On this July 4th, maybe you’re frustrated with, even hate, America. What then?
On almost a daily basis people tell me they’re angry about the country’s past and present. Hopeless or despairing about its future.
On this Fourth of July, do we dare celebrate the country? Condemn it? Simply walk away from it?
What interests me as we approach the Fourth is how we can harness the torn feelings many of us have for America—the mix of positive, negative, and complex—toward reclaiming a patriotism that leads us forward rather than divides us.
Simply stated, I’m tired of patriotism being trashed as if it’s a nasty word. I’m equally concerned about those who blindly wield patriotism as a weapon or political wedge.
Instead, I want to reclaim a deeper meaning of patriotism. Let’s start with the very definition of the word. It is defined as love of country. Not blind allegiance. Not jingoistic obeisance. But love, which isn’t reserved to those who vote a certain way or wave the flag or somehow feel superior due to their condemnations of the country. As in any relationship, love means you are devoted to something so deeply that you stick with it and work to improve it. Especially when you don’t like what it has become, or the direction it’s headed.
This leads me to think about the following. There are those who just dump on the country as if that’s enough. It isn’t. And there are others who refuse to hear any critiques of America as if we are a perfect union. We’re not.
Despite today’s turmoil, I do not apologize for saying I love this nation. I also do not fear saying that we can be a better nation.
That means we must own our history, a source of anger and pain and sorrow for so many. It’s what a great country does. Doing so is not a sign of weakness or a betrayal of the country, as some would have us believe today. It is a sign of devotion. Of love.
A love of country also means that we are willing and open to see and lift up the good. There is so much good that so many people and groups are creating together in communities all across this land. Indeed, there is an innate goodness in people that we often forget amid the darker days.
I fear that in these trying times, too many of us cling to a blind patriotism or else rush to levy scathing criticism.
The first seems geared toward protecting an illusion. The latter toward tearing things down.
Stasis or destruction. Are these the only choices before us? Certainly not. Both shut down conversation and stymie the possibility of progress. Both undermine a sense of hope we can create and share together.
I know the reality is that the majority of Americans feel torn about the nation. They do not want to tear things down. Nor are they blind to our imperfections. Yet it’s easy to feel overwhelmed in the face of the divisive politics threatening to overrun our shared lives. But let’s not despair—there is a path forward.
We must build together. It’s why we launched our national campaign—Enough. Time to Build.—and have been sounding a new civic message from coast to coast for the past six months. Due to the incredibly positive response we’ve received from communities all across the political spectrum, we’re doubling down to expand the campaign from now until February 2025
It’s time for us to forge a new civic path by coming together—amid our real differences—and choosing to build. The work starts in our local communities. We have done this throughout our nation’s history. We can—we must—do it again. In fact, it’s time to build, especially if you don’t like our history or are angry about our presidential candidates or feel like the country you cherish is slipping away.
We need each other to move forward. This Fourth of July, let’s not retreat. Let’s not come out swinging. Instead, let’s reclaim a patriotism that loves our country in such a way that we help to create a more perfect union.
