On the cusp of the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States of America, this essay explores the tension between pride, prejudice, and patriotism.
Thank you so much, Susan. Your words mean a lot. I struggled to figure out what I wanted to say but I’m happy with where I landed. I’m glad it hit the mark for you.
Thank you, Annette, for suggesting positive actions. It is so easy to become turtle-like and withdraw from the situation we face in this country. But we need to keep reaching out, letting people know that there are people who care, people who believe “love” should be the center of our society.
Thank you, Annette...even in the darkest moments, I'm always looking for ways to be hopeful about the future. That hope keeps me going and fuels my efforts to continue organizing against the regime as well as elect candidates who will work to return our country to sanity. Your writing is a true inspiration.
Thank you, Dori. I appreciate your comment very much. It's ironic that we need hope to keep organizing, but I agree that it's essential! May you continue to move the needle in our mutual work for justice, equity, and compassion!
Unfortunately, I don't see or hear a lot to celebrate in American right now. There is too much hate. I agree that there are many people working hard towards a more just and compassionate nation, myself among them. That should give us something to celebrate. I am not blind to the nation's promise, but also not blind to the fact that we fail to realize it over and over again. This year in particular, the fact that so many Americans harbor so much bigotry-that they say the quiet part out loud without hesitancy or shame--makes me frustrated and sad. I do not feel like celebrating the removal of hard-won civil rights and women's rights. I can't celebrate the rise and outward expressions of antisemitism, racism, and all forms of bigotry. I can't celebrate when millions of Americans are being forced to choose between their health, their food, or their housing because of the obscene income inequality that exists in this country. We can afford to feed hungry children and yet our government chooses not to. I can't celebrate when lies are given equal weight to the truth; especially when the lies cause harm (think vaccine hesitancy). I was recently introduced to a summary of this book in an NPR interview with the author--America U.S.A: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries by Eddie S. Gaude, Jr, where he talks about the nation's anniversaries and how they reveal things about America's nature that we might not want to consider, but it might be better if we did. I look forward to reading the book in its entirely.
As far as celebrating this year's anniversary, I want to be soothed by what could be as opposed to what is, but this is not the year. That doesn't mean I plan to stop working towards a better future--I'm not giving up. Just not celebrating. Maybe after the midterms...
I hear you, Cathy. It’s a difficult line to draw and I’m glad to hear you that you aren’t giving up. It’s people like you who give me hope and allow me to believe in a brighter future.
Once again, you've given me much to ponder. As a dual citizen of the US and Canada, and maybe even before that happened, I find allegiances torn, and that in my experience the US is not the best country in the world--there is (or at least when I lived there--I've been gone for 30 years) so much more paying attention to people's humanity in Canada--better access to health care, sincere apologies for incarceration of people of Japanese descent during WWII, wrestling deeply with the inhumanity of the boarding schools for the First Nations' people, and so on. I've lived where many of the ideals of the US were lived out better than in the States. I grew up with parents that challenged the status quo of the States, and did not learn from them much patriotism (even as we went to every fireworks show we could!).
So this gives me much to ponder: to look at the statements, and strive to believe that there is a will to live up to them. Especially in these trying times, that's a hard dance for me. But you challenge me to dig deeper, and I will.
Thank you, Lisa, for your thoughtful reply. I recognize the challenges in finding good, especially in the current administration, but I’m glad you’re willing to think about it. That’s the best we can do. And here are some more fireworks just for you!
One of your best, Annette.
So full, complete, complex.
We're here...we cannot give up trying to make life better for everyone. Each of us can do something...and, do it over and over again.
Folks might enjoy Ross Gay's work on joy & gratitude.
Thank you,
Susan Odgers
Thank you so much, Susan. Your words mean a lot. I struggled to figure out what I wanted to say but I’m happy with where I landed. I’m glad it hit the mark for you.
Thank you, Annette, for suggesting positive actions. It is so easy to become turtle-like and withdraw from the situation we face in this country. But we need to keep reaching out, letting people know that there are people who care, people who believe “love” should be the center of our society.
Thank you, Annette...even in the darkest moments, I'm always looking for ways to be hopeful about the future. That hope keeps me going and fuels my efforts to continue organizing against the regime as well as elect candidates who will work to return our country to sanity. Your writing is a true inspiration.
Thank you, Dori. I appreciate your comment very much. It's ironic that we need hope to keep organizing, but I agree that it's essential! May you continue to move the needle in our mutual work for justice, equity, and compassion!
Unfortunately, I don't see or hear a lot to celebrate in American right now. There is too much hate. I agree that there are many people working hard towards a more just and compassionate nation, myself among them. That should give us something to celebrate. I am not blind to the nation's promise, but also not blind to the fact that we fail to realize it over and over again. This year in particular, the fact that so many Americans harbor so much bigotry-that they say the quiet part out loud without hesitancy or shame--makes me frustrated and sad. I do not feel like celebrating the removal of hard-won civil rights and women's rights. I can't celebrate the rise and outward expressions of antisemitism, racism, and all forms of bigotry. I can't celebrate when millions of Americans are being forced to choose between their health, their food, or their housing because of the obscene income inequality that exists in this country. We can afford to feed hungry children and yet our government chooses not to. I can't celebrate when lies are given equal weight to the truth; especially when the lies cause harm (think vaccine hesitancy). I was recently introduced to a summary of this book in an NPR interview with the author--America U.S.A: How Race Shadows the Nation's Anniversaries by Eddie S. Gaude, Jr, where he talks about the nation's anniversaries and how they reveal things about America's nature that we might not want to consider, but it might be better if we did. I look forward to reading the book in its entirely.
As far as celebrating this year's anniversary, I want to be soothed by what could be as opposed to what is, but this is not the year. That doesn't mean I plan to stop working towards a better future--I'm not giving up. Just not celebrating. Maybe after the midterms...
I hear you, Cathy. It’s a difficult line to draw and I’m glad to hear you that you aren’t giving up. It’s people like you who give me hope and allow me to believe in a brighter future.
Once again, you've given me much to ponder. As a dual citizen of the US and Canada, and maybe even before that happened, I find allegiances torn, and that in my experience the US is not the best country in the world--there is (or at least when I lived there--I've been gone for 30 years) so much more paying attention to people's humanity in Canada--better access to health care, sincere apologies for incarceration of people of Japanese descent during WWII, wrestling deeply with the inhumanity of the boarding schools for the First Nations' people, and so on. I've lived where many of the ideals of the US were lived out better than in the States. I grew up with parents that challenged the status quo of the States, and did not learn from them much patriotism (even as we went to every fireworks show we could!).
So this gives me much to ponder: to look at the statements, and strive to believe that there is a will to live up to them. Especially in these trying times, that's a hard dance for me. But you challenge me to dig deeper, and I will.
Thank you, Lisa, for your thoughtful reply. I recognize the challenges in finding good, especially in the current administration, but I’m glad you’re willing to think about it. That’s the best we can do. And here are some more fireworks just for you!