There are so many opinions about this country. No matter the good or bad, being American connects us all. We may have anger and differences but sometimes the red, white, and blue cover our eyes for a little while and bring us together. Where those are the only colors we see. Where politics and injustice are taken off the table. Debt, expected costs, and finances don't have to be worried about. They may be short moments, given in minutes or hours, but each one reminds us that a pride and a love for the U.S.A. lives on.
When you're doubting politics or people or systems, think about this. You're at a sporting event, let's say a baseball game, the sport of America's pastime. It's a good turnout, with people frantic to find their seats and feed their kids full of hot dogs and overpriced sweets. Everywhere you look people are walking up and down rows, the players catching and throwing down on the field. Then all of a sudden everyone stands where they are, hats are removed and hands rest on hearts. A singer, someone well-known, stands between the two lines of players and begins to sing an anthem known to absolutely everyone, whether rooting for the home or away team. Even little kids try to hum along, as parents correct them when they move their hand down or slouch back into their seats. At some period in the song, everyone joins in unison. All these voices and this overwhelming sense of nothing more inexplicable than pride takes over. It's goosebumps, sometimes tears, and honor. For the duration of the National Anthem, everyone in that stadium is together to share in something, and that's a big deal.
When you are doubting the future of the country and your part in it, think about this. Out of tragedy, in the wake of a shooting or bombing or disastrous event, think not of the inflicted damage or the dead. Recall instead the vigils, the prayers and the support for the fallen. See the candles and signs at handmade memorials. See the streets full of people weeping together, holding each other. Notice the flags and the flowers and understand that people are together in that moment for the same reason. People watching the news and reading on social media are with those supports, thinking and holding the tragedy in their minds. It may be a horrid reason to come together, but the country all the while is at that time.
When you feel like your freedoms are challenged or your faith is tested, think about this. You're scrolling through Facebook like it's any other day. And it's important that it is any other day, not necessarily close to Memorial Day or Labor Day. Your feed is clogged with short videos and you, of course, watch them all. You play one after another and your day has already been made until you open one video that will stifle you. One after another, military homecomings play out with soldiers coming home to their spouses, parents, kids and dogs. This makes you happy so you are smiling and when the last soldier surprises the final little girl at school the video is over and you have tears rolling down your face. You immediately rethink things for a second and you take into consideration the families of those soldiers and what they've gone through. And you respect every man or woman in uniform for their service and dedication to a country that you take for granted. It is another goose bump moment because wow, thousands of people are out there together bleeding red, white, and blue, and it's important that we all know and respect that.
These moments of togetherness are minutes long but they are important to the doubters. National Anthems and little moments of unity are necessary sparks that make the future of America look bright. These sparks go unnoticed during times of violence, political upheaval, or personal distress but they are there all the while. We are together even when we don't think so. The American pride and love for the country we claim as a home is still with us all and the Fourth of July doesn't have to be the only reminder of the joy it is to be an American.
