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.
Summer is winding to a close. Kids will be going back to school soon–weeks earlier than when we were kids and in the classroom after Labor Day. What are your favorite things of summer? For me, it’s the ripe peaches and tomatoes of August, swimming and kayaking in natural bodies of water, those summer trips…
This 2-part conversation with Curt Madison marks the fifth and sixth posts for our February and March Blog-of-the-Month investigation into the nature of collaboration. Curt Madison is a buddy from High School. This fact is distinctive in that he is the only person I continue to be in touch with from any of my schooling—either…
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….
What are the most clever…fun…pungent and potent…social media updates that you’ve seen or posted yourself? Comment below this anchor post to respond. More below… Dear Riehlife Villagers, I’m launching a series of blog-of-the-month topics by asking our community to discuss a single piece of work: –a book, –a play or film, –a piece of art…
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…
Riehlife’s February and March blog-of-the-month theme is Collaboration, that most excellent of love relationships in our lives and work. This series features two interviews by two collaboration duos plus a conversation with a distance educator. In our first 2-part interview Kendra Bonnett and Matilda Butler told us how they met and shared five tips for…
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