July 4 in a polarized, politicized era
Can my patriotism be politically neutral, separated from my country’s actions if I disagree with those actions? Can it be separated from those who call themselves patriots but who don’t embrace the ideals I think this country stands for? Yes, it can, and I can call myself patriotic while still yelling the loudest when I think this country has gone off track.
For my entire life, July 4 has had special meaning. Musing about our country and its direction and its leadership happens almost every day for me.
My father served 24 years in the Navy, and for the first 10 years of my life I was an itinerant military brat, moving from place to place as duty called my master chief petty officer father to new bases. I distinctly remember — perhaps because we have home movies — of July 4 beach get-togethers when we were stationed in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, from 1965 to 1968. The images of my parents and their friends whooping it up — younger in those flickering 16 mm images than I am today — playing volleyball, grilling burgers, everyone smoking cigarettes and drinking beer from coolers of melting ice while the relentless Caribbean sun baked our bodies and the landscape. Other years it was fireworks from the terrace of the chief’s club overlooking the bay in Cuba, a stunning view even without the July 4 pyrotechnics.
Ironically — or maybe not — the Fourth of July has always been my daughter Megan’s favorite holiday. Megan — expecting her second child July 3, believe it or not — loves the fireworks, the color, the flags, cooking out and the idea of a huge, nationwide summer birthday party.
For probably a decade straight, we would load up the minivan and head to Bryson City for the July 4 Firecracker 5K road race and festival. Lori and I loved to run, but it was more about exposing our children to an active lifestyle, a little patriotism, hang around and check out the handmade wares from the street vendors. Lori says it was at one of those races that a 9- or 10-year-old Megan — our oldest and a year-round swimmer like her younger sister Hannah — was running ahead of her and slowed down, looked back, and shouted “come on mom, hurry up.” From that day on the child, ascending in her physical abilities, would always beat mom and dad in any foot race.
I can distinctly remember the day I think my patriotism, my love for this country, showed itself in its most unbridled self: 9/11. Once we had all our kids safely at home, our little family sat on the front porch and tried to talk about the day and not frighten our children when Lori and I did not have any idea what might unfold over the next few hours or days. There were tears and fears and waving of little flags for the innocent victims who lost their lives that day.
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And today? How do we celebrate July 4 in a polarized political moment? When I think back to those old family home movies of my father and his cohorts as young servicemen, I now realize the officers leading those sailors were likely the same who had defeated Hitler and fascism in World War II. Hell, if those sailors were in their late 40s in 1965, some of them probably fought in WWII themselves.
Here’s what I remember about my father and my stepfather — an Army ranger who served several tours in Vietnam — and their relationship to this country: no flag lapel pins, no calling everyone who served a hero, no puffing up when someone congratulated them on their service. Most of the men from that era had a more dignified, personal patriotism that wasn’t worn on their sleeves but was etched in their soul, unlike so many politicians today who have never served. I always admired that kind of strength, one that you knew was there but you didn’t want to let it out of its cage.
So, no politics for me this July 4. I’ll celebrate the ideals of freedom, of free speech and freedom of religion, of the melting pot that makes this country great, the diversity that sets it apart from any other nation on earth, my appreciation for those who have served, my hope that we continue to strive to be the best country we can be. Happy Fourth.
(Scott McLeod can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..)
