I’m Proud Of You

Do you have to know someone in order to be proud of them or something they have done?

I don’t think so.

You Don’t Know Me, But…

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Throughout my life there have been people that I was proud of. They didn’t know me, but they had accomplished something that touched me deeply and it made me proud to be in their presence, proud to have met them and/or even, “proud to be an American” — which sadly is a fleeting feeling that comes few and far between these days.

The bible says, “Pride” is one of the seven deadly sins, but my interpretation of that is “self-pride” — which can easily become more about ego than anything else, and not the feeling of pride one gets towards another human being who has done something for the betterment of someone else, our country or just life in general.

I don’t think that kind of pride is the biblical “sin”.

Thank You!

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There have been many prideful moments in my life; times where my eyes filled with tears and my chest felt heavy and full of emotion; times I wished I could have reached out to hug an amazing stranger and simply say, “Thank you”.

There are many people whose work or other efforts have moved me; people who have put their reputations and well-being on the line, just because it was the right thing to do.

People whose words or works were so profound they have been cemented in my psyche like footnotes to reference at will.

Who Are These People?

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I could write several books on the answer to that alone, but here are a few that immediately come to mind…

Jason Leopold:

Investigative reporter and FOIA king (or FOIA “terrorist” depending on who you ask). This guy is a Truth teller extraordinaire and he backs it with FOIAs and then some.

Coleen Rowley:

Not only for risking her reputation to tell the Truth, but for two little words she uttered in a 2007 conference in Santa Cruz, CA where she said, “Do something.” That was one of the most profound statements I have ever heard and as tired as I was fighting the fight by that point, her two words galvanized me to do even more.

Cindy Sheehan:

For opening so many eyes to the ugliness and injustice of war and for her utter persistence in shaking the tree every step of the way. Cindy is a quiet spoken woman with a big mouth and we need more people like her.

Peter Phillips:

For being the first person to listen to my crazy ramblings about 9/11 and for not looking at me like I was nuts and also for being one of the biggest media Truth champions I know.

Mickey Huff:

For taking the Project Censored reigns and steering wisely, boldly and fearlessly where mainstream media refuses to go.

Michael Hastings:

For being what a journalist is supposed to be, something that ultimately cost him his life.

Ray McGovern:

For constantly telling it like it is regardless of blow-back or damage to his stellar reputation.

Edward Snowden:

For risking his life and giving-up his livelihood so that we — as American Citizens, can rightfully know how real “Big Brother” truly is.

Bradley Manning:

For giving up everything in order to tell the Truths of war about what is being done in “our name”.

Barrett Brown:

For showing us the real meaning of, “Stand your ground” and by the way,  it has nothing to do with guns or killing people.

Abby Martin: For evolving into a fantastic journalist, whom I have had the pleasure of marching in the street with before she was ever, a “someone” as the saying goes. Abby is fearless and smart; a powerful combination that get’s the story told.

Daniel Ellsberg:

Not just for the “Pentagon Papers” and paving the way, but for his determined public support of other whistleblowers like Edward Snowden.

These are just some of the people you should know. These are the people — who when you learn their real story, you should — as a human being and citizen of the United States, be proud of.

I know I am.

Thank you for all YOU do.

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• FBI sued for keeping secret their file on journalist Michael Hastings (rt.com)
• Pride comes before a fall … Or does it (liberaldream.wordpress.com)
• Snowden Honored by Ex-Intel Officials (consortiumnews.com)
• If FoIA Will Work (vanguardngr.com)
• The NSA Couldn’t Answer Our FOIA Request Because It Couldn’t Figure Out Our Address (theatlanticwire.com)
• Center for Investigative Reporting simplifies FOIA (cjr.org)
• Greenwald Tears Into Toobin Over Manning, Snowden: You’re Calling For ‘End Of Investigative Journalism’ (mediaite.com)
• Report: FBI wanted to fly Edward Snowden’s father to Moscow (cnn.com)
• Gallup: American Pride (rightwires.com)