Patriotism can be defined differently by different people. A plethora of actions and ceremonies cause a lump in the throat. For me, many ceremonies, sights and sounds can create a catch in my voice and a visceral emotional response.
Singing “America the Beautiful” (1)
Watching the U.S. Navy Blue Angels paint the sky
Singing the song written by Irving Berlin in 1918, “God bless America, land that I love . . .” (2)
Hearing the stunningly beautiful words of Emma Lazarus, “Give me your tired, your poor . . .” (3)
Singing the hymn known as the African American National Anthem:
Lift every voice and sing,
‘Till earth and heaven ring,
Ring with the harmonies of liberty . . .
Stormy the road we trod,
Bitter the chastening rod,
Felt in the days when hope unborn had died . . .
Out from the gloomy past,
‘Till now we stand at last
Where the bright gleam of our bright star is cast . . . (4)
And finally, watching the flag billowing in the breeze while the melody of the National Anthem floods a football stadium . . .
While National Football League players stand tall and sing as they gaze at the American flag;
While other players place their hands over their hearts in an act of honor;
While still others kneel because they long for America to be better.
The National Anthem should not be the focus of controversy. The American flag should not be a catalyst for divisiveness. Both are symbols of freedom and liberty that inspire deeply personal acts of patriotism. National symbols should never cause us to ostracize any individual whose patriotism looks different than our own.
CNN’s Van Jones spoke definitively about what we know as the National Anthem controversy:
People who look like me have put blood in the ground, and put martyrs in the dirt for this country, to have it be liberty and justice for all… It is beyond insulting to have people lecture us about patriotism. (5)
– Van Jones on the NFL National Anthem controversy
Approaching the commemoration of Independence Day reminds me to look more intently to see the acts of patriotism all around me. It prompts me to ask myself what “liberty and justice for all” looks like in these troublesome days. It moves me be a more committed advocate for freedom in all its forms.
As a Baptist for fifty years, I have been thoroughly immersed in the Biblical concept of soul freedom, an all-encompassing freedom that is, by the way, not just for Baptists. James Dunn provides one of the best descriptions of soul freedom
Soul freedom, all freedom and responsibility are God’s gifts to humanity. God created and endowed people to be free moral agents. Soul freedom and responsibility are not invented by government, or devised by social contract. All dignity and respect afforded persons comes from God as revealed in Scripture. (6)
For me, a part of soul freedom allows me the right of expression — to worship as I wish, to honor my country as I wish, to exercise my freedom to be the person I was destined to be. I cherish the gift of such extravagant liberty and know full well that it is a tenuous and fragile freedom. That fragility is one cause for the unfortunate and unnecessary controversy surrounding the National Football League and the National Anthem.
My heritage compels me to advocate for the right of every person to express his or her patriotism as they choose. As a child of immigrant parents, I will forever honor the American flag and revere the National Anthem. I may do it as I sing. I may do it through my tears. I may stand proudly and face the waving American flag. I may kneel in solidarity. I may cry as I remember my grandmother’s frightening journey to this country with my infant mother. I may pay tribute in various ways, but I will do it in my own way. As should we all.
So let us move forward in freedom. Let us stand fast in the liberty (7) that has made us free. Let us persist in our resolve to demand justice for all humankind. And as we do, let us go forth boldly with freedom-words on our lips:
Oh, freedom! Oh, freedom! Oh, freedom over me! (8)
Sweet land of liberty . . . (9)
Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to be free . . .
Sweet justice, climb the mountain though your hands may be weary . . . (10)
Lift every voice and sing ‘till earth and heaven ring, ring with the harmonies of liberty . . .
God bless America!