I am not proud to be an American.
"But, Corinne, you live in the greatest country on earth."
"The United States is the only true free country."
"Your brother is in the army, how can you say such a disrespectful thing?"
Let me back up.
If we quickly skim the history of the United States of America, we'll be staring at the history of a nation of violence. Originally, Protestants risked their lives and their children's lives to escape the Church of England and search for a better and more free way of living in the New World. The land was occupied by Native American Indians but largely uninhabited, and there was certainly enough room for both people groups to coexist peacefully. The migration of human beings from one location to another because of different push and pull factors (thanks, sophomore year AP Human Geography) has been happening since the beginning of time, so this was not a new concept. Fast forward some years, and you'll see that more people have arrived, tensions are thick with the Natives, and a war is brewing between what is soon to be the United States and England. We were not an official nation yet and we already actively participated in the slave trade. We are well aware of the Trail of Tears, the Civil War, Japanese internment camps during WWII. We have all taken multiple history classes and have learned of the atrocities that have occurred on this very land that we so dearly love and praise as the greatest nation on earth. Yet we are utterly desensitized to our own violent history. As citizens of the United States of America, we are quick to point fingers at Nazi Germany, stating that as peace-loving Americans we would never engage in something so atrocious. We ask, "How could German citizens so blindly follow an evil man such as Hitler?" Take a look at our past, America. We allowed slavery to continue for years. We allowed the systemic oppression of African Americans to continue- to this day that oppression exists. We allowed the Native Americans to be forced from their homes- murdered- and broke numerous treaties with them, continuously stealing the land that was rightfully theirs (news flash- this is still happening). Our ancestors sat idly by, watching all of this and more, and even actively engaged in these events. Yet we praise our ancestors and founders for their bravery and ability to create a country founded on freedom- freedom for white men. How blind are we to our own hideous past, that we call this country the greatest on earth, and continue to say, "one nation under God?" It's almost blasphemous.
I cannot believe that God is proud of us. He is not proud of our history. He is not proud of the present state of our country.
This is America: White men screaming in the faces of the Natives while they greedily take more of their land.
This is America: White men telling People of Color that this is a white country while enjoying aspects of African and Hispanic culture daily.
This is America. And it's not beautiful.
I am proud of my heritage. I'm proud of my Irish ancestors who came here in the hopes of creating a more fulfilling life. I'm proud of my past family members who have bravely fought in order to keep this country free, and I'm proud of my big brother and his willingness to sacrifice even today to keep this country free. But I am sick and tired of American Christians' constant need to praise this country as if it's the New Jerusalem. Ultimately this is not our home. And if I say that I am not proud of this country I do not want to be met with angry retorts about how this is the greatest country on earth. I am not blaspheming God by being disappointed in my country and I am not sinning by my lack of patriotism. God's chosen people were from Israel. Jesus was born a not white man. Europeans and everyone else were considered Gentiles. White people are not the superior race. The United States of America is not the superior country.
We operate under the delusion that we are the freest country on earth when in reality only certain privileged populations in America get to enjoy those freedoms in their full extent. It's time to wake up. Let the scales fall from our eyes. Our country is in disarray. It always has been. We cannot return to America's so-called "former glory" or "Make America Great Again" when it was never great to begin with. Privileged people have a difficult time understanding the struggles of minorities. Of course America is the greatest country on earth in the eyes of white men. White men have never faced oppression based on color, oppression based on gender- and Christians, regardless of gender, remain largely unbothered because of religion.
America is great to the person who doesn't have to walk across the street with their keys as a waiting weapon, scared that if anything happens the American justice system won't be on their side.
America is great to the person who doesn't have to explain to their children why trusting a police officer isn't always the best idea.
America is great to the person who's religious holidays are recognized as national holidays, and who's religious buildings are hardly ever vandalized.
America is great to the person who is automatically assumed as born American and can easily get a job.
But America is not great for the women whose president views them as sexual objects and the assault of their sisters as a joke.
America is not great for the black kid who can't even play with a water gun without being shot. American is not great for the Muslim who was promised religious freedom but has their hijab ripped off by strangers.
America is not great for the Hispanic immigrant who was brought here by their parent for the same reason as our white ancestors but is now facing deportation for simply existing here.
We are called to fight for the oppressed but we've become so comfortable in our privileges we've remained blind to the blatant oppression existing all around us. We downplay issues, victim-blame, and refuse to recognize the total depravity of our country. We would rather focus on how the LGBT+ community is corrupting our children and whether or not women in the media are sluts or not. We condemn the perceived most dangerous aspects of depravity and sinfulness of our culture without condemning the entirety of it. I am sick and tired of worshipping on Sunday morning with my brothers and sisters who preach the sanctity of life of the unborn while remaining silent on the sanctity of life of marginalized people groups.
I truly believe God is not proud of our history and the present state of our country. So, before claiming the superiority of America, let's make America worth the title. Our flag is a symbol for freedom, hard work, dedication, the American spirit, the sacrifice of the men and women who are shipped off to a war regardless of whether they wanted to fight it or not- all good things. But America has failed many and will continue to do so. America has promised freedom and human rights for all her citizens yet refuses many based on skin color or origin or class. I want to make my brother proud of fighting for this country. I want everything he’s sacrificed for to be a reality for every single individual who calls this nation home.
"But, Corinne, you live in the greatest country on earth."
"The United States is the only true free country."
"Your brother is in the army, how can you say such a disrespectful thing?"
Let me back up.
