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| A recent June morning on Independence Pass in Colorado |
I’ve had some things I cherish stolen from me. I see the thieves every day, parading around as though they are proudly entitled to my belongings and as though I never really had a right to them in the first place. This blog post is not a way of politely asking for their safe return – asking politely would fall on deaf ears in the midst of the chest-thumping hate-filled and anger-ridden braggadocio of those shameless criminals.
I’ve had my flag stolen. I’ve had my patriotism stolen. And I want them back. Now.
I had a conversation with a friend last week that brought this repulsive thievery to light. My friend is self-made, a hard-working professional and a leader in our field, a pillar of our community, a big-hearted and generous person, and an articulate advocate for the issues and perspectives about which she is passionate. And last week this consummately modern American woman declared that she was going to wear black on July 4th, Independence Day. Instead of smashing a window to steal jewelry from the window of a shop on Main Street, the criminals broke her heart (and mine) and stole something far more precious.
How it is that festooning oneself in our Republic’s flag and use of the term “patriot” have become indicia of belonging the extreme right-wing, anti-democratic factions of American society may be an interesting historical footnote, but it is unimportant to me. I’m confident it has something to do with the sheer volume of their self-entitledness, the shortcomings of their primary school education, and their hatefulness for any who dare to disagree with them. What is important to me, however, is that we get our belongings back for our own use. I’m confident that neither Lincoln nor Douglas made the case that the other had no right to fly Old Glory.
Sadly, I am 100% confident that the extremist militia members and their supporters who wrap themselves in the Gadsden Flag (“Don’t Tread on Me”) as a means of cloaking their racism, sexism, misogyny, xenophobia, and antisemitism are completely unaware of its origins with the Continental Marines. A quick web search for the Gadsden flag will make clear how brazenly those factions of American society have absconded with this once great symbol of our national unity. For the time being, the Gadsden flag actually may be too far gone to rehabilitate for its original use by us all; the Stars and Stripes most assuredly is not.
After some thought about my friend’s understandable grief about the direction our Republic has taken, a grief I share, I drew the opposite conclusion about my sartorial choices for Independence Day. Our grief, our frustration, our sense of loss for the principles that we hold dear as Americans are rooted in the importance of those principles to us as citizens. We are upset about the recent rulings of the United States Supreme Court and the revelations about the complicity of elected officials in the January 6th assault on the Capitol and its political purposes because we still believe in America and its promise of a better, safer, happier life for all of us. We are upset because in our hearts we still believe.
I was born on July 4th and I had an uncle named Sam. My Uncle Sam was the son of immigrants and a U.S. Navy veteran who fought in the Pacific during World War II. My Uncle Sam grew up in Brooklyn and, like all good kids from Brooklyn, he loved a good hot dog. He loved them so much that they were his litmus test for people. “Hey, kid” he’d say, “Do you like hot dogs?” And when the answer was “yes”, he’d beam and announce “They’re one of us; they can stay!”
So, on July 4th I’m going to wear Red, White and Blue. I would even seriously consider finding an Uncle Sam costume to wear to the parade on the village green. I’m going to take my flag back from the villains who took it and who threaten to take our country from us as well. I’m going to wear it while eating a hot dog with relish and extra mustard, celebrating Independence Day as all Americans can regardless of where we stand on the political spectrum.
And if anyone mistakes my patriotism for right-wing extremism, I’ll consider spitting a little extra mustard in their eye. Because I’m a bit pissed off and I am a native New Yorker. But I won’t do it, because I will have taken my flag back and I will not let it go again.
I proudly support the patriotic folks at @Morethanavote @PlannedParenthood and @naacp_ldf in their effort to ensure the promise of America for all of us.
