Jeb Bush may have just accidentally started the most important debate over the soul of America in a generation.
At exactly 4:27pm ET, the former Florida governor and Republican presidential hopeful tweeted a photo of his new firearm, engraved with his name. With it, a single word: “America.”
America. pic.twitter.com/TeduJkwQF3
— Jeb Bush (@JebBush) February 16, 2016
Bush—who was, until today, reportedly the only GOP presidential candidate to not own a firearm—implied with his tweet that gun ownership is, at least in part, what it means to be American. In other words, he seems to be saying that America is defined by the Second Amendment’s guarantee of a right to bear arms. It’s a bold statement, one that may win over a few voters in conservative South Carolina, where on Saturday voters will cast their ballots in the state’s Republican primary.
On Twitter, however, it had an entirely different effect. Within minutes, streams erupted with the rapid-fire burst of a meme coming to life. This is more than just mere jokes, however—this is a meditation on the nature of American life itself.
America. pic.twitter.com/hudneFcaB7
— Igor Bobic (@igorbobic) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/uqauCfV5Nr
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/m2GHCaIxyy
— Alexandra Petri (@petridishes) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/PtVtzDjahV
— Ashley Feinberg (ashleyfeinberg.bsky.social) (@ashleyfeinberg) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/X92lI21LzT
— Conz Preti (@conz) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/vL6kYIIuDw
— john r stanton (@dcbigjohn) February 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/sparksjls/status/699712308390535168
https://twitter.com/dliebelson/status/699711204982284288
https://twitter.com/sparksjls/status/699711546155524096
America. https://t.co/iJF59ZXLE0 pic.twitter.com/Lc1mx7MbUm
— Newsweek (@Newsweek) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/V5w9oPlec6
— Andy Richter (@AndyRichter) February 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/Adampasick/status/699713330735419397
America. pic.twitter.com/YOgKvUqU5W
— AJ Metcalf (@AJwatchMD) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/qFpvlly3VU
— Gary Whitta (inactive) (@garywhitta) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/hRG63peZ2v
— Aaron Sankin (@ASankin) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/3e6MiXgwR2
— Myles Udland (@MylesUdland) February 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/darth/status/699712851267731456
America. pic.twitter.com/fKCP8pp7L9
— Aaron Sankin (@ASankin) February 16, 2016
America. pic.twitter.com/oTmC8mH0wF
— pat tobin (@tastefactory) February 16, 2016
https://twitter.com/mccaig/status/699715211255746560
These go on endlessly. From earnest to absurd, it’s clear Americans have a lot to say about what they think America is, what it should be, and what it could become.
Either that, or everyone’s just kind of bored.
Delete your account. https://t.co/UT19AT3Qyg
— Edward Snowden (@Snowden) February 16, 2016
Photo via Jeb Bush/Twitter
