Calling All Patriots

For a minute, I wanted to set aside the American flag because Donald Trump was wrapping himself in it.  I wanted to take a knee during the National Anthem because he demands that I stand.  But then I thought to myself, “Hell no!”  I am not going to cede my American values and the aspiration of justice and freedom for all to an immoral, ignorant, liar, and want-a-be dictator like Donald Trump.  He’s not the patriot, I am.  And unless our collective voices become louder and more demanding than his, we are going to lose our country. This was undoubtedly a disheartening week.  Repeatedly, I felt like the wind had been knocked out of me.  First, was the ongoing saga of children being separated from their parents on orders from our government.  I had a taste of separation anxiety that was only a fraction of what these children must be experiencing.  When I was seven, my mother sent me to Detroit to spend an entire summer with my grandparents.  That summer I cried every day and I still recall my anxiety and depression.  I had major separation anxiety and a sense of helplessness, especially since I knew there was turmoil at home.  I recall the extent of that traumatic summer and I was in the home of loving grandparents who made sure I could speak to my mother on the telephone everyday.  These children are with strangers who can’t even hold them.  And they don’t even know where their parents are.  My anger at our government over this issue is massive.  And I’ve written the White House and my representatives about it using more than a few four letter words. Their phones were overwhelmed.

And then there was the Supreme Court ruling with the new travel ban.  My husband and I talked about how we might not have a dog in that particular fight, but how as empathic human beings, we must oppose the mistreatment of others.  Families will be separated, dreams will be lost, hope for many will be deferred all because of the bigotry of Donald Trump and his administration.  The Statue of Liberty is being betrayed.  Our welcome to the immigrant yearning to breathe free is being exchanged for a “No room at the Inn” sign.

And finally, there was the retirement of Justice Kennedy and what this could mean for the future of women’s rights, gay rights, and the rights of racial and religious minorities.  The thought that Donald Trump will get to select another Supreme Court justice sickens me and the way the Republicans denied President Obama the Garland appointment without granting a hearing, makes my blood boil.  But more than that, it frightens me. What kind of nation will be become?

I am a Christian.  But I am not the kind of Christian who demands that others believe what I believe or that requires others to make decisions for their lives based on my beliefs.  My lifestyle is not threatened by another person’s lifestyle. But the religious Republicans I see today seem hell bent on pushing their beliefs onto everyone by taking over the government.  They are even willing to support an immoral, adulterous, bigoted, liar like Donald Trump to get their way.  I wonder what Jesus thinks of their behavior?

True patriotism will stand up and say, “No!  You will not take my country into a version of the ‘Handmaid’s Tale’.  You will not lead our nation into your religious tyranny.  You will not take away our freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly.  You will not dictate who we love and what we do with our body.”  I feel like I am watching a rising tide of human evil.  We have gone down this road before.  Canada is looking really good right now but running away isn’t the answer–at least not yet.

Protests, marches, voting, supporting candidates, and writing to representatives are the tools of our democracy.  We must not sit passively by and simply allow this hostile take over.  Our patriotism demands of us that we use every tool in our democratic toolbox to demand the rule of law and the freedoms upon which this country “aspired” to at its founding.   Indeed these are scary times, but like President Obama just said to a room full of donors, “Enough moping”.  Now is the time to mobilize, sacrifice, and take action.  If I had not been working at a fundraiser yesterday to raise money for  scholarships for black youth, I too, would have been marching in the streets.  I’m so glad for the thousands who marched in protest all over the country yesterday.  Now, that is patriotism and so is taking a knee before a football game.