People on the left often have problems being patriotic on the 4th of July, since they consider the nation whose birthday is celebrated to have been built on slavery, imperialism, and a predatory capitalism. But now conservatives, usually the big flag wavers on Independence Day, might also feel disillusioned with the USA.
We live in a country that seems to stand for license without freedom. We are ruled by trends instead of by law. We are radical individualists and, at the same time, conformists. We have a good constitution, but no one follows it much anymore, and our Executive, Legislative, and Judicial branches all seem out of whack. To be sure, America should not be confused with its government, but even worse than our government and the source of its errors is our culture. Oblivious to our history and traditions, today’s culture seems shallow, materialistic, irrational, and immoral. America may have been a good idea back in 1776, but the reality is not measuring up. Or so we might think in 2015.
I think even those who think that way–or the way the Left thinks–should celebrate on July 4. I’ll explain why after the jump.G. K. Chesterton said something to the effect that we should love our country not because it is necessarily so great, but because it is our home. We love the members of our family not because they are all flawless but because they are family. In fact, a flaw can make us love a loved-one even more, because it brings out our worry, our compassion, and our caring. We need to love our country like that.
For us Americans, the USA is our home. American culture is our culture. And, if we are honest, we have to admit that its flaws are our flaws.
There is lots that is good about America, and even more that is innocent. American music, food, folkways, and the land itself–vast and varied, all the mountains and deserts and plains, the fields and the cities and the small towns–these are ours, and they are worth appreciating. And America has contributed so much that is good to the world. And we do have liberties that most countries lack, and a great price has been paid for them.
So even when we get depressed at the state of the nation, we mustn’t forget those things.
As for the things that make us disappointed or frustrated or pessimistic about the future, consider those to be reasons to care about your country even more and to motivate you to do what you can to build it back up again.
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