Another rant…(sorry/not sorry)
My uncles fought all over, in WW 2, My father couldn't enlist, so he drove the truck and picked up the planes that crashed during training around Richmond, Va. My husband served, not in, but during Vietnam and my brother, more recently, in the Navy. I feel to deny my patriotism would be an insult to their service and sacrifice.
I am "hair on fire" angry with this Administration and it's destruction of all the things I value. I am amazed that I can hate this much. I sometimes stay in bed and sulk.
But, eventually, I pull myself together and go to a meeting or rally, because I know others are going thru the same thing and need my support, as much as I need theirs.
I am a privileged white retired, tired older lady in the south.
But, when I listen to John Lewis and others, knowing the history of their fight against racism,
when I see idiot white people calling the police on innocent children and adults who are just trying to live their lives,
when I see unarmed black Americans brutally attacked or killed by police,
when I see Veterans struggling with their disabilities and homelessness,
when I see the poverty so many still suffer in my community,
and
when I see darling refugee babies crying in cages.
I KNOW, I must get my SORRY-ASS up and out. I must put on my red, white & blue, because I believe....
the American Patriot should not, cannot and will not be defined by the people who have committed these atrocities or refused to help solve our issues with compassion. Too many have sacrificed far too much to turn America over to them. The very least I can do, is not "go gentle into that good night"
My Patriots are Stacey Abrams, Lisa Ring , Julie Jordan, (my candidates).They need my support. My Patriots are the young people from March for our Lives and Families Belong Together, fighting violence. My Patriots are truth-seeking journalists from the Free Press. I will wear their buttons on my patriotic hat and shirt, along with my flag pin and my rainbow striped donkey. It is such a little thing. I only have to be out shopping, eating, just living my life or celebrating a holiday. I can be a "walking billboard" to define who Patriots are and what patriotism is. It costs me nothing.
People who agree with me often stop and talk, happy to find a like-minded blue blood in a sea of red. I have never been confronted, probably because it's hard to verbally attack someone who is smiling at you, dressed in Americana or maybe, it's because I'm old. I won't argue with people here, because there is no point, but I will not surrender my flag-waving patriotism or my faith.
I am not alone. Many of us have found each other on the coastline of Georgia. More are joining us every time we show ourselves, whether in marches or rallies and even community social events. We have made alliances, Churches (black & white), the Synagogue, the Black Sorrorities, the Women's Voices of Glynn, our local Environmental Organizations, Students , Teachers and Democrats from surrounding counties.
We have come together to draw attention and to fight for what we believe.
What could be more American and more Patriotic?
We are the Patriots of this day.
Please celebrate our National Holidays, represent us, loud and proud!