Patriotism

This was inspired in part because of this image. I found it kind of stunning. And I kept thinking, “Maybe it’s the lightning? Maybe it’s the color contrast?...Why do I like this image so much?”

But it is beautiful. Words come to mine:

Regal. 

History. 

Majesty. 

Fortitude. 

Angelic. 

European-influence. 

Colonialism. 

Genocide. 

Slavery.

African Americans. 

Diversity. 

Unity. 

Vibrancy. 

Freedom. 

Modern. 

Mixed.

America is mixed. 

It’s a “melting pot”. 

It’s a kaleidoscope of thoughts. 

It’s past and present melding into one. 

It’s never neither or even either. 

It’s always both simultaneously. 

It’s not perfect. 

It’s not pure. 

It’s been tainted and muddied. 

It's buried the past and then apologized. 

And yet its ideals are idyllic. 

I like America because of its contradictions and the way they don’t contradict themselves.