It's raining, no dramatic thunder or lightening, just a gentle rain. I can hear it on the leaves. The day will clear soon enough, but I'm happy now to sit and enjoy the cool darkness.
Yesterday my friends and I celebrated. We talked and laughed, played board games and enjoyed a traditional July 4th dinner of corn on the cob, potato salad, hot dogs and burgers. It was a fun evening topped off by watching the Boston Pops on TV.
During the late 60's, my friends and I marched in the hope of helping to end a war. We weren't militant in the sense of burning draft cards, but we believed we were making a difference. Every Friday morning, we picketed at the wholesale vegetable center in support of Cesar Chavez and the United Farm Workers. We went to hear George Wallace speak in 1968 during his presidential run and carried signs denouncing him as a bigot. We covered our car fenders with flower decals, anti-war stickers and peace symbols. Flag wavers were the most vocal against us. Our country right or wrong was their mantra. We agreed, but we also believed that wrong needed to be made right.
I went into the Peace Corps, not out of a sense of patriotism, but in the hope of making a difference in a small way. It was not political. I don't ever remember discussing politics when I was there. We discussed our most recent maladies and who had what diseases. We talked about friends who had terminated early. We compared notes on our classroom experiences, and we talk endlessly about food. It didn't matter if we were small town or big city, democrat or republican, hawk or dove. What mattered was we were sharing an experience, and that kept us close.
Fast forward to now. An American flag always hangs off my house. Yesterday I added banners to the front and back fences. I wore my flag shirt. No, I haven't become the taunting flag waver from back then. I am politically the same as I was. I live in one of the most liberal states in the country and am quite proud of that, but I still hold fast to the belief that it is my country right or wrong so I hang flags and I hang banners to celebrate America. I also hang on to the belief that it is all our responsibilities to make wrongs right.
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12 comments:
The answer to "America: love it or leave it" is "America, fix it or forget it."
Ralph,
I never answered them when they yelled love it or leave it. I already knew the answer was to change it, fix it. Telling the screamers wouldn't have changed them. They were too fixated on their narrow definition of patriotism to understand mine.
I still don't think I can espouse the forget it part of your answer. I still have a kernel of optimism that what I do makes a difference so I will continue to work to fix it.
I never yell anything either, don't even have the bumper sticker. And I don't think the speaker really means "forget it." It just copies the alliteration of the "love or leave" thing, perhaps not too cleverly.
Ralph,
I misunderstood your comment as I thought it was your sentiment.
I never remembered that answer. You're right, not too cleverly.
I was drafted and served my two years during VietNam and remember the peaceniks in LA taunting us at the airport, spitting on us, and throwing bottles of urine at us. Not a good situation. The police were patrolling all the time but these kids were way out there. When I got out I joined various veterans organizations, one political group, Concerned Veterans were not "against the war" but lobbied for better benefits to help the returning veteran. Ralph Nader took us under his arm as did the AFL-CIO and we then generated almost a hundred thousand members. We also won a court case to release money for veterans in College impounded by the Nixon Adminstration. I really worry about the returning Iraqi and Afghanistan Veterans with Bush cutting their benefits many of those young men and women will be homeless.
I'm proud of our country - but I've certainly been prouder in the past then I am now.
I'm proud of our veterans (my wife still serves int the Army Reserves) - but I'm not proud of what our "leaders" have our military people doing.
s
Z&M,
I had friends who were drafted and went to Vietnam. I just wanted everyone to come home, to be safe.
I too worry about benefits and their physical and mental health.
Scott,
I too have been prouder than I am now.
I think the soldiers who serve deserve our respect and admiration.
What is patriotism? Is it "My country, right or wrong," or is it "My country, right the wrong!"? That is what tends to separate us! I lean towards the last sentiment. Therefore, I am labeled a "liberal." Okay, fine with me! There are worst things, no matter what some try to tell you. I have a strong and abiding faith in God and country. I too fly Old Glory, and I support those men and women who put their lives on the line in the various branches of the military. They are included in my daily prayers. However, I find fault with some of their leaders and show my displeasure by voting against them! Sometimes, I mutter against them while reading the headlines. Sometimes, I voice my displeasure to family and friends. So? I imagine that there are as many definitions of "patriotism" as there are citizens of the U.S. That doesn't bother me. What bothers me is when someone accuses someone of being unpatriotic because they disagree with "The Powers That Be!" This idea of being thought disloyal for disagreeing with the government is a fairly new idea. I am reminded of a quotation by Theodore Roosevelt. He said, "To announce that there must be no criticism of the president, or that we are to stand by the president, right or wrong, is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public!" I will end on that note!
Rita
a very patriotic and moving post Kat!
you embody this quote to me:
Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed individuals can change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.
~ Margaret Mead
thank God we Americans have you and those of your generation who showed what it truly means to love your country.
i am reminded of Abraham Lincoln's quote of November 21, 1864
"Corporations have been enthroned and an era of corruption in high places will follow."
Rita,
I too am a liberal. I think you misunderstood me. What I said is it is our country right or wrong, not our elected leaders, right or wrong. I firmly believe we have the right to disagree and to protest and to carry signs.
My father used liberal snidely when he talked to me. He used to say you liberals as if it were the worst of all labels. I so agree with everything you said. I'll repeat my ending: it is our responsibilities to make wrongs right. It is our solemn duty.
I hang my Bush countdown calendar and can't wait until he is gone.
Splendid,
I have always believed in Margaret Mead's quote. It gave me power when I first read it so long ago. I still believe we can make a difference.
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