During my overnight trip to Philadelphia last week I stopped at the Liberty Bell Center. The last time I was there I was in elementary school. My mom has a photo of myself and my sister standing next to the bell in matching winter coats. Somehow I remember the bell being a lot bigger, no doubt because I was a lot shorter than I am now.
Even though I know the inscription about liberty on the bell deliberately did not apply to my ancestors who may have been here during that time, I still honor the vision of the nation’s founders in creating a nation where (in theory at least) people could be free to live their lives as they saw fit without undue interference from the government. It amazes me this relic of our nation’s past still exists in spite of it being damaged over the years. That says a lot about the care that went into making it.
I have long since outgrown the blind patriotism I had a child. I have not, however, outgrown my love for my country. In fact, it is because I love my country so much that I criticize its leadership so harshly. I know what we could and should be and claim all of the freedoms owed me regardless of those who would rather not share them. And if I ever leave and give up my citizenship, it will be because I refuse to settle for the mockery some folks prefer to make of this nation due to their oppressive politics.