As regular readers of SJ know, I am surprisingly patriotic for someone who occasionally criticizes my nation and its officials, both right and left. It’s harder this year than it has been in the past. It’s not that my love of country has waned, but that too many within the MAGA fold who call themselves “patriots” care little about the Constitution, that thing that makes us Americans.
But I refuse to give up, either on this nation or its Constitution, even if we just saw Congress fold like a cheap suit to the whims of a vulgar, deceitful, vindictive, narcissistic ignoramus. And so, I celebrate today, the Fourth of July, in the 249 year of our independence. I celebrate the Americans who gave their lives for their country. I celebrate the blessings of liberty we enjoy, even as armed masked men snatch people off the street for looking swarthy.
I do this not because things are going well. They’re not, as a president violates the law and Constitution to the applause of the simpletons who don’t care how he rids the nation of unwanted immigrants, as long as he seems to be doing so. As long as they get health care, they don’t care about others who will be denied. As long as they have jobs, they don’t care if others are unceremoniously and mindlessly fired. As long as they can eat they don’t care if others starve.
The United States of America has gone through dark and difficult times before, and it survived and overcame the failings of bad presidents, failed institutions and angry, hateful, selfish citizens. I refuse to accept the premise that we will not do so again, and I will continue to fight for the America we were given by our forefathers.
I believe in America. I believe in our Constitution. I believe that we will make it to 250 and overcome this aberration in our tradition of freedom. Happy Fourth of July, my fellow Americans and friends of the Constitution everywhere.