If we quickly skim the history of the United States of America, we'll be staring at the history of a nation of violence. Originally, Protestants risked their lives and their children's lives to escape the Church of England and search for a better and more free way of living in the New World. The land was occupied by Native American Indians but largely uninhabited, and there was certainly enough room for both people groups to coexist peacefully. The migration of human beings from one location to another because of different push and pull factors (thanks, sophomore year AP Human Geography) has been happening since the beginning of time, so this was not a new concept. Fast forward some years, and you'll see that more people have arrived, tensions are thick with the Natives, and a war is brewing between what is soon to be the United States and England. We were not an official nation yet and we already actively participated in the slave trade. We are well aware of the Trail of Tears, the Civil War, Japanese internment camps during WWII. We have all taken multiple history classes and have learned of the atrocities that have occurred on this very land that we so dearly love and praise as the greatest nation on earth. Yet we are utterly desensitized to our own violent history. As citizens of the United States of America, we are quick to point fingers at Nazi Germany, stating that as peace-loving Americans we would never engage in something so atrocious. We ask, "How could German citizens so blindly follow an evil man such as Hitler?" Take a look at our past, America. We allowed slavery to continue for years. We allowed the systemic oppression of African Americans to continue- to this day that oppression exists. We allowed the Native Americans to be forced from their homes- murdered- and broke numerous treaties with them, continuously stealing the land that was rightfully theirs (news flash- this is still happening). Our ancestors sat idly by, watching all of this and more, and even actively engaged in these events. Yet we praise our ancestors and founders for their bravery and ability to create a country founded on freedom- freedom for white men. How blind are we to our own hideous past, that we call this country the greatest on earth, and continue to say, "one nation under God?" It's almost blasphemous.
I cannot believe that God is proud of us. He is not proud of our history. He is not proud of the present state of our country.
This is America: White men screaming in the faces of the Natives while they greedily take more of their land.
This is America: White men telling People of Color that this is a white country while enjoying aspects of African and Hispanic culture daily.
This is America. And it's not beautiful.
I am proud of my heritage. I'm proud of my Irish ancestors who came here in the hopes of creating a more fulfilling life. I'm proud of my past family members who have bravely fought in order to keep this country free, and I'm proud of my big brother and his willingness to sacrifice even today to keep this country free. But I am sick and tired of American Christians' constant need to praise this country as if it's the New Jerusalem. Ultimately this is not our home. And if I say that I am not proud of this country I do not want to be met with angry retorts about how this is the greatest country on earth. I am not blaspheming God by being disappointed in my country and I am not sinning by my lack of patriotism. God's chosen people were from Israel. Jesus was born a not white man. Europeans and everyone else were considered Gentiles. White people are not the superior race. The United States of America is not the superior country.
We operate under the delusion that we are the freest country on earth when in reality only certain privileged populations in America get to enjoy those freedoms in their full extent. It's time to wake up. Let the scales fall from our eyes. Our country is in disarray. It always has been. We cannot return to America's so-called "former glory" or "Make America Great Again" when it was never great to begin with. Privileged people have a difficult time understanding the struggles of minorities. Of course America is the greatest country on earth in the eyes of white men. White men have never faced oppression based on color, oppression based on gender- and Christians, regardless of gender, remain largely unbothered because of religion.
America is great to the person who doesn't have to walk across the street with their keys as a waiting weapon, scared that if anything happens the American justice system won't be on their side.
America is great to the person who doesn't have to explain to their children why trusting a police officer isn't always the best idea.
America is great to the person who's religious holidays are recognized as national holidays, and who's religious buildings are hardly ever vandalized.
America is great to the person who is automatically assumed as born American and can easily get a job.
But America is not great for the women whose president views them as sexual objects and the assault of their sisters as a joke.
America is not great for the black kid who can't even play with a water gun without being shot. American is not great for the Muslim who was promised religious freedom but has their hijab ripped off by strangers.
America is not great for the Hispanic immigrant who was brought here by their parent for the same reason as our white ancestors but is now facing deportation for simply existing here.
We are called to fight for the oppressed but we've become so comfortable in our privileges we've remained blind to the blatant oppression existing all around us. We downplay issues, victim-blame, and refuse to recognize the total depravity of our country. We would rather focus on how the LGBT+ community is corrupting our children and whether or not women in the media are sluts or not. We condemn the perceived most dangerous aspects of depravity and sinfulness of our culture without condemning the entirety of it. I am sick and tired of worshipping on Sunday morning with my brothers and sisters who preach the sanctity of life of the unborn while remaining silent on the sanctity of life of marginalized people groups.
I truly believe God is not proud of our history and the present state of our country. So, before claiming the superiority of America, let's make America worth the title. Our flag is a symbol for freedom, hard work, dedication, the American spirit, the sacrifice of the men and women who are shipped off to a war regardless of whether they wanted to fight it or not- all good things. But America has failed many and will continue to do so. America has promised freedom and human rights for all her citizens yet refuses many based on skin color or origin or class. I want to make my brother proud of fighting for this country. I want everything he’s sacrificed for to be a reality for every single individual who calls this nation home.
I am not patriotic. I am not proud of my government, past or present, and I am not proud of the majority of my nation’s history. But I am proud of the Americans who are actively fighting against those who try to take freedoms from certain minorities. I am proud of the angry American voices demanding basic human rights and respect for those who have not been given those things in the past. Fighting for our rights is in our blood as American people. So I do not feel patriotic when hearing the national anthem or watching fireworks on Independence Day. But I feel pride for my country and my people when I see professional athletes exercising their freedom of expression and using their platform to silently protest the treatment of their brothers and sisters. I feel pride in my country and my people when I see marches on Washington calling for equal rights for all. I am most patriotic when I see my people rejecting the oppressive behavior of our institutions and fighting for America’s promise of freedom. I am most patriotic when seeing my people come together during a crisis to help each other despite differences. That is the America I love.
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