Happy 4th of July fellas!

Yep, have a Happy and Safe 4th of July folks...especially those still working the roads..be careful out there.

 

Merely an observation, NOT, repeat, NOT a race post, but when I lived in Milwaukee several years back, when my parents died, I stayed in the house to fix it up to sell. When I was a kid, 60's/70's, the neighborhood was 99.9% white. Naturally, our street was inundated with American flags. EVERY house had a flag. You were an outcast commie if you didn't. Fast forward to couple years back, the neighborhood has undergone a complete reversal, with my parents being the only whites left until they died. I happened to be there fixing the house on a July 4th, in respect for my parents, I put the flag out,,,I was the ONLY house to have a flag. Why was that, I wondered. I asked a neighbor, a wonderful man, why that was so? Apparently, he said, Blacks don't seem to recognize July 4th as anything special. That bummed me out, as Blacks are Americans too.
And not just Blacks, most young people, of any color, couldn't care less about July 4th, THAT'S even more unsettling. I suppose, from a young persons view, with unattainable desires, never had to fight a war, and the general mess we are in, why bother. To them, America isn't so great.
Well, it's tough to disagree. I have a friend that recently went to Spain, she said, the general feeling was so much better than here, people were actually happy, driving colorful cars. I have a profound connection with our freedom, my old man slogged through the trenches of France( or so it was told) in Dubja, Dubja 2, der, to ensure our freedom, and I'll never forget that. Why just last year, on the 5th of July, whilst riding my bike, I saw'r an American flag in the ditch, that obviously blew off a car, and NOBODY PICKED IT UP,,except me. Dinah Shore said it 70 years ago, "America, the greatest land of all",,,now, I'm not so sure. And don't say, "then get lost", no can do. At 67, America has been outstanding to me, and I still respect the country, I did everything I wanted to do, thanks to America. I just don't see those same values today.

 

While I definitely get what you're expressing I wanted to point out 4 things.
1. Displaying patriotism is not in and of itself patriotic. Being patriotic is doing things like voting, serving on a jury, military service, etc. Those actions that demonstrate a loyalty, dedication and commitment to our country. I'm not saying displaying a flag or similar is not a patriotic act. But, in the scheme of thing it's not nearly as important as actually doing things that are patriotic.
2. The MAGA crowd has high jacked things like flying the American flag. Many who are not MAGA folk purposely won't fly a flag as an act of showing they are not a MAGA supporter. Doesn't mean these folks aren't patriotic toward our country. They just are quite opposed to everything MAGA. Not trying to judge what's right or wrong with it, just an explanation.
3. Most folks in other countries think the obsession Americans have with displays of patriotism like flying flags is kinda odd. You don't see this kind of stuff in other countries nearly as often. It doesn't mean they are not loyal and patriotic for their country. To the degree Americans tend to display flags, they just think it overboard and alittle creepy.
4. The recent Dobbs decision by the Supreme Court which, in effect nullifies Roe v Wade at a federal level has MANY feeling saddened, ashamed and angry at what has just happened in this country. MANY are not feeling patriotic at all at the moment.
Not trying to judge the right or wrong to any of these. Just an explanation. Not flying a flag does not mean a person is anti-patriotic.

 

This is pathetic. It's all in your head though... Pretty sad.

 

You're letting propaganda turn patriotic people in to bad people. Maga is not racist or evil or extreme.

Many of the active and veteran military are maga. Without them. You would not have the freedoms you have.

SCOTUS didn't take anyone's right away. They simply returned the decision back to the States. Thus putting the decision in the hands of the people. As the constitution intended.

No matter how politics screw things up. This is still the greatest country in the world. There's not a day that you should not be proud to be able to call America home.

 

We were having a good time until the shooting in Highland Park Il , sucks.

 

First off, I wrote the post you are replying to without agreement or condemnation.I was explaining things as they are, not what my opinion of them was. And, I stand by what I wrote as being accurate.
Many, if not most citizens of the US view Trump and his followers as the greatest threat to our country and liberal democracy in our lifetimes. Many see it as akin to what was happening in Germany during the rise of Adolf Hitler and how he acquired the power he did. You can brush it off as fake news if you want, but I can assure you that viewpoint is shared by many. Does not matter if you agree or not. Nor does it make them Un-American. Either side, the MAGA crowd included. Not trying to infer they are Unamerican. We just have a serious chasm between the two sides.
The Supreme Court decision, once again, regardless of your viewpoint of it has MANY VERY angry at what is happening with many viewing it as the most oppressive act our government has done in our lifetime and the first time in our country's history that a right previously guaranteed has been revoked. Has nothing to do with simply moving it back to the states. It is quite clear that the aim is to make it a federal issue, that is the next step. It has MANY MANY very angry and not in a mood to celebrate freedom this 4th of July.
Lastly, it is quite American to be upset with things happening in our country and voice that. To paraphrase how someone once described our country. It is the most screwed up, messy and dysfunctional form of government on our planet except for every other one in existence. None of this means anyone 'hates' our country or is any less patriotic. I do not doubt the patriotism of any citizen. We are a diverse bunch and are going to vehemently disagree on just about everything involving our country. None of it detracts from anyone's loyalty and dedication to it. I personally think equating disagreement with someone's political views as being un-American, is quite unpatriotic and borders on fascism. Our country is founded with the knowledge we, as citizens, will often disagree. Being American is realizing that because someone does disagree with us, they are not the enemy. That is one of the most fundamental freedoms our country has to offer.
For the record, I am a 10 year veteran and worked another 20 years as a civil servant. I have served this country more than most, I am proud of that, I feel honored I was able to make the contributions I have and I have earned the unrproached right to have any political opinion I deem without having my patriotism questioned!

 

A member post a Happy 4th of July thread and within a few posts it becomes a Trump hating thread.

Some of you are pathetic.