Patriotism

Patriot – ‘a person who vigorously supports their country and is prepared to defend it against enemies or detractors’

Patriotism is national pride, ‘the feeling of love, devotion, and sense of attachment to a homeland and alliance with other citizens who share the same sentiment. This attachment can be a combination of many different feelings relating to one’s own homeland, including ethnic, cultural, political, or historical aspects’

Patriotism was not as much of a positive thing when our country was founded. Patriots, as they came to be known, were members of the 13 British colonies who rebelled against British control during the American Revolution, supporting instead the U.S. Continental Congress. Loyalists were colonists who supported the crown/king of England. Patriots subjected Loyalists to public humiliation and violence after the war. Many Loyalists found their property vandalized, looted and burned. The patriots controlled public discourse. To be a patriot then was not what it means to be a patriot now.

I love my country, am proud of my country. I believe the United States is a symbol of strength and character, an example to the rest of the world. Like a child looks to their father, expects the best from him, I believe the world looks at my country. They expect the best from us, expect behavior that demonstrates the strength that comes from character. I believe that character should be demonstrated in many ways — compassion, honesty, fairness, loyalty, respect, morals, hard work. We are weak when we forget the importance of character.

Politics have replaced character in our country, in my opinion. It’s far too easy to point at our president as the example of the decline in character, the leader of the most powerful country in the world, a man who blatantly disrespects anyone who he views as an opponent, a selfish pig of a man who lets his own pride be his downfall. Just think of what he could have accomplished as president had he focused as hard on the character required of a president as he did on what he wanted to accomplish as president. He wanted to change things, fix things he felt a democratic presidency had screwed up, but his narcissism was the motivation. He wanted and wants to be viewed as the saviour he is not. I voted for Trump because I agreed that things needed to be changed — taxes, the federal healthcare marketplace, to name a few. Trump’s administration did resolve and began to fix those things. During the election four years ago, I winced at how Trump treated his republican opponents in the primary, was disgusted at the hate he threw at Hillary Clinton, was saddened at how he disrespected and even humiliated them. He attacked and continued to hack every political opponent from then until now. Honestly, if he had conquered himself, there is high likelihood he would have been reelected. Instead of maturing as a leader, he grew increasingly immature.

Trump was attacked as president. Democrats were just as ruthless, refused just as much to cooperate. Instead, they played political games and did everything they could to discredit and fight our president. Their character was just as reprehensive, just as foul. Because of that, our country’s character has been severely damaged by leadership that is considered more with politics than character. If that doesn’t change, and change soon, the USA will topple. If we don’t learn to quit burning those who disagree with us, don’t respect the beliefs of our fellow citizens, then we are in trouble. We will no longer have a country we can be proud of. We will no longer have a country worthy of our support. Patriotism as we know it will die.

Mister Trump, I will not miss you. Mister Biden, quit trying to win the political game and focus on bringing our country together. I didn’t see that today. Instead I heard you (and others) trying to take advantage of the situation politically, because that was what you focused on first. Stop it. Quit giving Trump and the people who follow his selfishness their day by thinking you have to fight with them. Ignore them. Do what you can to restore the character of the office you are about to accept. Bring dignity back.

I am a Christian. I am a republican. Please respect me when I disagree with you, because I will disagree with you. Don’t say I hate because I believe differently than you do. Admit it. That has been happening for years. Instead, treat me with the same respect that you expect from me. Allow me to have my own opinion. Don’t condenscend to me because of what I believe is moral or not moral. Let me object when I need to. I promise to do it with respect. I wish everyone would.

God bless the USA. God is in control. I trust that no matter what happens.

The Ride

Tags

life

37 months, 19 days.

It seems like so long ago, even as I look at the time elapsed and realize that it really has not been all that long. So much has changed in my life in those brief months that indeed it feels like a lifetime has passed.

I have a new job, one that I have worked for over 16 months now, a job that probably rescued me from some suffering and protected me from financial ruin. The position is a great fit for me, with a company that encourages and recognizes employees, promotes a positive culture. I was nominated by my peers recently as employee of the month, then selected for that honor by management. After working 25 years for a company that used me up, then worked five years for a company that was just as dysfunctional in it’s own unique way, I have journeyed in my work life to a place and a job that I find very satisfying. Honestly, 2020 was not much of a challenge to me, largely because I didn’t have to worry about my job, about my boss, wasn’t wearing a target on my back.

Work isn’t my life, though, even though a large amount of my time and energy goes towards my work. Looking at the changes to my employment and the relatively short amount of time that has passed since the latest changes, that too seems like another lifetime. It was, I guess. Each job I have had carries its own unique memories. Many are a capsule, a stop along the journey I am on.

And that’s really it. Life is a journey, with a beginning and a destination that I can’t quite yet see. As a bicyclist who has completed many a tour, I know that most rides seem much shorter when I break them down into segments. When I look at my life, I see those segments in my life —

*a childhood spent in several places (but mostly in the same little town)

*college in southwest Missouri, my first job as a youth minister in a small town near the Lake of the Ozarks

*a year back at home with my parents

*another job at a church in Illinois

*a job as a restaurant manager that brought me to the Chicago area and where I met up with friends who I helped start a church in Naperville (one of my favorite segments along the journey)

*marriage and that first little one bedroom apartment, and the beginning of my fascination with riding bicycles

*my first house, where my two children were born and raised. It was the longest segment of my journey so far, and the part of my journey that turned sharply uphill

*separation, then divorce after 25 years of marriage. It was during this part of my journey that I had to rely on friends and family to keep me going… just like a good bike ride.

The most recent segment was those 37 months. What an odd part of my journey it has been! The separation before the divorce, a period of 7 months, was a very dark time, a time that was painful yet also a huge relief from pain at the same time. Comparing it to a ride, it’s that point where your body starts saying no and a cramp or two comes on, but my brain knows that pushing through that pain will bring a satisfying reward. I pushed through it, tried to learn as much as I could about myself while I was doing that. It has been during this time when I have been glad that I have friends to share the journey with. I think that has been what has brought back the enjoyment of the journey. I am pretty sure those friends are going to be with me the rest of the way.

I feel like another segment of my life’s journey is just beginning. Things are changing, getting better. After making it through the hard time, climbed the tough stuff, I feel like I am recovered and looking at a smoother part of the journey. How long it is to the finish (if there is one), I don’t know. As someone who believes in God, I have to think that the hardest part of the journey is getting to what seems like the end… and then coming to the part of the ride that is an eternal tailwind (and with a new, body/bike as well).