Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you?

Sign I Made

2nd No Kings

2nd No Kings

1st No Kings

Street Signs in the Wild

Know Your Rights Training

Yes, I am patriotic. I believe more in the American dream than almost anything else. I believe in what the Statue of Liberty stands for, what the French saw in us then. It’s the same thing I saw in us, as an elementary school student.

The dictionary definition of patriotic is having or expressing devotion to and vigorous support for one’s country.

There is no hate in patriotism. Hate and patriotism are mutually exclusive. I don’t make the rules. Patriotism is positive and we can all be patriots of our own countries and still be friends. 

I believe openly fighting for that more perfect union is what makes me patriotic.

I know this is the best place to live on earth, but that doesn’t mean I need to shit-talk everywhere else. There are lots of places worth visiting; however, I happen to prefer the United States of America.

Participating in the system, defending your stake while lifting your neighbors, is patriotic.

Renee Good and Alex Pretti – are the ultimate patriots of our time. (Their actions should never have ended in death. They were being good Americans, protecting the less fortunate.)

Being proud of our collective accomplishments, while also acknowledging our past and building on that, knowing we aren’t perfect.

There is no difference between the rich and the poor; we can equally be patriotic.

Valuing our systems because they are ours. Believing in our neighbors because they are ours, valuing those who are just getting here because we know how awesome it already is, and there is no way they fail to rise to the greatness that is America.

Voting is patriotic.

Protesting is patriotic.

Volunteering is patriotic.

Charity is patriotic.

I know there is a subset of Americans trying to make this country into something it never was, but has been flirting with it since our inception. I would argue that the ideals that these way wards are seeking to emulate are the exact opposite of the ideals that America was founded on. It is patriotic to stand up against this rebranding, if you will. There has always been enough room for everyone; we have more than enough to be able to bring others into the fold. 

We have always been a country of foreigners, helping each other have better shit collectively – and that vision warms my heart. It is the world I want to live in and am actively working to create.