Patriotism - Still Longing to be FREE!
The photos within KeepGodinAmerica.com were not taken with this project in mind. Some of us just
live our daily lives loving God and America with no political motives involved. We're thankful
that we live in such a wonderful place, and we show it, day in and day out.
My sister's flag was flying on her front porch as the sun was setting. I thought it was beautiful, so I took a picture. We took a walk on a warm summer day and stopped to see a childhood friend, who is now in her eighties. She has several patriotic displays in her yard. I thought the angel next to her flag/flower arrangement was very poignant and said a lot about my dear friend. I took a picture so I would always remember how it made me feel. While I was visiting my family, I attended a small-town parade. Children stood with flags on the sidelines in great awe of the procession. I took a snapshot of what I feel exemplifies the soul of this country: honest, hard-working families taking the time and energy to celebrate their freedom. On a recent visit to my hometown, I looked up to find the American flag painted on the water tower that serves the residents. It took a lot to paint that flag, but someone took the risk to do it, because that's how deep the passion flows for this country.
Websters has a simple definition of patriotism: "devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty."
Websters defines how I grew up at home and at school. We didn't think twice about being "patriotic" because we felt
very fortunate to live in a country that stood for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In other words, we had the freedom
to create the lives we dreamed about. It did not mean that it wouldn't take hard work; it meant we had the opportunity
to live freely and work hard to make our dreams become reality. Our patriotism did not exclude anyone.
It included everyone who wanted to participate in the
daily human activities that define this country: working to make a better life; being kind to your neighbor; serving others; voting;
and respecting the American flag.
Take a look at the Wikipedia.org (online encyclopedia) definitions of patriotism and you might be shocked to find that "contemporary" notions compare patriotism to racism. WHAT?! Did I read that correctly?? Yes, "scholar" Paul Gomberg argues that "patriotism implies a value preference for a specific civic or political community." In other words, Gomberg's view is that patriotism is "exclusive." It leaves out too many Americans.
Why, after over 230 years, are we giving credence to such nonsense? Where are we going with this country? We have a very small minority of people who continue to try to tear down and redefine reality in America, and to what end? Those who cry "Injustice!" and "Unfairness!" are the same people who would like to take away the basic freedoms that we enjoy—freedom of speech; freedom to worship; freedom to protect ourselves from harm; freedom from excessive taxation—for which men and women have fought and died.
On a daily basis, I am watching freedoms slip quietly away:
My postmaster loves America. On the wall where he stands at his station six days a week, he hung a couple of signed photographs of President Bush a few years ago. After all, he did work in a government building, and the president is the top dog in the government. One day a patron came in and told the manager that he was "offended by the president's pictures on the wall." My postmaster was told to take them down. The freedom to post a signed photo of the president in a government office . . . gone. The sad part is that the patron who so decisively took away the freedom of one, took away the freedom for all. Now no presidents — past or present — will be honored on the post office wall. (Perhaps the disgruntled patron would like one there now?)
I drove by a local grade school one day. The message board outside read, "Fall Holiday starts Nov. 25." Not so long ago, that "holiday" was called "Thanksgiving" because Americas were thankful to God for all they had received. Many Americans have no need for God anymore, but they're happy to take the days off work for the "Thanksgiving" holiday.
One evening I went with a couple of friends to see a movie. A large group of African-Americans were gathered. We had to walk through them to get to the ticket booth. As I respectfully made my way, one man took out a knife and pointed it at me.
He said angrily, "You don't belong here. Get off my sidewalk."
I had nowhere to go but forward, so I tried to make way as quickly as possible, not knowing whether I'd be stabbed to death for trying to buy a movie ticket.
I want to make it perfectly clear that I am NOT a racist and I'm not being a racist by relating this story. I'm just relating what happened, and it is the truth. My freedom to walk down the sidewalk was violated because someone hates me for the color of my skin. African-Americans have been treated far worse in our history, and I ashamed of that for my country, as ashamed as I am when a person of any color violates the rights of another—black, white, yellow, red or blue! But because I am not quite free to state the truth, I must qualify my statements for fear that I will be labeled, or worse, persecuted for some "perceived" injustice I've done to an entire race of people. Another freedom slipping away--the freedom to just tell the truth. While at the same time, so many are free to tell lies that are plastered throughout every crevice of our society like tattoos we're not allowed to remove.
My sister took a photo of me walking down her country road after a 4th of July parade. It was a spontaneous thought. She knows how much I love this country, so she captured a moment. It was a moment of pure patriotism. I won't apologize for it. America stands for freedom for all, which includes me. It is not a perfect place, but I'd much rather live in America than anywhere else on the planet, because, for now, Americans still understand that in order to appreciate what you have, you must earn it. Work for it, and you can have the American Dream. People of every color prove that in America every day.
