... and our flag was still there

I have a stack of books  - essays, poetry and the like – to read while I enjoy a soak in my hot tub. Yes, that hot tub is a great luxury, I admit.

I sometimes need  - no I often need some inspiration - especially in these times when I feel discouraged and frightened by the course being set by the individuals steering the ship of government.  From the local where folks are ready to get out the tar and feathers because a school board member shared a meme on facebook, to our state representatives voting against funding that benefits their constituents and then turning around and taking credit as they hand out the checks. Then there's the Congress and the President, none of it good. 

So with the steam rising from the bubbling water surrounding me, today's morning read was from Small Wonder* a book of essays written by Barbara Kingsolver. The book was born after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Tthink of it - 24 years ago. 

Under the heading of "And Our Flag Was Still There," I read these words:

" . . The great attraction to patriotism is, as Aldous Huxley wrote, that 'it fulfills our worst wishes. In the person of our nation, we are able, vicariously to bully and cheat. Bully and cheat, what's more with a feeling that we are profoundly virtuous.'"

She wrote later in the essay:

"... Only we the people have the power to demolish our own ideals. It is a fact of our culture that the loudest mouths get the most airplay, and the loudmouths are saying that in times of crisis it's treasonous to question our leaders. Nonsense. That kind of thinking allowed the seeds of a dangerous racism to grow into fascism during the international economic crisis of the 1930s. It is precisely in critical times that are leaders need most to be influenced by the moderating force of dissent. That is the basis of democracy, especially when national choices are difficult and carry grave consequences. The flag was never meant to be a stand-in for information and good judgment."

"... We're a much nobler country than our narrowest minds and loudest mouths suggest. I believe it is my patriotic  duty to recapture my flag from the men who wave it in the name of jingoism and censorship... I've been further alienated from my flag by people who waved it at me, declaring I should love it or leave it. I always wonder. What makes them think that's their flag and not mine? Why are they the good Americans, and not me?"

"... Americans who read and think are patriots of the first order – the kind who know enough to roll their eyes whenever anyone tries to claim sole custody of the flag and wield it as a blunt instrument. There are as many ways to love America as there are Americans and our country needs us all. The rights and liberties described in our Constitution are guaranteed not just to those citizens who have the most money and power, but also to those who have the least, and yet it has taken hard struggle through every year of our history to hold our nation to that promise..."

If you'd like to borrow my book to read the essay (and the others) in its entirety, let me know and I apologize in advance that it's a bit waterlogged!

*Small Wonder, a book of essays by Barbara Kingsolver, copyright 2002 by Barbara Kingsolver.