When I was dating my husband, one of the many things we bonded over was our political views; surprisingly, they aligned perfectly. We would talk for hours at a time about a little bit of everything: our pasts, what we want for the future, and, of course, sappier things like who loves the other one more.
It was refreshing to speak to someone about significant issues without contention or frustration, and the fact that our beliefs were rooted in patriotism with genuine love and concern for our nation made our conversations about our country even more enjoyable.
But what is patriotism since it probably has a different definition for each person you meet? I will not get into the varied nuances of opposing worldviews. I will leave that to minds greater than my own. Yet, I do want to talk about patriotism.
While watching the Simpsons recently, there is an episode where Lisa enters a writing contest about America and goes to Washington D.C. While there, she witnesses corruption and becomes disillusioned and angry with her country, likening D.C. to a “cesspool on the Potomac.”
Like Lisa Simpson, most Americans are disillusioned and feel misrepresented, confused, and frustrated with the state of our nation. However, there are also good feelings that typically coincide with being patriotic, like pride, love, devotion, and hope.
Whether our feelings towards our nation are positive or negative, they shouldn’t necessarily be the only indicators of patriotism. Yes, patriotism can be based on ideals and emotions, but it can also be seen more clearly and vividly in actions.
Let me try to explain. As I pondered this question of patriotism, three distinct memories immediately came to mind.
My first memory was when we stood for The Pledge of Allegiance in school. There were times when I would look around and feel a genuine sense of unity, hearing all my fellow students say the exact words, even if, in elementary school, I was still learning what a Republic was.
The second memory was when I set up voter registrations across Colorado in my 30s. Again, I felt a sense of unity, knowing that the people signing up had opinions that mattered enough for them to vote.
The last memory that popped into my head was when we had an unexpected wedding guest, a bald eagle, who landed on a branch near us towards the end of our wedding ceremony. At that moment, I thought of how the bald eagle symbolizes unity in America and how it felt so appropriate that it landed near us as we said our vows, unified in marriage.
In every memory, there was unity in feeling and action. It didn’t matter if the kids in my school were different than me or if someone who registered to vote had a different worldview. As Americans, we will all never agree. We all have different pasts, experiences, and emotions, which can be a beautiful thing. Yet, despite our differences, pushing past our differences and seeing our nation as a chance to be unified with others is, to me, the beginning of patriotism.
A Wolfe Speaks 