It is Monday morning, and my internal training event starts in a couple of hours. It is the 13th of June, and a week away from my son’s 21st birthday.
These days, many Americans have familiarized themselves with the acronym, “RWNJ”… which stands for “Right-wing nut job”. Historically, they just stood around in wearing shirts that violated the flag code, yelled at people, and waved around sounds with poor spelling and punctuation. After January 6th, they proved to the world just how dangerous they can be. If the vocal minority doesn’t get their way, they’re more than happy to shoot a few people and twist up some pipe bombs to get their way.
This past weekend, a group organized as the “Patriotic Front” was arrested in Coeur d’Alene, Idaho. There was a pride month celebration and march scheduled there in support of the Idaho LGBTQ+ community. This neo-Nazi pack decided they were going to don riot gear and cause trouble, but fortunately folks thought they looked suspicious in their riot gear. They arrested the lot of them.
Thank God.
It really pisses me off what assholes like this have done to twist and corrupt the word “patriot”. I love my country. I volunteered to serve my country, but was unable to pass the physical, but I know any number of good guys that have stood up, taken the oath, and vowed to fight and die for this country (and others as well – I have friends that have served in the armed forces of Australia, Canada, Israel, Sweden, Jordan… and probably a few others).
They think they get to own a term like “Patriot”, because they think they are on the right side of some vision for what they want this country to be.
I have a different vision. My vision is one of inclusion, diversity, and respect. My vision is one where people weigh the issues instead of placating a group that just happens to be loud. My vision is one of shared experiences, knowledge of the past, recognition of past mistakes, and steps together for a better future.
Maybe a future with fewer shootings as well.
I’ll choose that path. I’m not going to get suckered into some racist tribe that actively recruits the most gullible for a malevolent intent, seducing them with contorted advertising slogans that use the words, “Duty”, “Patriot”, and “Freedom” with as much integrity as a sandcastle during high tide.
I hope the world is treating you better than you deserve.
Peace y’all.
