So If I Don't "Love" It.....

Sadly America's recent past has been filled with disturbing images of people shouting and sneering and yelling at fellow citizens. The news shares obsessive chants and ugly rhetoric.....coming from "on high". Our fearless (fearful) leader seem to encourage the hate....and then, as usual, backs off with some weird statement that doesn't make much sense. At a recent rally in Minneapolis I saw the crowd sitting on the stands framing 45 as he went on his disorganized rant. It really disturbed me to see children cheering and pumping their fists at each of 45's "point the finger and blame the other guy" statements. Children.....pre-teens.....

It's the love-it-or-leave-it crowd at its worst.....at least to my way of thinking. And there was another person ejected from a rally the other day because he was wearing a t-shirt in support of Colin Kaepernick. Get out.....no freedom of speech allowed at a 45 rally.

So I began thinking, again, about words and their meanings. I think about the individuals who scream "Love it or leave it!" In other words, if you don't "love" the USA, get out. Or rather, if you disagree with what they think....get out. So I began to wonder, do I love the USA?

Off to the dictionary to check some definitions. What does the word "country" mean? According to the dictionary it is a noun used to describe "a nation with its own government, occupying a particular territory." So it's a physical place.  The word "love" is a noun. According to the dictionary it means "an intense feeling of deep affection". I associate the word with people...and very close, personal connections. I don't associate "love" with Country. And then what about the word "proud"....am I proud to be an American?? To live in America??  Off to google again and the on-line dictionary. I find that "proud" is an adjective meaning "a feeling or deep pleasure or satisfaction derived from one's own achievements, the achievements of those with whom one is closely associated, or from qualities or possessions that are widely admired." Somewhat confusing, but again I guess I associate the word "proud" with personal achievements....for me it's people oriented.

So I don't use the words "love" and "proud" with America....or my commitment to my Country. I realize I do feel very fortunate to be an American and lucky to have been born here and lived my 72+ years in comfort. I've taken my citizenship for granted....not spending much time thinking about our Constitution and the freedoms it provides me.

I'm not doing that so much any more.....the man currently occupying the oval office basically makes me cringe every time he opens his mouth and utters some strange sentence. He frightens me. He makes me worry about America's place in the world....and where we will be in the future. I think he is completely unqualified for his position and has not gathered knowledgable people to help him with his decisions.

So if I can't say I love America....does that mean I should pack up and leave?? According to many people, probably yes. But guess what....I'm staying. America's not perfect and there are many, many areas that need improvement/attention/change. My vote will be my voice....and I'll hope that, in the future, I will be able to say I am very proud of my Country. At this very moment in time.....not so much.