It’s on all of us. We are America.
Let’s form a more perfect union. Together.
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Like most folks of color, I have a complicated relationship with America. Make no mistake, I LOVE my country, but it’s the worst kind of love; the kind where you love someone for their potential instead of for who they actually are. The kind where you have to ignore large parts of their (horrific) past–and vast parts of their questionable present–for the promise of who they might be.
They’re the one that (at some point) has said all the right things–in the most poetic ways–then reneged.
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America is the ultimate bad boyfriend: a rebel; sexy, cocky, showy, and overconfident. They’re the one that (at some point) has said all the right things–in the most poetic ways–then reneged. They’ve demonstrated valor, yet their tendency towards violence in order to “protect you” doesn’t exactly make you feel safe.
America is the one that you stay with because you think maybe, if you just love them hard enough, you can fix them. You can see their growth, but it’s so damn slow, and you’re tired of having to make excuses to your friends about your bruises; you’ve been in therapy long enough to know the onus of change isn’t on you.
It’s on all of us. We are America.
I appreciate the distraction of BBQ and ‘splosions as much as the next red-blooded, baseball, apple-pie loving, native born son, but America: I need you to grow the fuck up. I believe in you; I know what we could have together. I’m ready for all those inalienable rights you promised. I need you to ensure domestic tranquility. I am ALL ABOUT some life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
Let’s form a more perfect union. Together.
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Photo: Getty Images
Can someone tell me why my posts were deleted after they were posted? I said nothing out of the rules, was supportive and agreed with the author in my first post. I thought his commentary was good and reasonable. Yet a comment still here was most disagreeable and offensive to me as an American. But the commenter has a right to his views, and as part of these founding principles of which he doesn’t want to celebrate, I’d defend his right to do so with pride. Yet my comments were summarily censored. That’s not right.
Mark, I think I recall reading your original comment (didn’t see any other posts at the time I tuned in) so I thought my eyes were playing tricks on me when it went missing later on: I can’t understand why a comment would be erased *after* it has been through moderation, especially when it appears to have been completely innocuous. Was this just a tech error at the GMP site? At least, can you repost your original comment(s)?
In the meantime, STOP celebrating a holiday that DID NOT INCLUDE OUR ANCESTORS nor US!
Er, what? All the gains made by minorities arose from the principles stated during the foundation of the US. That they needed to be better adhered-to over time doesn’t change that.