"Why don’t we liberate these United States We’re the ones who need it the worst Let the rest of the world help us for a change And let’s rebuild America first"
These strong words come from a new songwriter wishing for peace in Iraq. Well, actually calling him new is untruthful. These words are sung by none other than Merle Haggard in his recent release debuting in 2006.
The rest of the song continues with even more inspiring resolute lines,
"Freedom is stuck in reverse Let’s get out of Iraq and get back on track And let’s rebuild America first"
For those readers who may not be country enthusiasts or who have not had the rare privilege of living in the Deep South, the significance of this song may elude you. But don’t worry; let me give you a quick flashback of Merle Haggard’s country classics composed during the late sixties. What better place to start than his hit, "Okie from Muskogee"
"We don’t smoke marijuana in Muskogee We don’t take our trips on LSD We don’t burn our draft cards on Main Street Cause we like livin’ right and bein’ free"
To sum it up, Merle Haggard was the Toby Keith/Darryl Worley country music propagandist of the Vietnam War. Despite my deep-rooted affirmation of libertarian principles, I still love listening to patrio-fascist country songs. I’ve lived in Mississippi too long; I guess that I just can’t help it anymore.
As a matter fact, all my anti-war articles are written to the background sounds of pro-war country. In a strange sort way, they inspire me to try harder with my opposition to the conflict in Iraq.
While writing my last article and listening to some Merle Haggard, his new song popped up on the YouTube playlist. Deciding to take a listen left me in disbelief. I had just finished hearing his other classic pro-war anthem, The Fighting Side of Me. (It’s no surprise that this YouTube video is set to a montage of Neocon pro-war/ anti-left images.)
Some of the key verses go:
"I hear people talkin’ bad, About the way we have to live here in this country, Harpin’ on the wars we fight, And gripin’ ’bout the way things oughta be……..
They’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me. Yeah, walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me. Runnin’ down the way of life, Our fightin’ men have fought and died to keep.
If you don’t love it, leave it: Let this song I’m singin’ be a warnin’. If you’re runnin’ down my country, man, You’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me."
A few lines are irresistible to anyone that detests the radical left regardless of your view on the war. Here’s my favorite,
"They love our milk and honey, But they preach about some other way of livin’. When they’re runnin’ down my country, hoss, They’re walkin’ on the fightin’ side of me."
When songwriters such as Merle Haggard begin changing their minds on Iraq, then the end signs of the Republican Party are truly amongst us. Mainstream political analysts keep talking about the strong pro-war base. What they do not see or care to admit is the cracks appearing even within the hard-core pro-war base.
Every day the war continues is another day where Republicans lose more party members. War is not something many people change their mind back and forth on easily. A war begins and everyone jumps on board with great fervor. From there, no new people usually join the war effort. However, supporters do begin to abandon the position every day until the point where continuing is no longer politically viable.
Party big wigs think that a few "good" months in Iraq can change the public’s mindset. They’re very wrong; it doesn’t work like that. Once you’re against a certain war, you don’t go back. These "good" months are just desperate attempts to slow the rate of loss in the war base. As the war continues down the path of oblivion, so does the future of the GOP.
Merle Haggard is no anomaly. I know plenty of people that started the Iraq War right behind George Bush and ready to stay in the Middle East forever. It’s not just the moderates abandoning the Republican Party.
The truth is the GOP is falling apart inside out. Folks are sick of the war, but many also would never support a liberal. Ron Paul is a traditional Robert Taft conservative that can fulfill this role in rebuilding and leading a new direction for the party.
Republicans need to go beyond trying to win this election and gaze further into the future. In this election, the GOP is burning a lot of bridges with once loyal voters. Unless the party takes a drastic turn, we may find ourselves in the very frightening world of a Democratic Congress and President for a long time, too long for America to survive.
Ron Paul’s official slogan is "Hope for America." GOP members need to realize that this does not just mean only "Hope for America" but also "Hope for the Republican Party." Without Ron Paul—style direction, this country is in serious danger.
Fortunately, new candidates are answering the call to revive the conservative tradition. So far we’ve got BJ Lawson 4th district North Carolina, Dave Ryon 12th District Ohio, Dave Redick 2nd District Wisconsin, and our own Murray Sabrin for New Jersey Senate.
The Ron Paul Revolution has started a political war. As any war goes, victory is not found in a single mle. The Ron Paul Revolution now has fresh frontiers to explore and spread its message. The Merle Haggards of the world are tired of the neocon direction and are desperate for an antiwar true conservative option. Let’s give them that choice. Let’s get ready to fight the good fight on the new battlefields ahead of us.
