Fantastic post, I only wish you would have included a link to the site that is helping America become the America it ought to be. I invite everyone to come take a look around.

www.fightwithtools.org

Wow! I'm just happy to have found another Blaxican chick.

Ms Carell, thanks for taking the time to respond. You do have a most wonderful person in Mr Eboo Patel who is determined to do all he can to promote the best. I hope that working with him will help you to grow in ever greater ways to find your pride as an American and to work towards the highest goals with as many people as possible. The young are our hope.

A Well Wisher

Victoria admits:
“nationalism- mob mentality- and (what) that includes are, to me, dishonest and delusional ways to fuel self-esteem-”

A true believing Muslim could be born in China, Russia or America, but will never be Chinese, Russian or American. Islam is a political ideology masquerading as a religion, and practicing members owe their allegiance, not to separate nations, but to the Umma. Umma is a community ruled according the Muslim Sharia laws. This is why you never see an American flag on the premises of the vast majority of mosques in this country.

I want to thank everyone for the comments on this post, and the conversation over the weekend.

writing this post was all about being able to look at the 4th of July in a different way, as many of you noted, and i agree; Patriotism, and "flag-waving" doesn't articulate much about the individuals real intentions.. and as a part of my multicultural identity, the "not America to me" side, i've felt a lot of tension, and opposition around the idea of being patriotic. but when i think about what individuals in this country are doing to make it better, like volunteering, like building community, like supporting eachother, and being open and accepting, and celebratory of all the fabulous and diverse parts of it, then that's the country i want to be a part of, that i want to promote, NOT with the intention of demoting other countries, but rather reintroducing what it means to be an American into the international spectrum of cultures and communities, and let all the world know, THAT is what America is about, to me, to a lot of my generation, and i'm sure, to a lot of the rest of this countries' inhabitants.

What i like most about this weekend that i experienced in light of this blog post, the comments and emails i got, were all the stories from friends and family about what America means to them, what the flag means to them, and how in light of the kinds struggles we may all be in, with how we fit into this country, and fit into the identities of others, that we are able to have these kinds of conversations, and learn from them.

So thank you all again, and i hope to continue the conversation!

All religions must first pursue human rights for all.

As a black american whose people were slaves here or native americans I'm also a bit ambivalent about America, though I do understand and appreciate this country. It has not lived up to its promises and I do that we live up to our constitutions founding on the natural (God's)laws that mean truly treating all people equally and without prejudice. This also means that incoming immigrants must let go of the virulent racial prejudices and deep class divides they bring from their home countries- particularly those from third world countries (including Africa).

I wave my flag on the 4th too and I don't believe that flag waving necessarily means being anti other countries or that it means being negatively nationalistic. I am in a bittersweet way,proud to be an American,but I'm also aware that there is something in the worldview of every nation that is truly a gift to the world. They don't need to become "americanized." I'm also aware that corporate America will be the death of us if we don't do something to check their 'right' to pursue happiness (greed) at the expense of others human rights.

This is the only country in the world that is based on life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness as God given rights, and where the people are the government. We are blessed, and to continue to be blessed we must truly live up to our constitution, check everything going against it, and be a true blessing to the rest of the world.

Dear Ms Carell, thank you for sharing your thoughts. Although I'm no American I can understand your enthusiasm for building an America of your dreams. The young must make America more and more of what it was meant to be. Search for perfection is after all an ongoing and lifelong goal. Keep up your enthusiasm and remember to seek out people who share it with you. There will always be those who seek to snuff it out. Ignore them.

A Well Wisher

I'm lost here. Maybe this article changed subjects too quickly. It doesn't transition well from Blaxican to the Fourth of July.

In any case, Kara should try being Black in Mexico where there is an inherent cultural distrust of people with darker skin. I understand, however, her the comment that she will never feel like an American.

In Mexico, after four years and when I become a naturalized citizen here, I will always be a "gringo" and never will be Mexican nor be able to hold public office.

sorry the last post was mine-

this article really bothers me- and here is why-
patriotism- 3X
flag- 5X
america- an overstated and appalling 19 TIMES-

patriotism as a way to garner validity in the community-
patriotism as a way to belong-

having lived through the vietnam war, desrt storm, and the iraqi invasion- not to mention other activities on the planet from the many military bases we occupy-

this word is far too carelessly thrown about for my comfort-

patriotism is one of those concepts that people only seem to use to put others down-

i have a very deep gratitude and appreciation for my home- for the benefits and protections i have in america-
i love my country and have tried to serve my community all my life- and tried to serve her servants too-
i worked for 3 years as a volunteer for Disabled American Veterans(DAV) with vietnam era vets-

but im not a flag waver, and have a kind of fear when groups of people start pumping the flag - it seems to be accompanied by some aggression- by some exclusionary bravado-

when people try to separate the "real"(from only their limited perspective) from the "other".

it always seems like a prelude to something unpleasant-

i really wonder at folks when they try to take some personal credit- gain some selfish glory- for something they had absolutely no part in-
being born somewhere-
everyone is born SOMEwhere- and no one controls it- has any part of it-

we accrue no praise from others for what is an accident of birth-
to try to take some kind of applause or crdit for it seems like a very weak hypocrisy- as if the person doing so has no other substantial accomplishments to be proud of- and so latches on to the most basic fact of their being-
where they are born.

we are certainly extraordinarily blessed to be born here- and i am thankful for that-

nationalism- mob mentality- and that includes are, to me, dishonest and delusional ways to fuel self-esteem-

to quote a great american samuel johnsosn-
"Patrotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel".

"The 4th of July will be filled with millions of steps we all take as citizens toward making this the America that will be - where we will build, serve, talk, clean, and take action together."

what steps?
it's july 5th- and i'm at work- and the ameica that is- is the same-

and the amewrica in the eyes of your dreams may not be my dreams-

it makes me very nervous when people get excited about patritotism-

i'm glad you're excited about your favorite band from your town making it big-

but this has all the makings of a future politican-
vague, flag waving, and a bit frightening

mr patel- i guess this girl is in your office or something- but what possible difference does her ethnicity have to do with anything whatsoever?

please get back to your regular posts-

And we all need to stand up for each other. I know in my own life whenever I am faced with some sort of ignorance or challenge, I've decided that I will speak up to it and defend all of my brothers and sisters. I'll defend someone's right to religion, their political beliefs. America really does have promise, and not all hope is lost.

The Flobots have not only got me thinking about my country and it's future, but have also inspired me to once again think about the divine, and reevaluate my own beliefs. The Flobots saved my soul.

What a powerful message! For myself, as an American immigrant Muslim, the flag has had many meanings but I had not understood it in the way the emcees described at the Flobots concert.

For many, putting up a flag in one's window or celebrating patriotism has been a way to conform with the America that is. One that takes many years of discrimination for a minority to eventually feel a part of. It is also a defensive symbol for those who feel they might be cast out as "others" and not considered full participants in this country's rich heritage.

It's refreshing to see the American flag interpreted as a symbol of defiance to the reality we are living as Americans, and as more of a covenant between those who don the red, white, and blue to intentionally build this country in community.

Thanks for sharing this, Kara!

This is beautiful. I love the idea of "inter-dependence" day. I'll BBQ to that!