones we're surrounding. And we? We're the voices in Glenn's head telling him to get us to take back what's rightfully ours."

Trust me, it's worth the watch (here's the link):


This is also a more recent clip from last night's The Daily Show (here's the link):


As for this 12 Values, while I cannot necessarily argue against them, I can note the hypocrisy of them. The only thing Mr. Beck might remotely have on his show is courage, and even then I think not. It's more like he is so padded by hateful ignorance and praise of the like-minded, that he has no courage because it isn't needed for him.

That's all I have to say for now.