To be proud of America

Anti-war protest on 20 March 2003, the day after the invasion of Iraq.

I don’t think it’s much of a stretch to state this: for a long time, the right wing in America characterized Democrats, liberals and progressives as having disdain for their own country. Immediately after the events of 9/11/2001, I remember there being a good 24 to 48 hours in which that all went away. But then the mischaracterization got even worse. The right worked hard to equate patriotism with jingoism, and in so doing ensured for themselves a monopoly on displays of the flag and screamed chants of “U - S - A!” 

As true patriots watched with trepidation, the nation screamed its way to war. That was five years ago next month. 

This image is from a massive protest in Austin against the war, 20 March 2003, the day after a series of airstrikes signalled the invasion of Iraq had begun. You could (not unfairly) argue that it’s sign art, but something about the glance and the sentiment remind me of the mood at that time. We’d been made to feel afraid. We’d been made to feel ashamed. And, even though we all loved our country, it was hard to be proud of the things that were happening around us. 

Five years later, the monopoly on pride has been shattered; young Democrats paint themselves in red white and blue, and across the spectrum Americans are speaking in terms of the nation’s promise, not its faults. 

That’s quite a thing to have witnessed.

It’s quite a thing to be proud of.