Patriotism, Faith, and Dissent
It’s ok to enjoy something and still have valid criticisms of it.
It’s ok to find joy within an existing system and still feel a call to change it.
It’s ok to see something as good, but faulty.
It’s ok to resist binary thinking that views critiques as negative and taking away, rather than courage to call for necessary change.
You don’t have to keep silent to honor something good, but problematic.
Sometimes the best way to love something is to challenge how it hurts, diminishes, others, or perpetuates.
Jill Shoemaker says
Just wanted to say I appreciated your post on FB with the flag tee. I sat during a Memorial weekend church service (not a memorial day service) but a literal church service while our pastor asked us to rise and say the pledge. IN CHURCH. Holy criminey there’s a separation of church and state for a reason. I sat and said nothing. I looked back at my spouse who was standing already at the computer doing slides. As far as I know, he didn’t say it either. I for one was appalled. I don’t even like the flag being in the sanctuary. Too many people worship the flag instead of Jesus. (I’m okay with many religions, but flag worship goes too far)…