What does it mean to be an American?
Some people seem to think it means wearing a flag pin. Or slapping a "Support Our Troops" bumper sticker on the family auto. Or singing "God Bless America." Or putting our hand over our hearts when the national anthem plays.
But these things have nothing to do with being an American at all. They are only rituals, expressions of blind patriotism. They are, I suppose, a sign of nominal respect, but really they are lip service. Anyone, after all, can wave the American flag, no matter what they believe.
No, to be an American is to cradle American values in our hearts - and the first of these is our bone-deep love of liberty.
We show this love not by proclaiming it or wearing it on our sleeve, but by acting in it's service - that is, by exercising our political rights. By voting, for example. Or running for office. Or speaking out to ensure that the state recognizes that we are all created with certain inalienable rights, and whether we are gay or straight, we should have access to them.
Not long ago, I visited Philadelphia to see the Liberty Bell. The Liberty Bell was the abolitionist icon and it should be the gay icon, too. The bell hangs solidly now in a fragile glass room, overwhelming the visitors who solemnly stand beside it to have their pictures taken. It hasn't pealed since 1846, and yet the message it rings out is explosive.
"Proclaim liberty," it reads, "throughout all the land."
Liberty is a dangerous notion. It means that the poorest have as many rights as presidents; that someone doesn't need moral approval from the majority in order to be a full citizen. We are moved by the Liberty Bell, but it isn't because of its craftsmanship. No, we love the Liberty Bell because of the crack that divides the bronze without sundering it.
We love the bell for reminding us both that freedom is vulnerable and that divisions of opinion don't destroy it.
America is that bell. Solid, loud, divided in its unity. That very division, in fact, is what makes us American. Homogeneity is for dictatorships, theocracies, kingdoms. Diversity and division, not obedience and trust, is what ultimately gives strength and beauty to democracy.
Liberty means freedom, and we now understand that freedom is the ability to have full political agency, whether you're male or female, black or white, gay or straight. To be an American is to exercise this agency. To be a gay American is to remind others that there is nothing more American than fighting for our fundamental rights.
Unlike flag pins or car stickers, the Liberty Bell isn't a symbol about bowing to blind patriotism. It isn't about doing things the way they've always been done in order to convince someone (who?) that you're a good American.
The Liberty Bell shows us that to be a good American, in fact, is to keep liberty - not patriotism - in our hearts.
For gay citizens, this is especially important. No one needs to approve of us. Not the president, not the courts, not the legislature, not a majority of citizens. Approval is not what we're seeking. And the Liberty Bell isn't about that, isn't about moral approval. It's about the clear, deep tone of freedom.
What GLBTs are looking for is what is promised to every American - liberty and the freedom to pursue happiness.
I love how Independence Day follows Pride so closely each year. They seem to go together, Pride and Independence. America was won not because people bowed to the conservative majority - majorities are always conservative - but because they rebelled.
They didn't go along to get along. They took risks and fought for their rights as citizens and human beings.
This is what we do, too. Every day that LGBTs march for our rights, write our Congressional representatives, expose governmental hypocrisy on our blogs, talk to others about equality, is a day that we are taking a stand for liberty.
Pride shouldn't stop - doesn't stop - at the end of June. It continues into July, where the gay story becomes part of the American story.
Let's ring our bell. Fighting for equal rights is fighting for liberty. And in America, liberty rings for us all.
18 Comments for “Let Liberty Ring!”
posted by Bobby on
What liberty? In New York they got cameras monitoring the people, corporations are firing people for smoking and for being fat, prostitution remains illegal, drugs remain illegal, a liberal republican congressman wants to lower the speed limit to 55 and there are democrats who support his measure (keep in mind that most people drive between 65 and 80), a restaurant/bar owner can’t set his own smoking policy in his own business, an airline can keep you on a grounded plane for 8 hours against your will (a bus driver could never do that), Obama wants to increase capital gains taxes from 15% to 30%, the government can build stadiums with taxpayer dollars, most colleges have provisions against hate speech, “public” colleges get public dollars but still charge you lots of money if you want to study there (and you still need at least 500 on your GMAT), the Chinese are getting ready to drill for oil off the coast of Florida but the EPA won’t let us drill there or in any federally protected land (such as shale oil in Colorado), Alaska wants to drill in ANWAR but the feds won’t let them, gas is expensive and they won’t even give us a gas tax holiday, your vote doesn’t count because we still have an electoral college, the Chicago Tribune editorialized that we should get rid of the second amendment the day after the Supreme Court defined it as an individual right to keep and bear arms, democrats want to pass the “fairness doctrine” which would regulate free speech on conservative radio, gays can’t serve openly in the military, Fox News got sued for their “fair and balanced” slogan, etc, etc, etc.
