Patriotism

I think that it's very important for people on the Left to think about the reasons that we're glad to be in this country. We're so used to fighting back the onslaught of conservatism and cultural regression that our patriotism (as opposed to jingoism) gets tainted. I'll flat out state that I'm glad to be a U.S. citizen.

I just returned from a week long trip to Jamaica, which was fantastic, but also reinforced the notion that U.S. citizenship provides positive benefits and privileges. In the U.S., opportunities still exist and are relatively accessible. We believe in fairness, and our systems haven't been so corroded by corruption and widespread cynicism that access to justice and to resources is the exception rather than the rule. We still have faith that we can voice our options and make a difference.

I'll venture to say that, at best, the partisan nature of our "divided nation" reflects at least two deeply-held perspectives, left and right, on what the USA should be. Yet, we're unified by a basic belief in this country and its potential to improve.

I know that there's a refutation or a qualification for everything that I've written here. But at this point in our national history, I'm not willing to trade in my U.S. citizenship for anything else, which means accepting the bad with the good, being willing to actively fight to make things better here, and serving as a good neighbor in the international community.