To the Editor:
Welcome to America, where patriotism has become a freak show, and our freedoms are treated like disposable party favors.
We’ve swapped patience for the dopamine drip of instant gratification, reducing complex problems to bite-sized, emotionally charged nuggets. We demand answers faster than a two-minute Hot Pocket, and the result? A microwave society, nuking our brains into mush.
Let’s get one thing straight: patriotism isn’t about picking a side in this reality TV spectacle we call an election. It’s about standing up for what’s right, for everyone, not just your team. Patriotism means defending the rights of people you might despise because it’s their right.
It’s about sticking to the Constitution, not bending it like some cheap plastic toy to fit your agenda.
The freak show is in town, folks. Everywhere you look, people are screaming about patriotism like it’s the latest fad diet, waving their flags, chest-thumping for their political party. They scream “Defend Democracy” and “Make America Great Again” but wouldn’t know real patriotism if it smacked them in the face.
They’ve traded depth for speed, accuracy for bias, blinding themselves to the reality that these problems are never truly solved. Instead, they fester, getting worse with every half-assed attempt at a solution.
We’ve become the architects of our own demise, flying blind, making choices based on whatever outrage is trending today, with no thought for tomorrow.
Our decision-making process is a joke, driven by knee-jerk reactions and superficial understanding. The very concept of truth has become a casualty of our cultural decay.
The left and the right no longer cling to any agreed-upon absolute truth. Instead, truth has become malleable, bending to the whims and feelings of the beholder. Absolute truth is dying in America, replaced by the truth of self, where everything and nothing is true, depending on the crowd you’re with.
While we’re busy fighting over party lines, the nation’s debt is skyrocketing.
It’s ballooned from $5 trillion to $34 trillion in just 24 years. We’re on the fast track to economic collapse, and yet, we wonder why nothing changes. Why do our problems persist? Why do they grow more severe?
It’s because we’ve lost the ability to engage with the real world. We’re too busy looking for shortcuts, too impatient to deal with the messy, complicated truth. We want change, but we’re unwilling to put in the work.
So what’s the solution?
Look at Spain.
In 2016, they were stuck in a political deadlock after two elections. No majority, no government. People were fed up with the parties and the choices shoved down their throats. Finally, the leaders listened to the people. They talked to each other. They compromised. They put the nation above their own political interests and formed a government.
Imagine that here.
Politicians actually working together, prioritizing real issues like our debt crisis, restoring economic stability, improving education, and tackling health crises. It’s about time we stop the mudslinging and start focusing on what matters. We need leaders who are willing to compromise and have real conversations. We need a society that values diverse opinions and respects differences. And most importantly, we need to remember that the point of all this isn’t to win elections—it’s to serve the people.
True patriotism is about unity, not division. It’s about standing up for what’s right, for everyone, not just your team. It’s about defending the rights of people you might despise because it’s their right. It’s about sticking to the Constitution, not bending it to fit your agenda. We need to ditch the microwave mentality and start cooking our ideas slow and steady, letting them simmer and develop real flavor.
And let’s not forget, for those who have fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know. It’s not just about waving flags or singing anthems; true patriotism is rooted in the recognition of the heavy price paid for our liberties. Those who have stood on the front lines, facing danger and uncertainty, understand freedom in a way that words can scarcely convey. Their experiences, forged in the crucible of conflict, grant them a unique perspective — a taste of freedom that is both bitter and sweet.
Patriotism, then, is not a passive sentiment. It’s an active, living tribute to the sacrifices of those who have served. It’s about honoring their commitment through our actions, ensuring that the freedoms they fought for continue to be preserved and cherished. As we reflect on what it means to be patriotic, let us remember that our freedoms are a gift — one that was earned with sweat, blood, and unwavering resolve.
So let’s cut the crap. Real patriotism is about unity, not division. It’s time to build a nation that’s truly for all of us. Anything less, and we’re just kidding ourselves.
John Grady
Combat veteran and Catholic
