The 9/12 Project is a political movement that claims to not be a political movement.  It was started by quite possibly the most insane man in America who has a large audience who will listen to him: Glenn Beck.  In short, the 9/12 Project scares me because it is the child of Beck, a known fear mongering, lying asshat.  But… to get in to the details.

Speaking of lying, read their mission statement: http://www.the912project.com/the-912-2/mission-statement/.

So do you got that?  It’s not a political movement.  But, three key questions to determine if the 9/12 Project is for you are:

1. Do you watch the direction that America is being taken in and feel powerless to stop it?
2. Do you believe that your voice isn’t loud enough to be heard above the noise anymore?
3. Do you read the headlines everyday and feel an empty pit in your stomach… as if you’re completely alone?

So here we have Glenn exploiting your emotions.  Using 9/11, the most emotional event to have happened nationally to me in my entire life.  On top of that, he throws in other emotional jabs about the current Government (Democrats) having power.  But… it’s not political people.  Nothing political here at all.

Then, he moves on to start talking about how the members of the 9/12 Project outnumber and surround the evil Democratic government.  Almost like this insane man is trying to recruit an army…

Then he leads in to his 9 principles.  The 9 principles that, evidently, make the perfect American.  9 principles that are supposedly a summary of the 28 principles the founding fathers used to build our country.  Are you a little confused by that last sentence?  Didn’t you know that the founding fathers built our country on 28 principles?  I didn’t know this either… In fact, I’ve looked through the Constitution, the Bill of Rights, etc.  These 28 principles are no where to be found.  The best thing I can find is individual quotes given at separate times by various founding fathers that suggest it was a personal belief of theirs.  In no way was our country founded on these 9 principles, or the other 17: http://www.the912project.com/the-912-2/.

Of course, that is probably clearly what they meant when they wrote: “At the origin of America, our Founding Fathers built this country on 28 powerful principles.”  Right?  That can be easily understood as: “If you quote mine all of history and pull individual quotes from individual founding fathers made at vastly different times and remove all context, you can generate this list of 28 principles that may have influenced the founding fathers in some minor way in the building of our country.”  The two sentences are interchangeable.

Let’s go through ‘em.  Evidently you have to believe in at least 7 of these in order to be a part of the project.  In order to be the right kind of American.

America Is Good

Well… what in the world does this mean?  Is it suggesting that some countries are evil?  I definitely don’t agree with the “principle” as is.  I think there are some good things about America, and some bad things, and clearly some evil things too.  I don’t believe that America is any of them.  Ice cream is good.  America?  Well, I like it here and I like that crazy asshats like Beck are allowed to be crazy asshats.  But I can’t fully say that I believe in the principle that “America is Good”.

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

Wait… WHAT?  The 9/12 Project is suggesting that to be a true American you can not be an Atheist!  Well shit, I’m 0 for 2 so far.  And not only is the 9/12 Project suggesting that true Americans believe in a personal God, but they’re suggesting that the Founding Fathers built the country on this principle.  The same Founding Fathers who fought for freedom from religion and built a government that clearly states that you DO NOT HAVE TO BELIEVE IN GOD in order to be an American.

So that leaves 7 principles… I better believe in these next 7 or else I’m not wanted in this country.

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

Well this principle is just logically stupid.  I have had many days when I was 100% honest.  Sure, maybe I’m ignoring the main point of this principle by looking at it logically… So let’s look at it as it is most likely intended: “A true American strives to be as honest as they possibly can be, every day of their life.”  Ha!  I now know why Glenn says 7 out of 9 is OK!  Clearly he doesn’t believe in this one.  How honest could he truly be as he accuses Obama of having a “deep seated hatred for white people”?

I do try to live an honest life.  It is a personal goal of mine.  I do not believe that this is a requirement for being an American.  I would like my leaders to strive for honesty… although that is hard to find in a politician.

So to be clear: honesty is important to me personally and I value it in my friends/leaders.  I do not think it is a principle required by true Americans.  So here we go, 0 for 3.  How un-American could I be?

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

Again: Holy shit!  Of course I don’t believe in this principle!  For one, it is built specifically to exclude gay marriage.  And number two, I can think of many instances when the government SHOULD have authority over parents.  Also, some people may want to live a life without a partner and without kids.  All power to them and you’re still just as much of an American as I am.  However, I’m not doing so hot.  0 for 4.

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

Sure, I think I can get behind this one.  I do have my own opinions on what should be illegal and what the punishments for things should be.  I expect those opinions to be different from many others in America, and that is OK.  But, I do believe that if you haven’t gotten the law changed to fit your ideals, you still are responsible for the consequences of breaking that law.

Woot!  1 of 5!

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

Another I can get behind.  Although, that second half you could really leave off.  And I don’t like the “I” in it.  My version of this principle goes: “Everyone has a right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  2 for 6.

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

Again with the misleading manipulation, you stupid, lying, fear mongering asshat Mr. Beck!

<sarcasm>Why should I have to pay to support the Fire Department?  If some poor guys house catches fire and he can’t afford to pay the fire department to put it out, it’s not my problem!</sarcasm>

2 for 7!

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

Of course it’s not!  OK, I’m going to say this next sentence even though it makes me wince a little.

Glenn Beck is the perfect example of why I love America.

The fact that you can be as bat shit crazy as Glenn Beck, say such disgusting and revolting lies about the government and the president as Beck, and start a “grass roots” movement to overflow the government based off ridiculous principles that many are clear violations of the constitition…  That you can do all that and you’re not locked up or censored.  That’s what it means to be a true American.  To allow such freedom of speech and expression of opinion.

3 for 8!  But this one is the only one on my list of principles required to have in order to be an American.

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

Again with the fear mongering.  This is not a principle.  This is an attempt to invoke passion and fear in to followers of his movement.  The government is elected by you.  But you definitely answer to your own government.  If you disagree with your government, you fight to change it.  Wait?  This “principal” clearly violates the previous principle: “If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it”.

The government here is amazing in that it has a system that allows it to be changed.  Sure, other governments in other countries may be the same, but I’m no expert on world governments.  I know how ours works and I know that change is possible:

1. Abolition of slavery
2. Womans Suffrage
3. The beginnings of the recognition of Gay Rights

Three huge steps in the right direction for humanity.  Three clear cases where Government has been changed or is being changed by the people.

But don’t misunderstand.  Just because the government can be changed does not mean that you don’t answer to the government.  We don’t live in anarchy.

In Summary

On the Glenn Beck 9/12 scale of a true American I have scored a sad 3 out of 9.  A score of 33.33%.  That is not a passing grade, but I don’t care.  Because the whole 9/12 project is bullshit.  I present to you, the true American movement.  I call it, the Declaration of Independence.  The most important part:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal…”

Posted on November 5th, 2009 under Rant • Tags: atheism, Politics, Religion. • RSS 2.0 feed • You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed