4th of July

Normally I'd be making the point that because I love a country, I shouldn't be expected to be blindly uncritical because seeing the error in our ways is typically the first step towards change, and one should forever strive for the betterment of self, family, and country. I am not disingenuous in celebrating this historical event with our children- I know there is much yet that needs to change. But there is also much to celebrate this year- honestly, ideologically, there is much to celebrate any year, and even if our ideas may not always mesh with everyone else's around us, there is always some common ground to be found. I have been taking a political respite- selfishly, I know, but I really needed it- which in my case means I have stepped away from public discourse. We as a family have continued to participate in civic learning and service, however private, and have kept up our conversations around current events and the processes that might have lead up to them. Some of these conversations make for serious thought and really dig into our daily life, while others are light and just float by... until they take hold or become significant in a more obvious way, which always eventually happens- but for me, there is definitely a deeper attachment that comes from that responsibility: the responsibility of being here with them and sharing in the process of BEING the USA. Now that the kids are older and honestly grappling with their civic affections, it feels even more real to me as well. Somehow, my love for this country -and I already loved it when/because I fell in love with Quijote- has grown exponentially while in the presence of our children's love for it. And that is what I celebrate. I celebrate them, my American family. I love them and the home I've built with them. No one has ever directly blamed me for it, so I wonder why I feel like I have to defend this love. But since it feels right, I defend it: I can love my country, and this country too. I can be critical without being cynical, and I can celebrate without the comfort of fiction and contrivance. I don't think this is a forced duplicity, but a natural and healthy honesty. I might even go as far as arguing that one should not exist without the other. The celebration but also the criticism, the public involvement and the private conversations, the respect for those who serve and the pacifism, and finally, my Mexican-ness and their American-ness. 

So... we celebrate. 

May God bless this beautiful country, and may it blossom and grow. And most of all, may it learn to love those who love it.

From my FB post:

"Our beautiful children enjoying the parade <3. They were so good and shared a lot of their candy and still came home with bags full of sweets and treats. After the parade, we went to the square to shop, play games, and get more food. The weather was beautiful! We had fun.

Wishing all our [USA flag emoticon] friends and family a Happy 4th of July."