True, I celebrate the fact that I can rant like this without getting arrested.
But as far as I’m concerned, there’s just a tiny little bit of liberty and a lot of assholes trying to take it away.
But at least this isn’t Europe, Latin America, Africa, Asia, Oceania or the Middle East. At least we still have a lot more freedom than all those motherfuckers. The irony is, we should have more.
Happy fourth of July.
posted by Jimbo on
It’s coincidental that you mentioned Independence Day following so closely after Pride celebrations. The immediate predecessor to the Pride marches were the Reminder marches that took place in Philadelphia, first in 1965. For 5 years, a small number of gays & lesbians (dressed in business suits & dresses) would march around in an oval pattern at Independence Hall in Philly on the 4th of July. They would march silently & carry signs protesting the treatment of gays in this country. The last one was held in 1969. It was at that last one when it became obvious things had changed for good. A new breed of activism was apparent & the Reminder marches were replaced by the Pride marches.
posted by LeBain on
Saluting while the national anthem plays is not a mere expression of blind patriotism to me. It’s a sign I give of my respect for all that America is and promises, and a sign of gratitude to all those who have gone before me that made my pride in America possible. That is what I think of every time I hear the anthem. So don’t include me in your denigration.
posted by Bobby on
The author doesn’t care for rituals, LeBain. She wasn’t being denigrating, she’s telling the truth:
“We show this love [of America] not by proclaiming it or wearing it on our sleeve, but by acting in it’s service ? that is, by exercising our political rights. By voting, for example. Or running for office. Or speaking out to ensure that the state recognizes that we are all created with certain inalienable rights, and whether we are gay or straight, we should have access to them.”
posted by Pat on
Saluting while the national anthem plays is not a mere expression of blind patriotism to me. It’s a sign I give of my respect for all that America is and promises, and a sign of gratitude to all those who have gone before me that made my pride in America possible. That is what I think of every time I hear the anthem. So don’t include me in your denigration.
Besides what Bobby said, I would just add the following. What you want to do during the national anthem is your business, and I understand how it’s a sign of respect for you. The author’s point is that, by itself, is not patriotism. Wouldn’t you agree?
My problem is when people start telling others how to be patriotic. Go ahead and salute, where all the flag lapels you want, show your American flag at all the ballgames you attend, etc. This is not what patriotism is about.
I go to a few Yankee games a year, and usually sit near one of the faux patriots. For the first few times, he was self-righteous telling us to remove our caps during “God Bless America.” However, after that, I would see him and his entourage start entering the seats just after the national anthem stuffing his face with food, and going to the restroom during “God Bless America.” So this jerk couldn’t even follow his own rules of patriotism that he had for the rest of us.
And I loved the flak when Obama didn’t wear a flag pin and salute during the National Anthem in that picture. Most of the people who criticized him don’t wear flag pins all the time or salute during the national anthem. Sure, there’s plenty to criticize Obama for (and you can even argue that it was a bad political move). But it’s just weird to see people criticize Obama over something trivial, and in the hypocritical fashion that it was done.
posted by Bobby on
“And I loved the flak when Obama didn’t wear a flag pin and salute during the National Anthem in that picture. ”
—Well, people pick on him because he is a politician, and when you’re running for office, everything you do or don’t do matters. Every vote he ever took, every past association or friend, everything he or even his wife says, is fair game.
posted by Pat on
—Well, people pick on him because he is a politician, and when you’re running for office, everything you do or don’t do matters. Every vote he ever took, every past association or friend, everything he or even his wife says, is fair game.
Fair enough. It’s up to the voters to look at this stuff and realize that half of it is useless bullsh&t, and be vigilant of the stuff that really matters.
posted by Eric on
Actually, the really sad and ironic thing is, that while I live in Italy, and we have our share of problems too, especially with the Vatican hanging around our heads, I feel much more free and liberated here than in the United states, I’m proud to be an American Citizen, but in spite of our "liberty" any time I do something that someone disagrees with, I have to justify myself, In the US I feel like I’m constantly being monitored, suspected and judged…. like I said, we have our problems to, but one doesn’t really know the joys of liberty until they live in society like ours, where the people have an all consuming indifference to everything around them, unless someone’s in trouble, then they’ll be quick to lend a hand…… I really hope the U.S. learns one day that liberty is pointless if you can’t ever stop and enjoy life….
posted by Craig2 on
Rather ironic that the former Senator Helms died on the day that your country celebrates freedom from oppression, isn’t it? Or perhaps symbolic?
