What does patriotism look like? Is it “Love it or leave it”? or: “My country right or wrong.” or “My country both right and wrong.” Or…? How do we love our country? How do we make our country reflect our vision of what we’d like democracy to be?
Lift up your voices. I look forward to reading your comments and the dialogue to follow.
Happy July 4th coming up. Let the fireworks provide some light on patriotism.
Fall is harvest time. What’s yours? Pumpkins and gourds? Corn and soybeans? Heart wishes come true? Mine? Since 2006 Pop and I have partnered on “Harvesting: Heritage and Lineage.” This project continues as I trot along after him in Daddy Trailer fashion. Aunt Mim’s (Amelia’s) music from the 1890s to 1920s found a home at…
Here’s a reprise of my father’s historical notes, reflections, and the lyrics of “There’s a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere” (1942). My father is a decorated veteran from World War II. The year my father was named Folk Treasure of Arts Across Illinois this song was captured on video in preparation for a TV show….
Collaboration. How do we work together to make that work better and more fun? This is our blog-of-the-month discussion on Riehlife. Read the first part of this interview with Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler to find out how they met. Riehlife continued interviewing this Womens Memoir duo to found out five keys to collaboration success….
February is here, that month of hearts burning to burnish romantic love relationships. What if February became a month celebrating all types of love? Why not send Valentine’s cards to everyone, not just our sweetie, as we used to do in grade school? What are the loves and passions of your life? Comment below to…
My father and our long-time neighbor Jim Weeks (one of the three guitar players who, my father jokes “makes me sound good” when he plays fiddle) sang this quite movingly on the TV profile of my father. I always love watching and listening to this on tape. My father is a combat veteran of World…
July 4, 1976, the United States celebrated its Bicentennial. In 1776, the Continental Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence. As the N Y Times board blog says: “It makes sense to think of the Fourth of July as the start of a season and not as a one-day holiday moored off by itself. But it…
Patriotism involves absorbing the different levels of commitment, acknowledgement and support you feel for your country and to your countrymen. It may involve not feeling anything but just knowing you exist in society and you having a spot. Personally, I like having a spot and in my spot I get to explore, grow, observe and be me. Hopefully, as I take in the highlights, tragedies, past milestones and present issues I can put my mind on cruise and work toward making my spot a better spot and my contributions better contributions. For what is and what is not is simply my part in recognizing the worth of us all… collectively in our respective places.
Linda,
I enjoy your perspective of how the personal and the colelctive weave together. The individual is commited to the group. And in that commitment, we earn a spot. I love the emphasis on spot, because that gives us a sense of place. A place at the table that we contribuite to building, cooking, sharing, and enjoying the meal.
Through focusing on making our lives and our spot as spotless and beautiful as we can we become part of making the world around us more valuable and liveable.
“Recognizing the worth of us all…collectively and in our respective places.” All in our own places…in the same place. Like coincentric circles moving outward.
This is how I visualize and understand what you’re saying. I like this model. It suits the American model, too, of the individual as a maker of culture.
Janet
Wow…I like the individual as a maker of culture. I like the mix. Linda
Janet, since we met several years ago, you have made my life so full with all your blogs and shared visits…..I’m so glad we live in a free country to visit one another to express our views.
Dear Julia,
Yes, it is a good country to love. You’ve been a good friend to both Pop and me. We’re both glad to have you in our lives.
Janet