Let's see here, I'll try to put this as gently as possible -- Is it wrong of me, or improper or unpatriotic perhaps, for me to say that while I love my country I don't like many of the people in it? Tsk tsk, I hear you say. "How could he be so unpatriotic." "Liberal. Rebel." Whatever. Perhaps. It doesn't matter to me. But the truth remains. That I love where I live. The country, the city, the state. But there are times, many times as the years roll by, that I don't like large chunks of people in my country. I don't like those who hate. Those who inflict pain. Those who ruin our nation. Those who dump their trash out of car windows. Those who thump a Bible and look at me with a glare in their eyes and a feeling of sin in their heart. I don't like mini vans full of kids pulling into overgrown evangelical churches while mommy bleaches her hair with a Clairol bottle and daddy does the church secretary after work on Wednesdays. It has nothing to do with an old fashioned patriotic march or popular, catchy country music tune with fancy words in it. The red, white and blue bumper stickers with political phrases will disappear one day. And the use of the word "Pride" may actually mean something sometime. I could go on and on. And each of us has our own list.
There are long lists of "things" that people have tried to tie to being a part of the good ol' US of A. Some may be partially true. Others are so far off that it's not even funny. We think we have the market cornered on many things. And we do, in many ways. But we're seriously defunct in others. I think a good dose of humility does a body, a country, good. And, no, this is no slam fest. I love this land. Period. It's just some of the people that I don't get. And I suppose that's the truth everywhere, for that matter. So, today I celebrate. Our nation. It's rich history of immigration and hard work. Its multicultural origination. Its mixed up people. Where it has come from. But let's leave off the parts of it that we've created ourselves. The false ideas. The suspect opinions -- those tossed about as if they are the truth. Let's set those aside and enjoy the simplicity of our country. Today and every day.
12 comments:
Great blog post. I understand what you mean. I find that even if I don't fly "Ol' Glory" in front of the house, someone is going to come by and torch the place down. Why can't I celebrate it the way i want to. Without flash crap that i don't need to express that I am part of one of the million other american's with a harley davis and eagle blinged out shirt stating that "I'm proud to be american". I understand that some people might think that's i'm unamerican or something like that. I too like you love this country we live in. I just have a different way of expressing it.
You are right on the money...but the problem is that these people don't want to celebrate diversity, sameness, mediocrity, conformism yes. That is why you see a country that elects a mediocre, incompetent and inarticulate President like Bush. Sarah Palin isn't far behind, although she is articulate...articulating stupidity and hatred.
We are divided and we might remain that way unless us progressives insist in pointing out the truth and the warped and askew values you so eloquently have mentioned.
great post bud.
saludos,
raulito
bravo !
Very well-said, and very brave to say it.
That's America in a nutshell... for better or worse. We proudly proclaim our diversity and freedoms, but then turn around and use exclusivity and repression when people don't measure up to our lofty individual ideals. One can only hope that future generations will have a better go at it than we've had.
Very well stated! I generally find that an American's overt "patriotism" is inversely proportional to their knowledge of real history.
I don't like "large chunks of people" either but I find if their cut into smaller pieces they're more palatable.
Nicely said. That's one healthy attitude there.
my country, my flag, and my government have been stolen from me by right-wing fucktards. I WANT IT BACK NOW!
anne marie in philly
I totally agree with you. From begining to end. Great Post!
Not unpatriotic in the least. If it were, then Ann Coulter would have been deported a long time ago.
Patriotism is a love of your nation, not the love of those who are basically treason-like in their efforts to destroy the freedoms that this nation was built upon. Well stated and well timed.
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