I am a patriot; that means I question.

I choose to love this country and its flag, in spite of contradictions.

Happy Independence Day to all Americans!

(I had a whole post drafted about NorCal camping; then I wrote this. Camping next week, I promise.)

I am a patriot. For me, that means that I love America, the USA, in all its tawdry, contradictory splendor.

Physically, and most of all, I love this country’s contours and rivers and mountains and deserts; I love its vastness and its extremes. I love its oceans and waterfalls, palm trees and beaches, snow-covered crags, and shimmering slot canyons.

I’ve loved these places enough to visit them. 

Have you?

I love the USA’s cities and its small towns; I love its hamlets best of all. 

I love that America is a place where you can invent, and reinvent yourself. Dozens of times if you want to… No one will stop you; nothing will but your own fear.

I’ve done it several times.

Have you?

 I love (and hate) that as a nation, we stagger along in the world,  the most generous in charity and giving, yet the most destructive in creating the wealth for that giving. I love…