Over time, I've learned to seek out those who feel more as I do, those willing to sing out in unison as we watch our glorious flag flutter and whip in the winds of freedom above our heads. It is in this effort to surround myself with people eager to rejoice in community and fellowship that I found something extraordinary: a sense of place, of belonging. Even those who don't agree with my personal beliefs belong to this group.
I suppose it's too much to ask for a single day of togetherness. Don't we deserve a day when we can set aside our differences and personal or political agendas to embrace the very freedoms which afford us our disparate beliefs? I believe we do deserve such a day. The Fourth of July, Independence Day, is that day. I would gladly take my place beside anyone who disagrees with me, as long as we could agree to leave our differences at home and simply enjoy a moment of acceptance of our right to disagree.
I know my dream is a fairly grand one and likely not something we'll see anytime soon, but it warms my heart to believe it could happen. Until such time it does, I will continue to seek those who are willing to come together in celebration of freedom and democracy for the sake of our community at large.
For one day, we should all be proud to call ourselves Americans, especially when we have the right to do so.
Article comments
1 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Great article, Joan--on target. I'd like to think your dream is not too grand, either, even amid the malcontents and hand-wringers.
2 - diana hartman
I am pleased to tell you this article is being featured in the Culture Focus today, July 5.
Diana Hartman
Culture Editor
3 - Joan Hunt
Thank you, Diana and Gordon!
4 - Victor Lana
Joan, while you have to hope things can change, it doesn't seem possible these days. The truth is that it is okay for us to be proud of America and being American. Yes, there are problems here just like anywhere else, but I think they're more magnified because they are happening in America.
There isn't any other country in the world that has so much focus on the every day happenings within its borders. I have no idea what's happening in Italy or Russia or India on a daily basis except what "big" news I might read in the paper. Conversely, people in those countries get a steady stream of "news" stories from the States, most of it no doubt negative.
5 - Nancy
I think like most people you are confusing love for & loyalty to America with love/loyalty for/to its elected leaders. They are nothing but political trash. They certainly don't embody or symbolize America; they embody & symbolize only themselves & their willingness to rob & rape America for their own enrichment. America is so much more than a bunch of stinking, lying politicians of whatever stripe.
6 - Christopher Rose
JOAN: Of course it's cool to be proud to be an American. Why ever not?
VICTOR: Actually it's quite possible to go several days without hearing any news from the USA. As cool a country as it is, and it is, it's still just a small part of the general population.
Right now, we tend to hear more about what's going on in China, India and othjer large nations or blocs and about the only US news that's heard is related to either the Middle East, Oil/Petrol prices and the Dow Jones closing index.
To learn much more than that actually takes some determined effort.
NANCY: Quoted for truth! © gonzo marx
7 - Nancy
My dear 96-year-old neighbor said it better than anybody yesterday when she remarked wistfully that she'd so love to see all our elected officials flying from the flagpoles. Everyone (except me) thought she was confused.
8 - Michael J. West
A good article, Joan, and one I substantially agree with. Except for one point:
I wonder why we must all be subjected to their every complaint about "what's wrong with America."
Well, just because America is a great country, far better than most, doesn't mean there's nothing wrong with it. And loving your country means trying to fix what's wrong with it, not ignoring those things for the sake of what's right in America.
9 - Nancy
Amen to that, Mr. West.
10 - Andy Marsh
Love the post Joan...
they're starting to come out...they're late...but the hate America crowd is starting to show up...
It's one thing to dissent...it's another thing to hate everything about a place and stay there anyway!
11 - MCH
What are you talking about, Andy? Where's the "hate America" comment?
12 - Andy Marsh
Well MCH, the comments are still a little light...although they may start to heat up here shortly...
we're already reading that Joan is apparently confused...even though she never even mentioned politicians in her article...
13 - Gordon Hauptfleisch
Amen to that, Andy.
14 - MCH
Andy,
So you're saying Nancy hates America? Hhmmm, I've never gotten that from anything she's written. But I do find myself agreeing with about 90% of her comments.
Signed,
Your favorite "bleeding heart liberal"
15 - Joan Hunt
Nancy, I never mentioned our government or leaders as part of the 4th of July celebration because the day isn't about them. And that's one of the reasons I hate having the protesters show up at Independence Day parades, community fairs, fireworks shows, etc.
16 - Baronius
Joan, I thought this sounded familiar, so I looked it up. It was called "civility", and it used to be a common practice in the US. It was pulled off the air in May 1975 as a ratings stunt on the local news. The Supreme Court declared public displays of civility illegal in the same 1996 decision that outlawed the Boy Scouts. They say that due to a bug in HTML, it can't be uploaded onto the internet.
17 - Joan Hunt
Baronius, you win the prize for best comment today!
Yes, civility seems to have disappeared around the same time as common sense and common courtesy. Oh, and let's not for get basic respect.
Sigh.
18 - Mark Edward Manning
"As I look around me now, I see far too many people who are aggrieved at the mere notion of citizenship as an honor, community, or patriotism. Heaven forbid they find anything good in being American. I wonder why they haven't sought the greener pastures they believe lie elsewhere."
Exact-a-mundo! You can ask the "blame America" crowd for that - you know, those folks who get so uptight whenever you question their patriotism or loyalty, but constantly bad-mouth the U.S.
Andy Marsh is right, the "blame America" crowd not only exists but is very real and poisoning world opinion.
Why haven't they fled for "greener pastures?" Well, I wish they would. Perhaps they have tried but no other country would have them! LOL. I sympathize with those nations' immigration officers. So I guess we're stuck with them.