An American identity is more than a passport, drivers license, or birth place.
It’s more than bragging rights and USA USA USA.
What is it?
Here’s one take on what it is:
I get sniffily when I hear someone on television remind the audience of the ‘American Dream.’
Not the dream about being a billionaire, living in five houses, and stocking each with the same food and clothes because you ‘want to make sure.’
Also not the dream about owning a fleet of dream cars in Jay Leno’s garage.
The American identity is not a dream.
It’s about giving sick people the help they need, about feeding the hungry, and giving the impression someone cares.
An American identity in this sense isn’t about a cheerleader inspiring the crowd, it’s about administrative grinders pushing to make things happen in a timely manner.
I don’t need to hear threats and promises and theories already proven false.
I like the idea of hope making a comeback, and here’s why:
In 2016 I got a cancer diagnosis. Fuck me, right? Dead man walking.
But I stayed on track, checking all the boxes needed to start the treatment that undoubtedly saved my hide.
I started chemo and radiation near the day Trump took office.
Up until then I had no thought that I wouldn’t start and finish things and move on.
But on that day doubt entered my mind.
The cancer industry pounded their #1 rule hard: once you begin treatment you can’t miss a day.
Don’t miss a day because of weather, not feeling good, or just because.
After the Trump inauguration I wondered if this guy would hear something stupid from some retread kook and put a halt to certain medical treatments.
Not a real moral booster. I didn’t want to consider anything except staying my course.
That Would Never Happen?
You never know what happens with a guy with so many bugs in their butt swarming around.
One bug may be an anti-cancer treatment bug?
No way. I hear you.
Fast forward a few years later and what happens?
Jackasses decide they know better than half the American population and revoke Roe v Wade.
In all of the shitty details of some politicians idea of what is medically feasible and what isn’t, women in some states can’t get the healthcare they need and want.
Maybe your state. Oregon is still on the good side.
Oregon women can make medical appointments to deal with their health concerns.
It’s hard to recognize women’s rights in some states with second and third class status.
Listen, that goes against the American identity where we are all first class.
We have the documents that explain it in clear language.
If the US Constitution isn’t clear enough, move on to the Bill of Rights.
Instead of bowing and scraping and buying weird crap to support a man confused about the identity of America and Americans, we can hear a different tone.
The strength of America is responding to world challenges; the strength of Americans is pulling together so the world can see they have some backup when things take a turn for the worse where they are.