I will fight for my right to be patriotic, if I must now do so. The American flag does not stand for oppression; it stands for all that God envisioned the world to be. Without God, there is no America. Without God, America will revert to being just another mass of humanity longing to be free.
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My sister's flag was flying on her front porch as the sun was setting. I thought it was beautiful, so I took a picture. We took a walk on a warm summer day and stopped to see a childhood friend, who is now in her eighties. She has several patriotic displays in her yard. I thought the angel next to her flag/flower arrangement was very poignant and said a lot about my dear friend. I took a picture so I would always remember how it made me feel. While I was visiting my family, I attended a small-town parade. Children stood with flags on the sidelines in great awe of the procession. I took a snapshot of what I feel exemplifies the soul of this country: honest, hard-working families taking the time and energy to celebrate their freedom. On a recent visit to my hometown, I looked up to find the American flag painted on the water tower that serves the residents. It took a lot to paint that flag, but someone took the risk to do it, because that's how deep the passion flows for this country.
Websters has a simple definition of patriotism: "devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty."
Websters defines how I grew up at home and at school. We didn't think twice about being "patriotic" because we felt
very fortunate to live in a country that stood for life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. In other words, we had the freedom
to create the lives we dreamed about. It did not mean that it wouldn't take hard work; it meant we had the opportunity
to live freely and work hard to make our dreams become reality. Our patriotism did not exclude anyone.
It included everyone who wanted to participate in the
daily human activities that define this country: working to make a better life; being kind to your neighbor; serving others; voting;
and respecting the American flag.
Take a look at the Wikipedia.org (online encyclopedia) definitions of patriotism and you might be shocked to find that "contemporary" notions compare patriotism to racism. WHAT?! Did I read that correctly?? Yes, "scholar" Paul Gomberg argues that "patriotism implies a value preference for a specific civic or political community." In other words, Gomberg's view is that patriotism is "exclusive." It leaves out too many Americans.
Why, after over 230 years, are we giving credence to such nonsense? Where are we going with this country? We have a very small minority of people who continue to try to tear down and redefine reality in America, and to what end? Those who cry "Injustice!" and "Unfairness!" are the same people who would like to take away the basic freedoms that we enjoy—freedom of speech; freedom to worship; freedom to protect ourselves from harm; freedom from excessive taxation—for which men and women have fought and died.
On a daily basis, I am watching freedoms slip quietly away:
My postmaster loves America. On the wall where he stands at his station six days a week, he hung a couple of signed photographs of President Bush a few years ago. After all, he did work in a government building, and the president is the top dog in the government. One day a patron came in and told the manager that he was "offended by the president's pictures on the wall." My postmaster was told to take them down. The freedom to post a signed photo of the president in a government office . . . gone. The sad part is that the patron who so decisively took away the freedom of one, took away the freedom for all. Now no presidents — past or present — will be honored on the post office wall. (Perhaps the disgruntled patron would like one there now?)
I drove by a local grade school one day. The message board outside read, "Fall Holiday starts Nov. 25." Not so long ago, that "holiday" was called "Thanksgiving" because Americas were thankful to God for all they had received. Many Americans have no need for God anymore, but they're happy to take the days off work for the "Thanksgiving" holiday.
One evening I went with a couple of friends to see a movie. A large group of African-Americans were gathered. We had to walk through them to get to the ticket booth. As I respectfully made my way, one man took out a knife and pointed it at me.
He said angrily, "You don't belong here. Get off my sidewalk."
I had nowhere to go but forward, so I tried to make way as quickly as possible, not knowing whether I'd be stabbed to death for trying to buy a movie ticket.
I want to make it perfectly clear that I am NOT a racist and I'm not being a racist by relating this story. I'm just relating what happened, and it is the truth. My freedom to walk down the sidewalk was violated because someone hates me for the color of my skin. African-Americans have been treated far worse in our history, and I ashamed of that for my country, as ashamed as I am when a person of any color violates the rights of another—black, white, yellow, red or blue! But because I am not quite free to state the truth, I must qualify my statements for fear that I will be labeled, or worse, persecuted for some "perceived" injustice I've done to an entire race of people. Another freedom slipping away--the freedom to just tell the truth. While at the same time, so many are free to tell lies that are plastered throughout every crevice of our society like tattoos we're not allowed to remove.
My sister took a photo of me walking down her country road after a 4th of July parade. It was a spontaneous thought. She knows how much I love this country, so she captured a moment. It was a moment of pure patriotism. I won't apologize for it. America stands for freedom for all, which includes me. It is not a perfect place, but I'd much rather live in America than anywhere else on the planet, because, for now, Americans still understand that in order to appreciate what you have, you must earn it. Work for it, and you can have the American Dream. People of every color prove that in America every day.
I will fight for my right to be patriotic, if I must now do so. The American flag does not stand for oppression; it stands for all that God envisioned the world to be. Without God, there is no America. Without God, America will revert to being just another mass of humanity longing to be free.
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