The Democratic proud American is fading. This progressive American is not following the trend, and here is why.
We must make ourselves proud Americans
I came to America right out of high school. In Panama, we learned Panamanian, World, and American History. I was well-schooled in the American culture. During college, I got my green card and became a naturalized citizen. The thing is, I chose my ultimate nationality. And I never looked back, for I am a proud American. I love my Panamanian ethnicity. But I am an American and intend to fight for every reason I immigrated here.
I wrote the following in my first book, “As I See It: Class Warfare The Only Resort To Right-Wing Doom.”
From the time I became cognizant of there being an America, I have only known it to be revered not only by me but by most people I knew, Panamanian or foreign. This was not a blind reverence. We were all aware of the evils suffered by the Native Indians, Slaves, Chinese, and others at the hand of America. We however understood that America was atoning and the reality is no country, ethnicity, or race had a monopoly on the mistreatment of others.
America was respected for its power. Moreover, there was great admiration of many of its strong leaders like President Abraham Lincoln, President Theodore Roosevelt[1], President Franklin Roosevelt, President John Kennedy, Reverend Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, George Washington Carver, and a few other true American heroes.
My maternal grandfather immigrated to the United States in the 1950’s. He had not returned to Panamá until sometime in the early 1970’s when I was really young. To this day I remember picking up his shoes, looking at the soles and telling him, “Imagine these shoes walked in the United States”. Such were the feelings one had for this land.
It was not until I took economics and lived the life of a capitalist that I fully understood the genesis of all America’s ills. But what I love is that America lends itself to atone. Republicans and MAGA’s exploitation of our defective Constitution are making that atonement and path to a more egalitarian society more difficult.
It is understandable that many Democrats and Progressives may want to throw the towel in because the Constitution has given the upper hand to a vocal, corrupt, and exploitative minority. The manifestation of that demoralization is likely why the Democratic and Progressive proud American is in decline. I saw the demoralization first hand at our 4th of July parade which made it clear that we must cower to no one as this is no less our country.
We cannot give in to the above narrative. We must assert our ownership of this country that we all built. We cede it to no one. The future of our current economic system depends on the masses’ demoralization and a feeling of incompetence. Our corporatocracy invested billions in executing the Powell Memo, and they can smell success.
America will be what we make it. I am a proud American because I know most want the things — that, when realized — make the country all would be proud of as we continually evolve.
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