I Do Not Bow: How American Patriotism Fuels My Opposition
This isn't a policy difference; you're disregarding the most BASIC of facts I know about myself as a citizen of this country.
This is an actual fact: I've spent 99.9359% of my life, 12,482 out of 12,490 days, in the US of A. Two trips to Rocky Point is as far as I've been able to venture yet.
Long before politics remotely mattered to me, long before the concepts of “Democrat” or “Republican” were even clear, I was proud to be an American citizen. No surprise, as my public education had American exceptionalism built right into it; more importantly though, I was 10 years old when 9/11 happened. Our teacher brought a TV into the room and we watched the news with her.
It's hard to explain how a fifth grader processes a terrorist attack on live television. My memories of that day, and the months following, are more like puzzle pieces; flashbacks to the mind of a child trying to understand. Why are ALL the grownups freaked out at the same time? Why are so many kids being signed out of school? What's the World Trade Center? I remember Julia Roberts giving a tearful speech on television and a $1 million donation. I remember my Dad eventually banning us from the news and insisting we watch only cartoons for a few months. Living two miles from the Dover Air Force Base and in the landing path, we grew used to the VERY LOW flying planes, the jets doing their exercises… but I remember the odd-shaped helicopters that became a common feature after the attack, as the remains of victims were flown to the largest morgue in the country.
The simplest way to explain it is this: Us kids, for lack of ability to understand the moment, absorbed the reactions of the adults around us… the shock, the grief, the fear and anger… and the patriotism.
Do y'all happen to remember ‘02-’05? Because I do! There is simply no way to overstate the surge in patriotism that absolutely exploded after 9/11: It felt like the only topic of conversation for months on end. American apparel was EVERYWHERE. Artists were releasing Patriot music. Military enrollment was up. We watched Ground Zero get cleaned up little by little. One of the (no longer Dixie) Chicks made a critical comment about George Bush that would be considered a kiss on the cheek today, and they were eviscerated. American patriotism was the name of the game and the way of the day; us kids got the message.
Fast forward: A very drunk 21-year-old me, screaming ‘Merica! in a hotel pool during the 4th of July fireworks with thirty other people.
Fast forward: 24-year-old me, moved to *actual* tears watching Idina Menzel perform the National Anthem during the Super Bowl.
Fast forward: 31-year-old me, finally deciding to revisit 9/11 in its entirety as an adult, watching documentaries, seeing the footage, hearing the stories… feeling a deeper sense of grief, and patriotism, than I ever have before.
I love my country. I have loved my country even when I have hated it. When it has perplexed me. When it felt purposely unfair. Even when I knew it wasn't the greatest country in the world, I never lost faith that we could be again.
Yet here we are.
In one month, among MANY other things, America has:
Stopped sending food to the hungry, with no warning for them to prepare.
Stopped sending medicine to the sick, with no warning for them to prepare.
Turned on an ally after spending $66 billion to help defend it.
Acted like assholes to all our friends.
Treated federal workers like dirt, including veterans.
Made foreign bribery legal again.
Stopped prioritizing white collar crime in favor of immigrant removal.
Let the richest man in the world decide what services we get from the government.
Announced we're friends with authoritarian Russia.
Announced an intention to expand.
Departed from fact in favor of writing the story.
Fired FAA workers the same month we had four plane crashes.
Somehow, more than 12,000 days into my American life, I'm feeling like a stranger in the country I've always lived; it was never, ever perfect, not even close, but hell, we used to stand for something. We used to at least be able to get on the same page about democracy and freedom. I don't know when we collectively decided it was okay to be this mean, this selfish… to allies, to the defenseless, to our fellow citizens.
So far as I can tell, America's values (according to this administration) are:
Everyone should believe & follow Donald Trump.
Billionaires know what's best for us.
Help less people overseas.
Help less people at home.
Look out for yourself.
Money over morals.
Being a bully is good.
The truth is what we tell you.
Well… all I can say is this: every patriotic bone in my body tells me to stand in opposition. This isn't a policy difference; you're disregarding the most BASIC of facts I know about myself as a citizen of this country:
I do not bow.
I serve no king.
I am created equal.
We The People have the power, and if we don't, we're supposed to tell the government to go fuck itself.
If MAGA is convinced that this is the way to Make America Great Again, they might find more success in their endeavors by setting their sights on reduction, not expansion; go ahead and let Trump build the little white Christian oasis y'all have dreamed of… but the rest of us will take California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada, and everything north of Pennsylvania, and declare ourselves Canadian.
Brie, and followers. I promised I would write on my page, but I have not had time. I am sorry. I grew up believing the propaganda too. I enlisted and served in the US Navy for four years from 1985-1989, honorable discharge.I was a cook, "we" were not at war... Or so I thought. The disillusionment began before I was discharged. No VA benefits, No GI Bill. "You're not eligible." I found out that a person cannot sue the federal government for breach of contract. I was taught about the US government involvement in Central America during the time I was in. I learned about how evil George Bush, Sr was. I have always loved history, and the floodgates opened. So, even before I got out, I began protesting. We blocked munitions trains at Concord Naval Weapons Station. Until my friend got run over by a train... Intentionally. He lived, and became outspoken. My mind could not accept what I had witnessed. That they would actually try to kill us! Over the years, I learned a lot more atrocities inside these borders and worldwide. I know now that military personnel serve the government, not the people of the country. Without realistic service to the country, the same is true for Congress. In the last year I have been punished severely by the feds for speaking out. Democracy in the US is a fallacy. Sure I'm pissed, but I'm really just really sad.
Beautiful