There’s something about the fourth of July that brings on a strange surge of pride in me. It used to be that the anniversary of the birth of our nation meant little more to me than fireworks, cook-outs and a paid holiday off from work. In light of recent events and proposed changes, I finally understand just how much more important the celebrations have become in my life. I stood this year at Red, White and Boom watching my children run around the park, all of them decked out in red, white and blue -- from the ribbons in their pigtails to the red t-shirts that proudly boasted in shiny silver lettering that “America Rocks” – and I was overcome with a sense of patriotism so fierce that when the first lines of the national anthem rang out and the crowd raised its voice to join in, I was moved to tears.
The thing is, as I watched the colors of the fire-works light across my children’s faces, as I listened to “The Star Spangled Banner” and “Proud to Be an American”, I realized that we aren’t just celebrating a declaration made over 200 years ago. Every year that we have our gatherings and eat our hotdogs before going to watch the fire-works, every time our anthem echoes through the night, we are celebrating one more year of freedom and the continuation of the American way of life; one more year that our country has remained strong and united in the face of wars and the bloodshed of our sons and daughters.
In the face of that pride and patriotism, though, there is also a profound shame in the actions and views of some of my fellow Americans and would-be Americans. How is it that the very fundamentals that forged our nation are now coming under scrutiny? Why should a people that have pride in their country equal to my own allow their laws and way of life to be changed by foreigners seeking refuge that later decide that America isn’t enough like their homeland to suit them? The very pillars that have represented this great country since its formation are being shaken, and it’s a quiet, internal attack that is posing the greatest threat to the survival of our principles.
I am quite frankly appalled at the idea that our currency might eventually lack the phrase “In God We Trust” because it offends our new citizens, and some of our natural born ones, that practice another faith or don’t believe in God at all. It sickens me that our pledge of allegiance is now optional in most classrooms simply because of the line “…one nation, under God...” and the fact that many of our students still cling to multiple nationalities. Did you not renounce citizenship from your original country when you were granted a permanent place in ours? Did you not come here in search of a better way of life, whether that was to escape a war-torn country or to find a desperately needed job? You were rendered aide, you were given shelter and a new means of living, and now you scoff at the very things that make America what she has always been; a land of opportunity, equality and freedom.
I am proud enough to stand and say that if any person, whether a natural-born or a naturalized citizen, can’t find it in themselves to give that pledge and respect to our flag, then you are not an American and you do not deserve to be a part of my country. If you stood on the streets of New York after the twin towers fell to heaps of dust and rubble screaming “Praise Allah” or "God's wrath is upon us", you do not deserve the space you call home on my soil. If you sit back and complain about the failures of our government, show open disdain for the battles necessary to preserve peace, but refuse to participate in elections or offer a solution to the problems now plaguing this great country, then you are a hindrance to the growth and continuation of this nation. That you exercise the rights of free speech that were bought in the blood of the children of this country while you openly admit shame to being a part of it only shows ignorance and lack of pride and respect in your heritage.
I was talking to a good friend today about a conversation that she had with a nineteen year-old man regarding the 9/11 tragedy. Apparently this person has the idea in his head that the entire incident was an internal plot by our government so that we would have an excuse to go to war. I’ll admit that we will never know the absolute truth as to what happened on that day, but I have very strong doubts that any of our leaders could stoop so low as that. The occurrences of 9/11 aren’t really my point here in any case they are just an example of the true problem.
The point is that it is disheartening to hear America’s youth having such a lack of faith and trust in the people that we’ve elected to lead us, yet showing that they have no inclination whatsoever to even attempt to make a difference. If ignorance is bliss then we’ve got more euphorically content young adults than any one country has any right to possess. It’s that contentment that allows us to sit back while illegal immigrants protest in our streets and demand rights when they’ve no business to be here in the first place. It’s that contentment that enables us to sit back and believe that the problems of the world are too far removed from our land to concern us; that encourages us to believe that if we ignore an issue that it will simply resolve itself in a manner that the majority of the people will approve of. Life just doesn’t happen this way nor can progress occur in the face of such ambivalence.
Our people in general are unprepared to actively participate in a functional democratic government, whether that be from ignorance or simple lack of interest, and that allows them to harbor mistrust in what they don’t understand. If we can’t have faith in our government and lack the proper motivation to stand up and say “I love my country and want to help her to thrive”, then what will we have here for future generations to take pride in? Maybe history books which speak reverently of the great American dream and the day we laid it to rest? Or possibly an eloquent recitation of the year that we finally traded our values for the ideals of another country because we lost the struggle in the face of the mass immigration that no one seemed to be able to say had gone on for quite long enough?
I’m not blind enough to try to convince myself that this land is not without faults, but it is up to us as true patriots to attempt to fix those potential problems and not just leave them for someone else to deal with. If the education systems in your area are substandard, then vote ‘yes’ to proposed levees or push for reforms; don’t sit back and say that the President doesn’t care about our children. If you don’t approve of certain laws or want new laws implemented, lobby for them, write speeches or write a letter to your state representatives; don’t complain when you don’t have the drive to make a difference. If you don’t want our culture to be lost under the influx of people trying to shove their country’s culture on us, then put your foot down and make sure you are heard.
That’s the beautiful thing about democracy; we hold the power to promote change if we desire it or to retain our ways if the voice of denial is strong enough. Do whatever it is you need to do to take pride and make America into the land that her founders envisioned on that first Independence Day 230 years ago. But please, don’t allow this quiet usurping of our way of life to continue. The loss of our freedoms because we simply lacked the will to fight for them is not an embarrassment that I ever want our children to live with.
Fee