Holidays for Heroes

I wrote about the wonderful holiday my younger son and I enjoyed on the Massachusetts island of Nantucket here. In September, through the generosity of some wonderful folks, there will be a celebration of our military heroes on the island.

It's difficult for me to think about the Fourth of July and not remember those brave men and women who have served our country down through the years. One of the positive things that has come out of the horrible 9/11 tragedy is that we as a country seem to have a new and greater appreciation for our active duty military and our veterans. It's not easy transitioning to civilian life when we are whole and healthy, and it's even more of a challenge for those who have been wounded.

Holidays for Heroes is a wonderful way to say thank you, we appreciate you, we love you, we support you as you have supported us. I invite you to visit their website.

Susan

Yankee Doodle Dandy

When I was a little girl, I learned the song about Yankee Doodle. You know the one, with the pony and the feather and the macaroni. Children today still sing this song, especially as we approach the Fourth of July, Independence Day here in America. The term comes from an old British folk song. The colonists were called Yankees, and the term "doodle" meant fool or simpleton. During the Revolutionary War, the British soldiers would mock the American soldiers and call them Yankee Doodles. Instead of allowing it to hurt their feelings for long, the colonists embraced it and became proud of it. We Americans have been Yankee Doodles every since.

It's ironic to me that some of us Americans are so cruel to foreigners, so eager to deport people, when most of us (with the exception of Native Americans) are from immigrant stock. Someone, somewhere, at sometime in our history came to this country from somewhere else. Were they mocked because of how they spoke? Probably. Did they struggle to learn the ways of this new land, this different culture? I imagine they did. Yet their hope and courage was greater than any obstacle they had to face.

Our diversity is what makes America so unique. Where else in the world can we find such a mix of different people? We are at our worst when we are arrogant. When we mistake pride for patriotism, when we think we are better than others, that our way is the best way, that everyone should be just like us. Sometimes that arrogance blinds us to seeing that other nations have some really good things that we would be wise to adopt, even if we have to tweak it a bit to make it work for us.

We are at our best when we remember that we are all just a bunch of  Yankee Doodles, simply Americans whose hope and courage are greater than any obstacle we have to face.

Have a wonderful Fourth.

Susan

"Yankee Doodle Dandy" written by George M. Cohan. Performed in this video by James Cagney.

The Fourth of July

"Dissent is the highest form of patriotism." Howard Zinn

In a few days, we will celebrate Independence Day. I love my country. But I don't support the war. I haven't from its inception. I was told by an acquaintance that if you don't support the war, you are showing disrespect to the troops. I have heard this idea before, so I asked her to elaborate. I normally don't discuss politics or religion, but she and I are both pretty calm people, so I knew we could do it without getting all hot under the collar. I listened to her, then I told her something about me she didn't know.

Both my son and daughter-in-law are veterans. While this war has been going on, my son spent two tours of duty in the middle east. He was in harm's way. I know firsthand the sacrifice the brave military men and women make daily for their country. Some make the ultimate sacrifice. They do this so that we can enjoy our freedoms, which include the right to speak our minds and to dissent.

Blindly following is not the American way. Never has been. I hope it never will be.

Susan