On the Fourth of July, I wore blue jeans and a white tank top and got my cheeks sunburned red, and that is about the beginning and the end of my patriotism. I realized this as I walked through Harris Teeter on Friday and saw the paraphernalia on sale for the holiday. I realized it when I saw one of my fellow interns in red, white, and blue, a very nice 4th of July outfit. I realized it when I stood with my family in a Kmart parking lot watching fireworks.
I appreciate the 4th of July because 1) holidays that get people out of work are fun; 2) I like the excuse to see family and/or friends; and 3) fireworks make my day. As I delve into feminist and abortion history, I appreciate our country and what we have here. But I have a severe lack of patriotism.
At Mass this morning, we sang as the recessional "America the Beautiful." The choice disappointed me until we reached the end of the second verse:
America, America! God mend thine ev'ry flaw
Confirm thy soul in self control, thy liberty in law!
The next verse ends with a similar request:
America, America! May God thy gold refine
'Til all success be nobleness and ev'ry gain divine!
Contrast this with something we here a lot around the 4th of July -- "God Bless the USA," for instance:
I'm proud to be an American!
Where at least I know I'm free
And I won't forget the men who died,
Who gave that right to me.
And I gladly stand up next to you,
And defend her still today
'Cause there ain't no doubt I love this land --
God bless the USA!
Both invoke the same God to bless the same country. One, however, begs God to make this country everything it can be. It recognized its roots (O beautiful, for heroes proved, in liberating strife. Who more than self, their country loved, and mercy more than life) and asks the Lord to make it better. The other praises the nation and presents its virtues as reason for God to bless it. If we can't make this argument as persons, how can we expect to make it as a nation?
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