What is a Patriot?
From Robert Reich's 7/4/23 newsletter
"The true meaning of patriotism is the opposite of Trump’s exclusionary White Christian Nationalism.
America's moral mission has been toward greater inclusion — providing equal rights to women, Black people, immigrants, Native Americans, Latinx, LGBTQ+, Muslim, Jewish, atheist, and agnostic.
True patriots don't fuel racist, religious, or ethnic divisions. Patriots aren't homophobic or sexist.
Nor are patriots blind to social injustices — whether ongoing or embedded in American history. They don’t ban books or prevent teaching about the sins of the nation’s past.
True patriots are not uncritically devoted to America. They are devoted instead to the ideals of America — the rule of law, equal justice, voting rights and civil rights, freedom of speech and assembly, freedom from fear, and democracy.
True patriots don’t have to express patriotism in symbolic displays of loyalty like standing for the national anthem and waving the American flag.
They express patriotism in taking a fair share of the burdens of keeping the nation going — sacrificing for the common good.
This means paying taxes in full rather than lobbying for lower taxes or seeking tax loopholes or squirreling away money abroad.
It means refraining from making large political contributions that corrupt American democracy.
It means blowing the whistle on abuses of power even at the risk of losing one's job.
And volunteering time and energy to improving one’s community and country.
Nor is patriotism found in baseless claims that millions of people vote fraudulently. Or in pushing for laws that make it harder for people to vote based on the Big Lie that the 2020 election was stolen.
Patriotism lies instead in strengthening democracy — defending the right to vote and ensuring more Americans are heard.
Patriots understand that when they serve the public, their responsibility is to maintain and build public trust in the institutions of democracy.
They don’t put loyalty to their political party above their love of America. They don’t support an attempted coup.
They don’t try to hold onto power after voters have chosen not to reelect them. They don’t make money off their offices.
When serving on the Supreme Court, they recuse themselves from cases where they may appear to have a conflict of interest. They don’t disregard precedent to impose their own ideology.
America’s problem is not as described by Trump and his White Christian Nationalism — that the nation is losing its whiteness or dominant religion, that too many foreigners are crossing its borders, that men are competing in women’s sports or teachers are not celebrating the nation’s history.
America’s problem is that too many Americans — including its lawmakers — are failing to understand what patriotism requires."
July 13, 2023 @ 11:39 am
I’m new in the area and would like to be more active. Who would I talk to?
July 14, 2023 @ 9:58 am
Hi Linda – My name is Lisa Farlin and I am the Membership Chair and help coordinate volunteers for the Jo Co Democrats.
We are working together to turn this County BLUE!
If you are interested in becoming more active, these are some other ways you can get involved:
Sign up for our newsletter and to find more information about our meetings and events on our website at: https://josephinedemocrats.org/
Attend our monthly meetings (2nd Tuesday each month at 7pm at Universalist Unitarian Church across from Mamosa’s, either in person or on Zoom)
Attend a Liberal Vibes event – social time to meet other like-minded folks (4th Wed at Climate City or the 1st Friday at Two Rivers Vineyard).
Stop by the office just to say Hi – Tues or Thur 11 am to 3 pm (514 NE 7th Street)
Become a Neighborhood Leader…Neighborhood Leader Program
Become a Precinct Committee Person
Make monthly contributions to increase our outreach
Volunteer: Right now we will be looking for volunteers to staff the Jo Co Democrat table at the Fair Aug 9-13th. We also need volunteers to take a 2 hour shift to staff the office which is open Tuesdays and Thursdays. Training would be provided. Then closer to election season we will have more office type work like stuffing envelopes, etc.
We appreciate your interest in helping to build a strong, inclusive community and look forward to getting to know you!
Please reach out to me anytime with any questions or ideas!
Sincerely, Lisa
membership@josephinedemocrats.org
August 2, 2023 @ 1:36 pm
Thanks Lisa,
I will attend the monthly meeting on Aug 8th. I could volunteer for office work. Am also interested in the Stonewall group.
Linda Kroesen