What is it to be patriotic?

Joining the Military? – Marching against wars – VietNam, Afghanistan, Iraq, Iran?

Standing, hand over heart, singing the National Anthem? Kneeling during the anthem or going to the streets in protest of police brutality against unarmed citizens and immigrants?

Praising our country and never finding fault?

Criticizing in an effort to bring positive change?

People can love their country and still know it is not “better than” many other countries of the world. I can praise efforts and accomplishments at the same time as being critical when there is need for improvement.

The far right sees patriotism when they look backward and long for the way it was. Their positions are often based on fear of change which is expressed in anger. Those of us who see our country in need of great change, yet love it for what it can be and what we want to help achieve –we choose to look to HOPE!

So what happens if we abdicate patriotism to those on the right? I believe we will eventually lose all the way around. This great American Project warrants our best efforts in working toward “justice for all” and “all men (and women) are created equal” and “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness”.

There are a great number of people on both the left and right who are motivated by a need for national pride embedded in symbolism such as flags and music.

I was recently told if I fly an American flag on my house everyone will think I'm right wing. I had not flown a flag in decades. But now, I do fly the flag, along with the yard signs for the liberal candidates I support. People may do a double take; but I think that's a good thing.

On the 50th anniversary of the Selma march, President Barack Obama asked,

“WHAT GREATER FORM OF PATRIOTISM IS THERE THAN THE BELIEF THAT AMERICA IS NOT YET FINISHED, THAT WE ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO BE SELF-CRITICAL, THAT EACH SUCCESSIVE GENERATION CAN LOOK UPON OUR IMPERFECTIONS AND DECIDE THAT IT IS IN OUR POWER TO REMAKE THIS NATION TO MORE CLOSELY ALIGN WITH OUR HIGHEST IDEALS?”

Civic patriotism must be an aspirational story of struggle and inclusion.

So while I work toward peace and justice, challenging the wrongs of the past and present, I will fly the American flag, sing the national anthem, and work toward achieving the best America can be.

Your Cass County neighbor,

Judy Ashley

The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views or positions of the Cass County Democratic Party, its members, officers, or affiliates.