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We the Majority must reclaim our Flag and Patriotism [1]

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Date: 2023-08-28

Good afternoon, friends. I want to spend a few moments with you to talk about Patriotism. I know the word is used frequently today. But I think it’s always good for us to revisit the true meaning of this very powerful and important word.

As a black kid, raised in the south during the 60s and 70s, I and my family faced our share of sanctioned racism. Nevertheless, we were very proud to be Americans. My father and mother never wavered in their believe or pride. They knew our ancestors helped build this country. They knew the dream of democracy was and is the best dream for humanity. So, they believed in the idea of America. They supported it wholeheartedly. That doesn’t mean there weren’t times when they felt sad or disappointed. But they knew the difference. Disappointed in the people. Never in the dream.

And that brings me to the subject of patriotism. The pride I was instilled as a kid was and is true patriotism. Regardless of the racism. Regardless of the discrimination. Regardless of how hard society made it for me just to live a normal life, I stayed loyal and committed to the idea and dream of America.

A few weeks ago, I was made aware of man in Texas who claimed he was fighting to save America and believed he was a patriot. This man wanted to deny voting to certain communities because he didn’t like the way they voted. This man wanted to outlaw religions that he didn’t like. He believed that people of certain ethnic and/or racial groups should not have equal rights to whites. And he hated people that had sexual orientations that differed from his own. He embraced all these ugly feelings while still claiming that he was a patriot. But perhaps what annoyed me the most is the fact this man stood there making these claims will clutching our American Flag.

I can say with certainty this man does not represent the idea or dream of America. His racism is not what made America great. His intolerance has no connection to Christianity. His ignorance would not help America move forward but instead it would destroy what has been built. There is nothing about his beliefs that supported a better America. In fact, his beliefs stood against everything that America stood for. Based on that simple knowledge, it became clear to me this man, and others like him, did not believe in America, and therefore they not Patriots.

At this point, I must acknowledge the history of America. We know of its early days, and we know there were periods of our history that were not pleasant. We know slavery and discrimination existed and we know how the damage that’s been done to the descendants and to society itself. But that is not the whole story nor is it the ending. The founding fathers created something that allows us to move forward. Like no other civilization before us, we can create something that is bigger than any one person or group. With the implementation of our Constitution our forefathers provide us with a framework that allows us to build, grow and evolve. Through amendments, our Constitution allows us to implement improvements to reflect the changing times and beliefs. Our forefathers were not perfect, but they provided us with a mechanism that would allow this wonderful idea to move forward and become as great as we want to be.

And that’s why I say the American story is not bound by the racism we see in today’s news stories. I believe we can become the society our forefathers hope we could be. We can reach a level of human existence only imagined just a few hundred years ago. We can be a great nation but to do it we must reclaim the dream, the idea, and our Patriotism. We the majority must stand up and soundly reject the racism, bigotry and ignorance that is floating through our society. We must stand up and reclaim the idea of what it means to be an American. We must reclaim the idea that a patriot is not one who seeks to destroy what has been built but instead works to make it better for all.

So, when you see someone representing America as a country of bigots, racism, exclusion, and discrimination, you must be ready to stand up and fight back. We you see someone presenting America as a country of ignorance and intolerance, you must stand up and fight back. We you see someone committing actions that are against the idea of America, you must stand up and fight. We must stand up and show them who and what America really is. We must show the distractors that America is a country of and by the people. And those people that support the idea and dream are the true Patriots. You cannot call yourself a Patriot while at the same time trying to destroy the foundation that America is based on.

So, when you go out and live your life, please, please remember you have a right and obligation to stand up and fight for your country. You should never be quiet as those around you try to destroy your home, your country. Fight By Voting. Fight by making your voice heard. Fight by marching. Fight by running for office. Fight by getting into the faces of those who want to destroy America. That’s how we reclaim our Flag. That’s how we reclaim our Patriotism. This is our country and we're not going to give it up or go back.

Until the next time, stay strong and keep moving forward.

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[1] Url: https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2023/8/28/2190166/-We-the-Majority-must-reclaim-our-Flag-and-Patriotism

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