Happy 4th of July

Happy 4th of July

This has been a tough year to be patriotic, if you ask me. As Andrew Shepherd (from Wisconsin!) said in The American President, “America is advanced citizenship. You’ve gotta want it bad, ’cause it’s gonna put up a fight.”

In honor of our country’s birth, I offer a companion piece to my “I am a liberal” from early last year.

I am an American.

I believe criticizing my government isn’t anti-American; it’s quintessentially American.

I believe you can love this country and still be vehemently opposed to its policies.

I believe all citizens deserve equal rights under the law. The words “all” and “equal” are non-negotiable.

I believe separating church and state doesn’t weaken religion; it strengthens it.

I believe “freedom of speech” means especially speech you don’t agree with.

I believe public institutions, like our schools, are crucial to our society because they remind us that we need each other.

I believe burning the American flag is political protest, not treason.

I believe every false cry of “treason” weakens our nation.

I believe there better be a damn good reason before the government starts spying on me.

I believe the government is answerable to the people, not the other way around.

I believe we should be celebrating our differences, not beating each other with them.

I believe diplomacy is at least as important as military might.

I believe unprovoked violence against other nations is fundamentally immoral.

I believe that corporate interests are not the same as American interests.

I believe we hold this nation’s environment in trust for future generations, so we better be careful with it. The same goes for our democracy.

I believe being the strongest nation in the world is a responsibility, not a license.

I am an American, and this is what it means to me.

(If you’re looking for something lighter today, Molly Ivins, bless her heart, has it for you.)