(Un)Happy Birthday, America!

Last night, July 3rd, Sam and I were trying to decide if we wanted to see fireworks this holiday. I have always wanted to see fireworks on the 4th, but this year, I just wasn't sure I cared or not. Part of me feels like we "should," because that's part of celebrating, and this is, after all, a big birthday for our country. At 250 years, America is a quarter millennial. Still a young country, it's a big milestone to be "alive" after all that time of change and development. Yet, I feel so unexcited about this birthday and don't feel the "need" to see fireworks. It feels like more of a chore than in other times. Usually, this is Sam's favorite holiday. But, he also seems indifferent about the celebration - more content to just stay home and complete jobs around the house. 

Without even saying who "he" is, Sam said something along the lines about how "he" has just ruined this celebration. By making this 250th celebration of independence all about "him," he has taken the joy out of the holiday for so many Americans. I agree with this sentiment, but I also feel that while "he" is the most unpatriotic American who has tried to ruin everything America stands for, we should be celebrating that our structure has stood, the guardrails are holding, and even the most vile human being hasn't been able to take this country down.... to which Sam replied, "yet." 

I went on to say that although the infrastructure is steady and the systems continue to stay in place (for now), our current president has ruined the people of America. So, while we are still one nation, we are severed and anything but united. And "he" did that. It started when he was a candidate, and it's only gotten worse in the last 10 years. He has pitted Americans against each other in so many ways. Families unable to tolerate each other, students alienating their peers, employees scared to go to work, the most vile humans empowered to spew hatred, voters feeling they have no voice. 

Even this blog post focusing on that guy is pissing me off. I shouldn't even be thinking about him today. And yet, here we are, discussing the leader of our country and how he's destroyed the things America was founded on. We are a diverse democratic republic. And yet, he doesn't believe in diversity. He doesn't believe in democracy. He doesn't believe in being a republic. He's against freedom of religion and freedom of the press. He doesn't follow the rule of law. He doesn't believe in a peaceful transfer of power. He doesn't believe in immigration, birthright citizenship, or equality of opportunity. 

A research dive into what patriotism is will yield various themes about love of country, commitment to the common good, respect for national principles, civic participation, and willingness to sacrifice. Let's look at each of these more closely:

• Love of country: Supporters might say the guy loves his country, but love of country means more than just "America first." It means having pride in your nation's history (not burying it or changing it to fit your narrative). It means feeling pride in the people - all the people - even if they disagree with you or didn't vote for you. 
• Commitment to the common good: This means wanting citizens to thrive and prosper while supporting efforts to improve the nation. 
• Respect for national principles: see above paragraph - this one is so blatantly obvious. He doesn't give a shit about founding principles and seemingly seeks to destroy them.
• Civic participation: This includes voting, paying taxes, obeying laws, serving in the military. All of these areas are weaknesses of (or are threatened by) our president. 
• Willingness to sacrifice: Putting the country's well-being above his own - not so much a strength of the guy who continues to dismantle the beauty of DC and superglue gold gaudiness to the Oval Office. He has made his terms about making personal gains and growing his own wealth. The amount of merch and grossness this guy has sold during his time in office ... he may as well have his own QVC show. I still can't understand why anyone would want a "Bible" with his name on it. He is so obsessed with his own image and his own name, he's plastering them all over the place, including my sons' renewed passports. This malignant narcissist made over $2 billion in the first year of his second term while many Americans weren't able to afford groceries or gas.

He is not a king. He wants to be, but he is not. And a patriotic American would not want to be king because we are not a monarchy. This is all basic first grade social studies, and yet, this disturbing example of a leader has brainwashed millions of Americans to believe he's a "patriot." He has destroyed the brother and sisterhood of our nation, and anyone who supports him is aiding and abetting this criminal in charge.

So, on this 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, let us remember that we left a monarchy to become the greatest nation in the world. And let's not lose sight of that. While he is the worst, we are not him; we are the greatest nation in the world - and I'm proud to be an American. I'm grateful to be able to say all the things I said in this post and not be arrested, charged, and/or executed. For now, I can do that, and it's a magnificent privilege to be able to say our president is worse than terrible. God willing, this too shall pass and we can survive "him." We will have a lot of healing to do and considerable "undoing" of his destruction - physically, mentally, spiritually, and relationally, but I believe in us. And if we can get through his tyranny, we will be stronger for it. Happy Birthday, America! Here's to 250 more and beyond! Here's to holding strong and to eventually becoming united again. 

Wearing the most patriotic shirt I own