America's Birthday

 

Our country just turned 249 years old. Quite young by other’s standards, but pretty amazing for us that this experimental upstart has lasted this long. We have always been characterized by our roots – rebellious, independent, free speaking, hard working, rugged individuals. We have also been a mix of ethnicities, religious beliefs and passions. 

Today we are living in a time of change. A time that challenges the beliefs of many of us. My students had come to believe patriotism was a negative word. But it doesn’t mean loving and supporting our country at any cost. Patriotism doesn’t mean we agree with everything our government is doing. It doesn’t naively believe that everything we hold true is perfect or righteous.  A patriot believes there is something worth holding on to and fighting for, the values and hopes that began our nation all those years ago.

The problem is confusing patriotism with nationalism, something that is happening all around us. Nationalism says our country is superior, best, deserving whatever we wish to take or do. Patriots know their country isn’t perfect, but it’s theirs and they want to preserve it, seek its welfare and make it better. Nationalist tend to see their country as exclusive, especially with regards to color, religion and creed, one way or the highway.  Patriots love their country in spite the imperfections; nationalist, if they see imperfections, believe they are caused by others.

Nationalism has been on the rise in our country in recent years. Alongside of nationalism comes the desire to purge the problems. The country is perfect, if we could just get rid of…. Today one of those imperfections we are seeking to remove are people who have been living and working here without proper paperwork.  Or people who have a different view of gender or relationships. Or anyone who doesn’t fit the nationalist’s view of America – probably white, cis-gendered and mostly male.

Several years ago we were in London on the 4^th of July. We were in Westminster Abbey, and it happened to be one of the designated hours for prayer.  The Dean came out and announced they were going to have this prayer time, and asked all of us visiting just to be quiet and respectful. While we sat there the Dean began to pray for The United States. It was one of the most moving experiences of my life. He pointed out it was our nation’s birthday, and he prayed for the strength, safety and health of our country and its leaders. Imagine, sitting in the country we fought against to win our nation’s freedom, and this religious leader is praying for our continued success.  It was beautiful. I wonder what he is praying for us today?

We seem to have lost our way. As a country we’ve always been a bit undecided regarding newcomers. The Statue of Liberty says “give me your tired, your poor”, but when they come we turn them away. I have always been fascinated at the lengths to which people will go to get to the United States. They ride on top of trains, sail on tiny rafts, cross dangerous open areas just to get in. Most of them are seeking a better a life, the same American Dream that brought our relatives here. The dream itself may or may not pan out, often doesn’t, but still people try to come. Despite our lack of acceptance, they believe there is something better here.

For many, there is. We are not a war torn country, though we are quite violent. Our poorest people seem rich compared to the world’s poor, though they are still unable to meet basic needs. We have so much room, though we selfishly hoard the spaces we have. We forget how we came here 300+ years ago and took the land from those who lived here, pushing them across the vastness only to take the land again and again because it was never enough. We’d like to imagine we came here to nothing. But we overran a civilization that had long made this their home. And we keep on overrunning the people we’ve decided are in our way. We watched while our President signed away many of our poorest citizens’ medical and life essential needs with a huge cut in Medicaid.

I definitely don’t like the direction our country is headed, the changes that come with the signing of a paper. Issues I hold dear, like environmental protections, are disappearing. Yet, still, I love my country. I want my country to grow and prosper, not at the expense of or on the backs of anyone, but as an enterprise we can all grab hold of and support. I’m praying and seeking out what I might do to promote my country’s wellbeing. Where can I make a difference? Where can I be a voice against the wrongs I see and for the good? I’m praying for my country that it can once again be seen, not as perfect – it never was- but as a beacon of possibilities.

Happy Birthday, America.