I’m a parent. For me, that means that I love my children above (almost) all else. It means that I will support and love them 100% always … and that I will call them out when I see them making questionable choices. I do this because I love them, and care about their development into well balanced, kind adults. Can you imagine if the only moms and dads who felt entitled to call themselves parents were those who never called their kids out or corrected them when they were doing something wrong?
The word “patriot” is a little like that. Like, for me, it’s a bit of a trigger word, to be honest. And it doesn’t feel like it should be. If, for example, I read a dating profile where the person identifies as a “patriot” I immediately think “MAGA” and shudder a little…
This isn’t an original thought. There are tons of people who have pushed back against the unquestioning “my country, right or wrong” mantra. My concern, my unease at what is unfolding now, doesn’t come from a place of not caring. (The opposite of love isn’t hate, it’s indifference, right?) It’s because I care, that I’m critical.
I want us to redefine, reclaim what the word “patriot” stands for. Love this country like you’d love your kid – wholeheartedly but with accountability.
And while I’m at it — while I couldn’t get through the audiobook version of How to Be An Antiracist (I can be pretty picky when it comes to audiobook narraration), the idea that we cannot stand silently by and claim not to be racist stuck with me. Being the opposite of a racist is not simply not actively putting racist shit out there in the universe; if you’re silent, you’re complicit. Being the opposite of racist means that you need to be active in countering those forces and that historic momentum that favors one group of people over another based solely on skin color.
I think the same thing when I hear people identify as “apolitical.” Honey, if you’re silent, you’re taking a side. I may not agree with your particular viewpoints on how we ought to go about solving our collective problems, but I’ll respect you a hell of a lot more if you own your viewpoints. You don’t get to duck out politely by saying simply that you choose not to engage. (And there’s a layer of privilege underneath that attempt to wave off that responsibility too, isn’t there? You can choose to ignore it — whatever “it” is — because it doesn’t immediately, directly effect you… yet. But there are others who will feel it…)
This post sounds preachy and a little holier than thou. That’s not my intent. I’m guilty too of not doing more. I need to do better.
eleven bee 