I want to begin by saying despite it's faults and it's indefensible past that includes the extermination of indigenous people, the kidnapping and enslavement of blacks, Jim Crow, lynchings, etc. America (though still grappling with systemic injustice) has evolved into a loving, culturally diverse, socially mobile, uniquely resilient country to which I could never see myself leaving. This is the country that gave my Ethiopian immigrant parents the best chance at a secure, comfortable life for themselves and their two daughters.
But the mindless, unquestioning worship of America is defeating and poisonous. When you believe that America is this utopia and can do no wrong it's perilous because it removes us from the realities of injustice (racial, economic, environmental, etc.) and other forms of dysfunction and the need to improve upon its vast shortcomings is compromised.
I think that's why we have seen such unwarranted pushback---a violent opposition, rather, to simple forms of protest like athletes kneeling during the national anthem. And obviously a lot of that fell across racial lines. Many white people, with the exception of a handful of highly socially conscious ones, deplored this exercise of free speech as 'inappropriate' or 'unpatriotic.' And what they can't seem to understand is that the deep seated disconnect that many blacks feel from this country is not a character defect but the result of hundreds of years of pain, oppression and unspeakable mistreatment culminating into the systemic racism we still suffer from today.
The police force (one of the most prized institutions of this country) are supposedly here to protect and serve everyone and their property equally and fairly but very rarely is that the case. That's why when black people need police protection or assistance they are far less likely to call for help than their white counter parts. And as a die hard feminist it breaks my heart that abused black women don't feel as safe reporting things that happen to them to the authorities funded by their own tax dollars. The bottom line is that no Americans should have to fear law enforcement the way that the black and brown people (particularly in low income communities) do. And I don't have to tell you that this criminal justice system is not designed for us to thrive or even survive, it's created to break and dehumanize us as well as destroy our lives and families. And it's adding insult to injury to ask black men who finally have a voice to take it lying down while simultaneously shouting from the rooftops about how magnificent this country is. When the reality is that trying to bring awareness to a highly consequential issue to improve lives in this country is the most patriotic thing to do.
Me, being the political junkie that I am, was watching the Republican National Convention, and also conservative commentator's video responses to the Democratic National Convention all of which conflated the democrats talking about interconnected systems of injustice as hating America. But the reality is that anyone who is decently compassionate and nuanced in their thinking understands that criticizing a subset of issues in a country doesn't equate to loving it any less. I consider myself to be a good person afterall but addressing my flaws and trying to improve upon them does not mean I hate myself. In fact, I've grown to love and appreciate myself and by extension I want my country to the best it can be and work for everyone. So we no longer have to hear people say 'not my country' or have headstrong students sit during the pledge of allegiance and black and brown people can have a healthy relationship with the police. All of those things are doable and possible if we start embracing the reality of America and not the fantasy.
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