Star Spangled Heart

Okay I admit it, I was going to write about how I spent my July 4th and how patriotatic I am but that would only take a paragraph, so instead I'll write about being a liberal in this country and celebrating the 4th from a liberal point of view. Now I don't want you to think I have gone "Hippie" on you. Hippie is so 60's, gosh I am getting old. Maybe I better use the " Rap" word a few times so you will think I am modern in my thinking.
Yes I lean to the left and we bristle when we hear the right getting mean-spirited and accusatory, but the right bristles when they hear the left getting overemotional and precichy. Any opposing views from either side is an assault on what each believe. No matter if we are Libertarian, Socialist, Communist, liberal, conservative, Democrat, Republican or Independent we all want most of the same things. It is the ways we think we can attain and achieve these things that leads to all the problems and name calling,
The dictionary defines Patriotism this way " Love for or devotion to one's country". Conservatives do not have a patient on Patriotism and liberals are not always embarrassed by its power and prosperity. Both sides will agree, this is the greatest country on Earth because we have a system that allows anyone to achieve the best they can be. Part of the freedom we celebrate is the ability to criticize our decision makers. That is what makes America stand out. Patriotism means a respect for those who fought and died so we have the liberty to demonstrate against an administration or policy we don't like as well as support the ones we admire. I will never question some ones patriotism because of their political thinking. Just because someone disagrees with you does not mean they can't love America as much as you do. Patriotism is as much personal and individual as it is national.
Each independence Day is similar yet different. Times of war, prosperity or recession all slant the day in different directions but there is one thing that is constant, that is our love for the flag. We are flag people, flags in parades, flags at ball games, flags in parks, flags on our neighbor's porch, even a flag hanging from my storage shead and if you have a flag you most likely displayed yours also. The flag is not a person but the way we think about it is personal. It effects us all as a symbol of freedom. The truth is that the flag is the real meaning of patriotism because it is what spawned the American story and every American has a story. My story is remarkable only because it is so common. Just like our flag it is remarkable for everything it stands for yet so common with all having the same color, stripes and stars. My flag is no different than yours, it may hang from a different place but one thing is for sure! Every American who displays the flag on July 4th, has a Star Spangled Heart.