For the past several years I’ve struggled with becoming less patriotic than ever before.  As a veteran of the U.S. Army Reserve who served for 8 years, I didn’t hesitate to join the military and put my life on the line for this country.  The senseless lack of regard for black lives over the years, had me struggling with whether I would still show my support for a country with so many injustices, but the reason why I do is simple.  It’s like when you and your siblings have a disagreement with each other, and don’t see eye to eye.  As long as the fight stays among yourselves all its fine, but the moment an outsider tries to come for one of your siblings, all hell breaks loose.

I feel this is similar to what’s going on in this country.  We are having a disagreement right now, but if anyone tries to come for us, we would unite.  It shouldn’t and hopefully won’t ever have to come to that for us to unite.  My prayer is for this country to get back to trying to be the melting pot it once strived for when I was a little girl.

No country is perfect, and there are injustices everywhere in the world.  In this country, there’s definitely a lot wrong, but this is also a country that elected the first black president proving that the potential for greatness for every member of this society still exists.  Has the justice system let us down?  Absolutely! But the bottom line is so many have sacrificed so much to ensure our freedom.  On top of that our troops are still willing to put their lives on the line and fight for our freedom.  This is one of the main reasons why I still support America even though I don’t agree with the injustices taking place or the way the country is currently being managed.

In short, I choose to still celebrate the flag being fully aware of this country’s shortcomings and unfulfilled promises, because the alternative means that I have no hope and belief in a change.  So Happy Independence Day America!  God Bless You for what I believe you can be again.

Oh beautiful, for heroes proved,
In liberating strife,
Who more than self, our country loved,
And mercy more than life,
America, America, may God thy gold refine,
Till all success be nobleness
And every gain devined.
And you know when I was in school,
We used to sing it something like this, listen here:
Oh beautiful, for spacious skies,
For amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesties,
Above the fruited plain,
But now wait a minute, I’m talking about
America, sweet America,
You know, God done shed his grace on thee,
He crowned thy good, yes he did, in a brotherhood,
From sea to shining sea.
You know, I wish I had somebody to help me sing this
(America, America, God shed his grace on thee)
America, I love you America, you see,
My God he done shed his grace on thee,
And you oughta love him for it,
Cause he, he, he, he, crowned thy good,
He told me he would, with brotherhood,
(From sea to shining sea).
Oh Lord, oh Lord, I thank you Lord
(Shining sea).

Sending my love and wishing everyone a safe and happy holiday!