Just yesterday I was thinking about our national anthem and how truly, uniquely great it is. No mention of God; though it's a battle scene, the focus is not bathing in the blood of our enemies, but instead the persistence of our ideals even under attack. And it categorizes us not as victors or warriors or obedient followers, but as "the free and the brave." I'm gonna write a post about this. Thanks for the inspo!
Oh wow--what a great point! I have never thought about that. I love our unofficial anthem too, “Oh Beautiful,” because it celebrates the astonishing natural beauty of America (although later verses do get religious).
This is such a good corrective! Politically engaged Americans on both sides actually believe that they have nothing in common with those on the other side, to whom they attribute a caricatured, alien personality. I've often thought that if a religious Republican and a secular Democrat were thrown together in just about any foreign country for a couple of weeks, they would bond over everything they had in common.
As a secular Democrat who has made many dear friends who are Christian conservatives, I can confirm that this is true! There is a lot that unites us Americans overseas! (For one thing, we do the lion’s share of the volunteering at our kids’ international schools, which is how I met these friends.)
One of our favorite games in the airport is to play spot the American, or to find a place where you can only see people's shoes before you can see the rest of them and then try to predict what they will look like and where they are from.
I enjoyed this column. I leave tomorrow to spend a week in Edinburgh with Sophia (my daughter, who just finished geology camp in Scotland). She and I joked that we should, as Americans, wear fanny packs and baseball caps, and everywhere we go loudly ask, "Where's the Harry Potter stuff?" I like the idea that maybe our friendliness will be appreciated. It will be interesting to be overseas for the 4th of July. I don't think I will feel nostalgic for fireworks and a picnic, but who knows? Do they have potato salad and watermelon in Scotland? I guess I will find out!
Thanks, Mari. I needed this as it feels that we are losing our country. Just as American food is unfairly maligned, I think the same is true of American beer. There are a few that I've poured down the drain - the rest of a six-pack, but most are good to excellent.
Oh, please don’t get me wrong: it’s only Miller Light, Pabst, Michelob, and super-cheap beers like that that I dislike. I am a huge fan of American beer otherwise!
And thanks for the kind words too. I was trying to remind myself that in spite of all our problems I do love our country--even if the Supreme Court makes it difficult at times.
Just yesterday I was thinking about our national anthem and how truly, uniquely great it is. No mention of God; though it's a battle scene, the focus is not bathing in the blood of our enemies, but instead the persistence of our ideals even under attack. And it categorizes us not as victors or warriors or obedient followers, but as "the free and the brave." I'm gonna write a post about this. Thanks for the inspo!
Oh wow--what a great point! I have never thought about that. I love our unofficial anthem too, “Oh Beautiful,” because it celebrates the astonishing natural beauty of America (although later verses do get religious).
This is such a good corrective! Politically engaged Americans on both sides actually believe that they have nothing in common with those on the other side, to whom they attribute a caricatured, alien personality. I've often thought that if a religious Republican and a secular Democrat were thrown together in just about any foreign country for a couple of weeks, they would bond over everything they had in common.
As a secular Democrat who has made many dear friends who are Christian conservatives, I can confirm that this is true! There is a lot that unites us Americans overseas! (For one thing, we do the lion’s share of the volunteering at our kids’ international schools, which is how I met these friends.)
One of our favorite games in the airport is to play spot the American, or to find a place where you can only see people's shoes before you can see the rest of them and then try to predict what they will look like and where they are from.
Such a fun idea for entertaining yourself in an airport--especially the shoes!
I enjoyed this column. I leave tomorrow to spend a week in Edinburgh with Sophia (my daughter, who just finished geology camp in Scotland). She and I joked that we should, as Americans, wear fanny packs and baseball caps, and everywhere we go loudly ask, "Where's the Harry Potter stuff?" I like the idea that maybe our friendliness will be appreciated. It will be interesting to be overseas for the 4th of July. I don't think I will feel nostalgic for fireworks and a picnic, but who knows? Do they have potato salad and watermelon in Scotland? I guess I will find out!
Ha! Good one, Sophia! As for your question, I’m sure they have watermelon and potato salad, but you will be in Scotland! Have whiskey instead!
Thanks, Mari. I needed this as it feels that we are losing our country. Just as American food is unfairly maligned, I think the same is true of American beer. There are a few that I've poured down the drain - the rest of a six-pack, but most are good to excellent.
Oh, please don’t get me wrong: it’s only Miller Light, Pabst, Michelob, and super-cheap beers like that that I dislike. I am a huge fan of American beer otherwise!
And thanks for the kind words too. I was trying to remind myself that in spite of all our problems I do love our country--even if the Supreme Court makes it difficult at times.
Here's a less fortunate way to spot an American- we don't speak as good Czech as Czechs do English 😅
That is for sure! But at least we know how to ask if their dog is friendly! (To readers who might not know: “Je hodny pes?”)