Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.
— Mark Twain
Every Holiday requires a celebration in our home including, of course, the 4th of July. We start in the afternoon with a cookout and finish with a concert in the park and fireworks. We use to have a gathering of a dozen or so people. These days it’s just our family. Which doesn’t diminish the party. I still enjoy all the preparations, just on a smaller scale.
Over the past few years, I admit to feeling chagrin and even horror at what is going on in our country. Voting, volunteering and donating just doesn’t feel like enough. So along with all the other emotions is a feeling of helplessness.
Friends have talked about moving out of the country. Although a possible solution, it is not something I would seriously consider. I am afraid I would be exchanging one set of problems for another. Every country has their challenges. Unfortunately, right now, ours seem to be lit up in a two-story high, psychedelic colored, neon sign. They’re hard to ignore, even if that was an option.
The thing is, for me, my country is more than misbehaving politicians using the flag as cover. It’s a connection to the past, and to those who’ve fought and died to protect it. It’s being a part of something bigger. It’s memories and belonging. It’s my home. I can’t just walk away from it anymore than I could walk away from my family. For better or worse it’s part of who I am
Aging with Grace 
7 responses to “My Country”
It seems like a lot of people feel as you do. Great Mark Twain quote.
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Thank you. It’s hard to go wrong with Mark Twain.
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I’ve always been a bit partial to Mark Twain’s quote. But, I found your last paragraph to do an even better job of describing my feelings on the current state of politics. I can’t explain it better. I give you one big Ditto!!! Thank you for saying what I’ve been thinking.
“The thing is, for me, my country is more than misbehaving politicians using the flag as cover. It’s a connection to the past, and to those who’ve fought and died to protect it. It’s being a part of something bigger. It’s memories and belonging. It’s my home. I can’t just walk away from it anymore than I could walk away from my family. For better or worse it’s part of who I am.”
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Over one hundred years later Mark Twain still holds up pretty well. Although we are from different generations, I think we both grew up with a love and respect for our country. It’s unconditional.
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I loved your post AWG. And you’re so right, Twain holds up well. I have a post that touches on this subject that I’ve had for the past year, but every time I think about posting it, I hold off. I hesitate because I think it’s just too inflammatory. I find that my thoughts on patriotism and the flag don’t fit in a nice little box. I have both conservative and liberal leanings. I have a ton of respect for our country, but I get annoyed easily by politicians and others who drape themselves in the flag, but lie and steal from their neighbors and the people they’re supposed to protect. You’ve encouraged me. I’ll take another look at my post, maybe give it another edit . . . but unfortunately it’s not as well crafted as yours. Thank you. Hope you have a Happy Independence Day.
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Whenever you’re ready to post, I’ll look forward to reading it. Have a Happy Fourth of July.
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Aww, thank you so much.
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