Do we know who we really are?
Is there an American identity?
I was born in 1957. In my mind the greatest era to be born in America. Of course, I am considered white by race, so I had advantages that many were not privileged to.
What made the era so great was the great revolution. The definition of the Constitution. It was a time that Americans demanded the Constitution be defined properly and adhered to. I am talking about the Civil Rights movement, the protest against an illegal war (Vietnam), the Women's Rights Movement, The Gay Rights movement, and the Migrant Workers Movement lead by Ceasar Chavez. The Music was awesome and had meaning as well.
We had a national identity. We threw off the shackles of stereotypes and institutional prejudices. We were proud Liberals that demanded JUSTICE.
Yes, we tore down institutions, but not for the sake of just destroying things. We did our level best to tear down institutional injustices. We fought against the Red Scare (Joe McCarthy's red herring), the UnAmerican Activities Committee (John Wayne & Ronald Reagan), Jim Crow, and other institutions that fostered prejudice and hate.
Sure, we were idealist but we saw a greater America, an inclusive America, a truly free America. That often meant with shooting down symbols that perpetuated and fostered the old hateful idealism, like, beauty pageants and the Boy Scouts. We knew that the REAL America wasn't a Leave to Beaver episode nor a Hallmark card.
You can look at it like this.
Many people like paintings by Norman Rockwell but is it art? No, it is a depiction of an America that is exclusive and segregated. It doesn't show the reality of life. It's a sham.
So now there is a huge conflict of America. A war of idealism. A war between a sham and reality. The conservatives want to return America to the Norman Rockwell painting a life in America that never ever existed. And the Liberal idea that we should face reality, treat all people with respect, take care of those in need, provide equal opportunity for all.
When conservatives say that they want to "make America great again", and "we want our country back", they are alluding to the ideal the fiction of the Norman Rockwell painting. They are saying that they want Jim Crow, to end civil rights, to discriminate against women and gays, to exploit migrant works, to have illegal wars, to allow police brutality, to force religion (as long as it's christian) on everyone, to maintain the Red Scare, to blackball people from jobs because they are jewish or communist or not republican.
And the cost for those republicans is that they are in bed with Nazis, fascist, racist, white supremacist.
This has become a big problem for republicans. They don't want to be identified as a fascist etc, BUT they either remain silent or endorse the actions of these domestic terrorists. All because they want the Norman Rockwell painting America. They are suffering a national identity crises.
But we Liberals aren't any better. We have become too complacent. The phrase "freedom isn't free" wasn't made up by some conservative. It is a famous Liberal declaration!
I am just as bad. It has been a long time that I got up off of my ass and marched.
As I saw the travesty in Charlottesville, I think on Heather Heyer, who stood up for what she believed in. A greater America, an America that is inclusive and truly free. She didn't get into any fights. She didn't become disruptive or belligerent. She was innocently walking on a side street away from the fights when she was MURDERED!
I am ashamed of myself for not being there. I am mad that I am alive to post these words and she is dead.
I once had an identity one that fought for America. I've become too complacent. Thinking that 22 years military service was enough. Thinking that just voting when it was convenient was enough. Well, it's not enough. Obviously, it's not enough. At 59 I don't know if I have the energy anymore.
So I guess what I am saying is that we have to find out who we are, what kind of nation we want to be, and be that nation.
In loving memory to a great American Heather Heyer.