Each of us has our own definition of what being a patriot involves. Certainly, it is more than placing a flag outdoors or wearing a lapel flag pin, and it does not involve being some outstanding crusader for good of the nation. In my mind, it is any one of us who loves our country, appreciates our freedoms, respects and honors our Constitution, is truthful, and follows the rules of law.
Recently, Trump announced that he is a “true patriot.” Under his administration there has been flagrant lawlessness, abuses of the Constitution, and a total disregard for the truth. Improper replies to subpoenas and, even now, trying to reverse a Supreme Court ruling, displays his disrespect for the rule of law. The court had decided against his desire to insert the citizenship question into the upcoming census.
Trump’s motivation was obvious: to lessen the number of representatives to Congress and the distribution of general assistance funds in states that didn’t vote for him. Having the citizenship question on the census would lead to an undercount, by a large percentage, of black, Latino, and other minority groups from representation. Trump’s racist views are quite apparent.
Our president seems unaware of our pledge to welcome the stranger, the tired, and poor to our shores. Perhaps he is unfamiliar with our Statue of Liberty. His dehumanizing brutalization of the migrants seeking asylum here is beyond belief in our United States. Certainly, he is not a patriot.
On the 4th of July, our Independence Day, we celebrate freedom and peace, and especially honor our Constitution which was established after our independence.
It was shocking to me and probably to all of you, that Trump held his dictator-like military show in 2019. The $90 million cost estimate from the Pentagon caused a change of heart last year. But this year he was determined, whatever the costs — after all, we taxpayers were paying the bill. He has not revealed the total cost; he has only admitted to usurping $2.5 million from the National Park Service budget.
The most troubling for me is that the display was imitating dictatorship war parades, which is not how we show our pride. We need don’t need to display our power; on Independence Day we should emphasize peace and freedom.
Our community celebrates Independence Day with the simple pleasures, celebrating freedom and an appreciation for government of, by and for the people. It is a time of high school bands, all ages marching, kids and pets everywhere, baseball, hot dogs, picnics, friends and families sharing peaceful joy, all representing peace and freedom in America where almost anyone can be a patriot if he or she appreciates what we have here.
Harriet Hausman is a longtime resident of River Forest and longer-time patriot.
