It’s July 2nd as I write this. Independence Day is just a few days away, but for all of us, this will definitely not be “business as usual.”
The pandemic has silenced large gatherings, the big fireworks displays won’t happen, and hopefully we’ll make the correct decisions regarding gatherings among our families and friends.
Putting the pandemic aside, the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and far too many other persons of color have made our nation confront systemic racism. It’s natural to wonder if the Fourth of July even needs to be celebrated this year.
I think one of the biggest problems with the slogan Make America Great Again is that it has one too many words. Making America great should be a goal for all of us, but perhaps we need to redefine just what that greatness is. The discussions of systemic racism has led not only to the removal of statues of Confederate leaders, but also to re-examining many of those who we hold as giants in the American tapestry.
How many of our Founding Fathers owned slaves? Even after the Civil War, how many of our leaders and public heroes expressed views on race that now make us cringe? Make America Great Again harkens back to a past that we now know was wrought with racism.
But in Making America Great, we can acknowledge that our heroes weren’t perfect, and we can seek out new examples of patriots. And perhaps we can more widely define just what patriotism is.
Does a patriot only belong to the battlefield, or the political arena? Is patriotism solely wearing red, white and blue and whistling George M. Cohan or John Philip Sousa? I would offer that working to make America a better, more just, more fair, more equal country is patriotism.
I look at the actions of our local environmental activist, Dr. Marty Nathan. Advocating for our Earth is patriotic. The morality that monthly columnist Andrea Ayvazian calls us to, that is patriotic. All who are demanding an examination of law enforcement, who march for Black Lives Matter are patriots.
Those who are working in the health care fields, striving to keep our community well during this pandemic are patriots. What Colin Kaepernick did in taking a knee during the “The Star-Spangled Banner,” to draw attention to racial injustice, was an act of patriotism.
From our food shelters to something as simple as donating blood, all are patriotic acts. Patriotism doesn’t have to be singing “God Bless America.” It can be any act that is devoted to making our nation better. In other words, actions that Make America Great.
So that’s why I will still celebrate (socially distant appropriate, of course) Independence Day this year. It doesn’t mean ignoring everything wrong with our country, past and present. Rather, it is acknowledging our failings and committing ourselves to working to make it better. And in doing so, maybe reconsidering just what we define as patriotic.
We can debate whether America was great before, but working to Make America Great now (and by great, I mean more just, more fair, more equal)? That’s patriotism.
Tim Anderson lives in Amherst.