Take back the meaning of "A True US Patriot"

Taken from the net flick "We, the People..." (available here, at the bottom of the page):

On July 4th, 1776, in response to a rule of government that trivialized the will of the people, the people of this nation got together and wrote a document that rejected that government, citing the unalienable rights and freedoms believed to belong to all men.

On September 17, 1787, another document, written by and for the people of this nation, outlined a system of government designed to guarantee, foster, and protect those freedoms.

On July 4, 2005, the people decided that the government and media needed to be reminded who this nation belonged to.

Another document was written.

This document spoke not of separation, but of unification. It did not outline new rights or freedoms, but recalled instead those which had been compromised.

We, the People of the United States of America, finding ourselves repeatedly misled by those charged with the care and governance of our nation, know that partisan politics have resulted in a serious breach of the public trust.

We have suffered attacks against our Constitutional rights and the founding tenets of this Democratic Republic.

We have suffered the infringement of our freedoms.

We have suffered insult to our honor and integrity as proud citizens.

We will no longer suffer in silence this continued assault that has now passed beyond intolerable.

We do hereby now and forever reject the bastardization of this nation's core principles through this proclamation, and define this reminder to our wayward leaders just what it takes to be a True US Patriot...

Those opening words echo several of our nation's founding documents. The 'Ten Characteristics' goes on and makes frequent references to the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and the poem "The New Colossus" by Emma Lazarus (which is the poem inscribed on a plaque at the base of the Statue of Liberty). The movie, released anonymously upon the internet today, was based upon the document "Ten Characteristics of 'A True US Patriot'". That document, like our Declaration of Independence, was written by a collection of concerned citizens who - like our founding fathers - saw major discrepancies between the government and the people.

Instead of urging separation from the government, however, the 'Ten Characteristics' seeks to put an end to the abuse of the terms "Patriot", "Patriotism", and "un-American".

The ten defining characteristics shown are carefully selected, and utilizes both words and phrases from the source documents to help serve as both reminders of what a "True US Patriot" is, as well as provide the background source material.

We think this is a worthy endeavor.

Too much partisan sniping, and far too much free-form redefinition of our language, has led to a hopeless morass of namecalling and obstruction in our highest levels of elected office.

Here's what you can do to help:

Mail a copy of the "Ten Characteristics of 'A True US Patriot' (get a copy in flyer-format from "Freedom Press") to Todd Russell Platts, R-PA, Chairman of the House of Representatives Subcommittee on Government Management, Finance, and Accountability. Click his name above to get to his online contact form.

Tell Representative Platts that the document must be distributed to all members of the House and Senate, many of whom appear to have forgotten both the founding principles of this nation as well as the fact that they represent and govern at the choice and pleasure of the people.

Contact the Associated Press and United Press International, and send them the same sheet, and the link to the originating blog entry. Remind them that the press must retake its position as "Champions of the Truth".

And share the 'Ten Characteristics' with your friends.

Let's take back control of our nation, one definition at a time.