7 Comments

Thank you for sharing your story. It is often these wealthy, over "educated" narcissistic people who don't realize how good they have it. They don't realize how wonderful our country is. They are ungrateful. They have too easy of a life, without any real problems, which causes ingratitude. They cannot express gratitude for the freedoms of this country.

My husband and I both immigrated to the USA from Europe, as kids, and we are very patriotic. Yes, we have experience Plenty of Anti Semitism, both here & all over the world, but it has nothing to do with this wonderful country, but rather has to do with the existence of people who are racist & bigoted, which is in all countries. We live in a wealthy neighborhood. I am very conscious of making sure my 3 kids express gratitude, on a regular basis. We do teach them patriotism. We teach them to be grateful for what they have. I do allow them to experience problems & hardships. I don't helicopter parent or "protect" them from life's problems/consequences, because the more problems and hardships one faces, the stronger a person becomes, through adversity. One learns resilience.

Expand full comment

Great article. It’s sad how this has become such a decisive issue today. My dad was so proud the day he became a citizen and he was grateful that in America a man can come over on a scholarship with an apple, rice cooker and $20 bucks and die a millionaire. Sometimes we forget that the freedoms we have come at the cost of many brave men and women who serve and the flag is a symbol of that freedom.

Expand full comment

It sounds like you taught with “educators” who were marinated in their own victimization (as in - a bunch of entitled whiners). One staff Mexican means nobody can participate. What a disgrace! You were smart to “get out of Dodge.”

Expand full comment

One can only shake one's head.

Expand full comment

Performative patriotism is always one of the last things we need.

Expand full comment

Perhaps not, but a little bit of effort at unity would go a long way. We are still One Nation, Under God. Although there are too many who are wont to change that. We are not one nation, full of intersectional groups all with some grudge. Life is tough for everyone, albeit in different ways, yet despite that, putting those differences aside and thinking of others is what made this country great. We need to overcome complacency and apathy and unite against a common enemy - the self-interested bureaucracy running this country into the ground by dividing us.

Expand full comment

We need to overcome sloganeering and sentimental protestations of fealty to symbols.

Expand full comment