Is it just me or do others feel less than patriotic this 4th?

[paleotn]

Why should I? Seems our system of government, rule of law, our very Constitution has failed. That mass of compromises, held together with bailing wire and duct tape, turned out to be more fragile than many imagined. Too reliant on the will of good people to function properly was its Achilles heel. Which gets me to the root cause of failure. We the people failed.

Reminds me of Benjamin Franklin's response to Elizabeth Willing Powel's question towards the end of the 1787 Constitutional Convention... "Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?" "A republic, madam, if you can keep it." No off hand remark. He meant it. And our generation failed to keep it.

We didn't fail due to some foreign invasion, a catastrophic civil war, or some economic disaster. Hell, if anyone had reason to chuck it all, it was my depression era parents and grandparents. Imagine 1 our of every 4 people you know is jobless in 1930 with zero safety net. No unemployment pay. No Medicaid. No nothing. Just charity if you can find it.

We, on the other hand, failed because we were whiny, spoiled and don't fully understand how good we have it. Sure, there are problems. Serious problems. But are those problems serious enough to end a Republic that's withstood vastly greater challenges? The price of fucking eggs. Jesus.

But mindlessly eat your potato salad and watch your fireworks, America. That's a hollow gesture because what it represents might very well be over and what will emerge on the other side is anyone's guess. A totalitarian America? A fragmented America? It might not be what Franklin and Madison envisioned.

Apologies for the depressed rant. If you'd told me 30 years ago we'd be right here, I'd have thought that was too far out there even for Hollywood..

[Lovie777]

1. Yep...................

[NCDem47]

2. I just posted something similar

https://www.democraticunderground.com/100220458168

Fighting feelings of negativity today.

[bucolic_frolic]

3. I'm divided

My 12% British genes are glad we don't own that anymore.

[ProudMNDemocrat]

4. Today is just another day.

I plan to go to the liqour store and buy a bottle of wine, despite my gut saying no. I feel less like celebrating today.

[Bettie]

5. We have to drive our town's parade today

and I'm trying to figure out how I will manage to smile and wave at people I know would rather see me dead than waving at them.

Heck, last year, some parents told them that they couldn't pick up the candy from our group, because "we don't take no lib candy!".

Yeah, that's the town I live in.

[blubunyip]

11. Smile really big

if you are obligated to do that parade. My sis is in a parade today with the same misgivings. I understand.

Put a lib vibe on that candy. Throw that lib candy with a vengeance. They need it.

[Bettie]

12. I focused on seeing my county Dem friends

and that we had zero boos and a few cheering groups.

We hand out candy and dog biscuits. Two men said to their kids 'don't eat that lib candy!" and one guy wouldn't take a "Democrat" dog biscuit for his dog. The dog was sad about that, by the way!

But, overall, it was good. My DH is well liked in town, since he's the head coach of our Robotics team, but overall, not as bad as I feared.

Only one MAGA shirt and two caps noted by our walking contingent.

[blubunyip]

13. Good

Visibility matters. Showing up matters. Courage matters.

Thanks for the report from the front lines.

[Tom Rinaldo]

6. It's near impossible to feel celebratory about anything today

But fundamentally I am more or less as patriotic as ever. The U.S. has a very checkered history, but there are parts of it to be proud of. The American Revolution in particular was a momentous event in human history that advanced freedom worldwide.

[Martin Eden]

7. That depends on how you define "patriotic"

Patriotism is easy when we can take for granted the rights and freedoms for which those who came before us sacrificed so much. Just fire up the barbeque, have drinks with friends, light some fireworks, display the flag, enjoy a paid day off work.

At times during the course of our history, much more has been required. Others have pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to create and defend what is now in danger of being destroyed.

During my nearly 68 years on this earth I've never had to be truly patriotic, so I've never truly felt it. Patriotism is not an observance or celebration; it is a course of action that is necessary to defend and improve the great experiment in American democracy.

WE are the test subjects in that great experiment, and can change the results -- if enough of us get off our asses to call our elected representatives, engage with potential allies, take to the streets in protest, and do whatever it takes to save this country which has given us so much.

We can sit at home and feel sorry for ourselves or stand up, move forward, and hopefully experience what true patriotism feels like.

[paleotn]

9. Well said.

But why we're having to stand up and move forward this time is a little much for me. My dad and uncles on both sides of the family, nazi Germany and Japanese aggression....check! I wore the uniform for 4 years and gladly took the oath. But now...Biden is old, libs eat babies, and just look at the price of eggs?! Please. Part of me thinks, as a people, we've blown well past the point of being worthy of salvation. We're certainly not worthy of the sacrifices our ancestors made.

[Martin Eden]

10. We do what we can, as our spirit moves us.

Keeping our spirits up can be a choice, even for those of us who are old and tired and can't do as much as we'd like.

Others have to step up. With youth, hope springs eternal. Sometimes a spark is needed. We have yet to see what might be ignited.

[paleotn]

15. Agreed. Thanks!

[bdamomma]

8. I'm

not having a good feeling, rather sad. This is what our parents and other generations fought for????? to see us fall under a SF?? A SC that should be stripped of their citizenship. Project 2025 should be burnt instead of fireworks. I'm upset too. Those repigs who voted for this disgusting bill blood is on them.

Concentration camps WTF!!! Can we put Stephen Miller in one????? and add more.

[GaYellowDawg]

14. I'm not celebrating it

It's not because of Trump or Congress. It's because of all the goddamn Americans cheering them. This isn't a country worth celebrating.