The obligatory 4th of July post
Yes, yes, it's that time again. Happy 4th of July everyone. I hope you eat a lot of bbq, drink a lot of beer, and enjoy some great fireworks (though the rumor is many of you won't have the spectacular fireworks displays due to the poor economy. sucks for you!)
I may have a lot of problems with the government and military over the wars, but I do still feel a great pride in my country. However, lately it has become more and more evident that there are very conflicting views on what patriotism really is.
Is patriotism supporting your country, despite transgressions they may have made?
Is patriotism flying your flag, slapping a "support the troops" sticker to your car, wearing a flag pin, and putting your hand over your heart during the pledge/national anthem?
Is patriotism believing in your country's greatness, but still seeing flaws that can be fixed?
I guess it really depends on who you're asking these days.
Recently I tuned into the Glenn Beck show (probably shouldn't have done that) and quickly had to change the channel, as I was appalled by what he was saying.
He basically said that America is the greatest country in the world and we should shout it from the rooftops to anyone who is willing or not willing to listen. That we should not be ashamed and that we should let everyone know we are the greatest. That's where I stopped listening.
Maybe it's a generational thing. I haven't quite pinpointed where this comes from, but I am talking to one of my old professors about doing a study about it. (Not sure if that will pan out, but the idea is out there right now).
Regardless, it seems, to me, that older people have this very boisterous, obnoxious view of what America is. Now, don't get me wrong, I think this nation IS great and that there are more opportunities here than in most places. We are granted rights here that many people in other countries will never have. We live with luxuries that are unimagineable to half of the world.
But does that mean that we need to go around rubbing it in everyone's face? Do we really need to talk down to other countries for their failures, when we, ourselves, have experienced so many failures of our own? The rest of the world already thinks we are loud, ungrateful, and obnoxious; why do we have to continue to prove them correct?
My father and I have had many disagreements on this. Many people think that because we have made successes we should focus more on the greatness of our successes rather than our failures and the solutions to those failures. I think that if we are such a great nation, we should be engaged in a constant pursuit of perfection. You don't get to a certain level and just say "i'm happy with where I'm at, I'm just going to stay here". No! You find the next idea to create or invent. You find the remaining injustices in your own society and try to fix them. You pull your resources together and accomplish a new task that hasn't been accomplished before.
I find myself cursing the Baby Boomers and their influence on government and society. They were this great generation and it seems like they want to be fossilized in that space in time forever. But why? The world is surely a different places with different influences than it was back then. Why don't they want something better for their children? Why don't they want better for the newer generations? Is it because they think their time was the best and that is the best anyone is capable of acheiving? because if that's the basis for their thinking, I'm sorry, but that is extremely flawed. Why are we still bickering over old battles (abortion, drugs, past wars) when there are so many new battles that need to be taken up (environmental changes, fuel, our current and future standing in the world). it's extremely frustrating to me. The decisions have been made. Why do we need to revisit them EVERY year? I understand that overtime values and opinions of the nation change and certain issues need to be readdressed, but every year? Let it go and let's focus on something else for once.
This is a great nation, but we are falling behind in a lot of areas and I don't understand what is wrong with acknowleding that. As a nation we cannot afford to live in a constant state of denial. The world is different; other nations are rising to the top, certain powers have shifted, techonology has changed the way everyone lives. Why is it so bad to change our views to adapt to the modern world?
I don't understand it, but I wish I did. I feel like our soldiers, past, present and future, have fought too hard for this country for us to stay stagnant. they've fought too hard to let America slip behind due to foolish, selfish pride. I don't want to tell other nations why we're better, I want to show other nations how they can be better. How, within the constructs of their own culture, they can make small changes for the benefit of their society. Not forcing our culture on others; not telling them there is only one right way, but finding common ground within the constructs of their own society and culture.
So I guess this 4th of July I find myself wanting this country to remain great, but to do so respectfully and with a less "in your face" approach. I'm not sure that will ever happen, but right now, I desire quiet, respectful patriotism. A girl can dream, right?