Patriotism... it aint for Sissies!

 “You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness.  You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."  Erma Bombeck had such a knack for stating truth with humor… and I totally love her thought!

I am a Patriotic sap.  One year on the 4^th of July I watched 4 patriotic movies:

1. “Stars and Stripes Forever” with Clifton Web as John Phillip Sousa, the writer of that very famous Americana song by the same name.
2. "1776"  - the musical about the Declaration of Independence
3. Yankee Doodle Dandy, starring James Cagney as world renown American songwriter and performer George M. Cohan
4. The American President with Michael Douglas and Annette Benning – the movie from which they developed the best TV show ever written, “The West Wing.” 

In addition to the movies, I watched “A Capitol 4^th” (the glorious music and fireworks display from Washington DC) - both times that it was on PBS – one right after the other – for 4 hours!  I probably cried at least a dozen times in the course of the day - just being touched by things to do with the country that I am proud to call my own.

Now I’m going to tell you a secret, and you have to promise you won’t tell a soul.   I am a recovering Republican.  I have been in recovery for a long time. It hasn’t been easy to overcome being raised radically fundamentalist Baptist.  I didn't even consider the options when I registered as a Republican at age 18... I just did what my parents had done.  But when I was in my mid 30s, I met some amazing people who changed my perspective on many things, and I began the process of letting go of my Fundamentalism. If my extremely right-wing  father was alive, he would say that I went over to the dark side.

Yes…I am now a registered Democrat.  I am an extremely liberal Democrat.   I am not only a liberal – I am so far to the left on the political continuum that I am in danger of looping on around and winding up in a Tea Party meeting.  So it is very easy for me to join the many liberals who are not happy with our current administration.  I’ve even had people suggest that there is something wrong with saying I am proud to be an American – that there’s something wrong with celebrating Independence Day because of the damage Donald Trump and his minions have done to this country.   

I entirely disagree.  I think we need our patriotic celebrations more than ever.  We need something to remind us of our core principles - and all that this country has overcome in the last two and a half centuries.

Obviously, the USA has all kinds of problems – all kinds of inequality – all kinds of reprehensible things being done to people in the name of preserving our peace and security.  This country is a mess in many ways… and it’s been a mess for a while.   But if I only focus on the messy part, I can begin to doubt my patriotism and wonder if it’s something I should be ashamed of.  Patriotism ain’t for sissies.  Flag waving in the current climate is a risky thing for a liberal, but something I think we need more than ever. 

Russian immigrant and author Vera Nazarian wrote: “Patriotism is a commitment to what is best inside us all.”  I like that… a commitment to what is best inside us all.  You live in America  - I live in America  - no matter what color, creed, gender, age or religion we are, we can mutually choose to gather in peaceful celebration of the birth of this country -  and of the possibilities of America - possibilities that are definitely NOT available in many many other places. 

I was married for the first and only time on Independence Day 1975 – at 5:30AM, in Scottsdale, AZ.  I wanted an outside wedding, and in Scottsdale in July – the only way to do that and not wind up with the honored guests dropping to the ground from heat stroke - is to have it early in the morning.  I have always loved the 4^th of July, and it just seemed like the perfect day to get married.  It’s a happy holiday – I mean – in places where it’s not 114°, people have parades and picnics in the park, and they eat traditional American food like hot dogs, corn-on-the-cob, and blueberry pie.  Everything is festively red, white, and blue… and you get to shamelessly listen to John Phillip Sousa while watching things be set on fire and blown up. What could be better than that?

There were no friendly picnics or music-filled parades on July 4th, 1776.   During the revolutionary war, we were still officially British subjects, fighting our own government for independence.  It would be like if Arizona suddenly declared war on the United States so they could become an independent nation.  There was an actual state of war declared between the colonies and England long before this group of traitors applied their pens to the radical Declaration of Independence!

Fifty-six men, chosen by the good people of the colonies, signed the Declaration. These were not wild-eyed, rabble-rousers. Eighteen of the signers were merchants or businessmen, 14 were farmers, and four were doctors. Twenty-four were lawyers and judges. They were well-spoken men of means and education. They had security, but they valued liberty more. They signed the Declaration knowing full well that, if they were captured, the penalty for this act of treason against the King would be their death – and probably the death of those they loved.   But they had a dream of independence – and they were willing to give their all - even their lives - to see that dream come into reality.

Hopefully most of us will never have to risk our lives for our dreams like Jefferson, Franklin, Hancock and 53 other patriotic “NON- Sissies” did.  I still choose to believe there is tremendous hope for this country because one of our most revered documents says: "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness."   Many people’s rights are still being stepped on in this country -  which is totally unacceptable.  And still, compared to the Sudan, Yemen, Afghanistan, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, the Congo, Pakistan, Libya, Ethiopia, and so many other countries where hope of ever having personal freedom has been all but extinguished, America offers far more hope based on the dreams and actions of our founding fathers… and all who have fought and served to protect our freedom in this incredible country we live in.

So – patriotism is not easy – especially when you are at odds with the things going on in the country you love.  But it’s not about any particular leader or group or conviction or religion or political party.  It’s about honoring what America has stood for for the last 243 years.  Through wars and financial crises and planes crashing into buildings and crazy people with guns killing our children… even in the midst of the insanity – America still stands, and offers potential for a better future.

I’m proud to be an American.  Let me say that again.  I’m proud to be an American.  You can disagree with me - you can say I don’t know what I’m talking about – you can even tell other people I am out of my mind.  You can verbally attack people who believe differently than you – express your disgust with people who don’t see things your way. You can tweet or post on Facebook or write a blog or stand on a street corner and attack the very things I most love at the top of your lungs.  You are free to do that because you live in America – and so many have put their lives on the line to guarantee your inalienable right to disagree with me and anyone else you choose!

Patriotism is not for Sissies.  It takes guts to stand up for what you believe in.  Do you have the guts to join me?

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness." 

Happy Independence Day… and Namaste.