I swear I’m a proud American

History class can leave me feeling so sad and depressed. The level of intolerance is just so…astounding. Too many people seem unable to see things from another perspective. Too many people are too quick to judge someone’s patriotism.

We were discussing Vietnam and the young men who avoided the draft by leaving the country which was a crime punishable by never being allowed back into the US again. Those who did not go to Vietnam by way of leaving the country were allowed back because it was such an unpopular war and those who avoided it truly did not believe in the war’s purpose. Someone in the classroom said that refusing to go into military service to support your country was unpatriotic and an outright betrayal and that people who desert in that way should not ever be allowed back.

This upset me. I saw where she and others who agreed with her were coming from. They believe that patriotism is respecting and following any order the President gives. But for me, this hurt. So many times this year my patriotism and love for my country has been questioned inadvertently and sometimes outright. If there was a draft and if I was drafted for the war in Iraq, I would probably go to Canada as well. Would this make me less of an American? Hell no.

I love my country. And it is because I love my country that I would avoid the war in such a way. Because I do not believe that the war in Iraq reflects well upon the United States. I do not think that we entered the war honorably and I do not think that we have any place to be there forcing our version of “freedom” on a people. Does this make me less of an American because I do not support a war effort because I think it clashes with what ideologically I believe we stand for? No. I do not think dissent qualifies as betrayal.

The same person who made the comment gets on my case about not reciting the pledge of allegiance every morning. I do not feel that mindlessly repeating words is an adequate measure or representation of my appreciation for this country. I don’t think that half the people who say it every morning mean it. And I know that if I were to recite it every morning I would not mean it. Well done to those who do think about it every day when they say it. But I prefer to show my love for my country in quieter ways.

People also “jokingly” ask about the depth of my Americanism when I say I want to move to Russia. They ask what kind of an American am I? How do you answer that? I joke back but it doesn’t hurt or offend me any less because of it.

I just hate that pro-war, pro-Bush, pro-military folk have claimed the monopoly on American patriotism. I am proud to be an American. I love my country. I just disagree with how we have handled things lately. But that doesn’t make me any less proud of who I am and where I come from. I just wish people would recognize that and stop attacking those who don’t agree with everything as being in league with the terrorists. It hurts and it is the worst of bipartisanship.