Wonder who’s next? Pat Robertson? Maggie Thatcher?
Craig2
Wellington,NZ
posted by Michigan-Matt on
This past weekend our family celebrated the 4th away from town and part of the celebration was listening to an open air concert by the US Army Band in front of the state Capitol… which was filled with patriotic songs, comments, flags, veterans, pictures, label pins, shirts hats and pants in r-w&b… and it struck me that there still are many within our culture that don’t consider themselves part of that experience, part of the crowd, part of America and proud to be an American… it’s a shame because it takes nothing more than the desire to part of our Nation and heritage.
With all due respect to the author, I think GayPride is not about pride… it’s about narcissism and often about self-interest triumphing over societal interests… and waving that “accomplishment” like a flag.
Patriots all, eh?
posted by David Skidmore on
No doubt there is a lot of narcissism at gay pride events. However, there are a lot of selfless people such as PFLAG, trade unionists, police, teachers and gay lobby groups just to name a few. They don’t have to be there. But they come out to publicly support the cause of gay human rights and work hard to achieve that end in between times.
As for nationalist events don’t tell me there’s no narcissism. Committed nationalists (and not just Americans) always think they are better than everyone else in the world because they just happened to be born in a particular administrative district we call countries.
Incidentally, how many wars have been caused due to gay pride versus those caused because of nationalism?
posted by Michigan-Matt on
David comments: “However, there are a lot of selfless people such as PFLAG, trade unionists, police, teachers and gay lobby groups just to name a few.”
Ghee, David, I’d like to see one of those PrideParades someday… ’cause most of the political allies you mention being at Pride events haven’t been around the ones I used to attend in Michigan, Seattle, Tucson, DC or St Louis. Granted, I haven’t been back to one since 2003-briefly; bit I used to attend them.
At those events, if there were police-looking gays there they were in costume for the night’s festivities. And as for trade groups like unions, I’ve never seen a blue collar, rank-n-file union worker from the auto factory or govt worker who wasn’t gay attend a Pride event… most wouldn’t be caught dead there. In fact, in one notable case in Detroit, a group of gays marched with a local union banner in front of them pledging solidarity and the local’s president made a mountain out of the unauthorized “endorsement” of gay civil rights by his local and the membership… sticky business in the press, that was.
As for other groups attending, I’ve observed lots of porn star and porn production booths, leather and latex sales booths, special booze booths, local biz booths and a few whackedLeft petition circulaters looking for support and signatures to get on the ballot… and, of course, in election years lots of fringe Democrat candidates seeking attention.
Maybe DC or NY or Dallas or SF bring out a more sophisticated crowd… but the PrideEvents I’ve been to are all about “InYourFace” politics, attention grabbing and then moving on to the night’s myriad of promises.
posted by telch on
Liberty, ha, do you know that in a lot of countries (more than you could guess) you could end up in jail just because you are gay?
Check this out: http://www.menintouch.com/blog/being-gay-could-get-you-in-jail-in-86-countries/
posted by David Skidmore on
“…the PrideEvents I’ve been to are all about “InYourFace” politics, attention grabbing and then moving on to the night’s myriad of promises.”
They sound like fun. But we can’t have that, can we? What’s the definition of a puritan? The haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be enjoying themselves.
posted by Michigan-Matt on
David writes: “They sound like fun. But we can’t have that, can we? What’s the definition of a puritan? The haunting fear that someone, somewhere may be enjoying themselves.”
Puritan; calling me a puritan?
Really now, I guess for you David next thing in the gayLeftie handbook is to try to revoke my GayCard because I’m not gay enough to you… what a joke.
I think your idea of fun, in-your-face politics is sort of like the olden days of ActUp tossing infected blood vials at Catholic bishops… good going there David… your sense of fun times in the political arena burned our community for years and still lingers to put many gay civil rights issues outside our reach because of those olden days scortched earth practices of your ilk.
posted by David Skidmore on
I recall going to a few ACT-UP demos. I wasn’t impressed – certainly not by the self-righteous moralism and the elitism nor by ACT-UP members’ unwillingness to do much work beyond stunts. The group may have been important in drawing attention to AIDS but I think it had limited value.
The Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras is much more fun, has been going for longer, is still going and brings together gay lobby groups, health organisations, businesses, PFLAG, politicians and other groups.
BTW, if I was going to throw something at a Catholic bishop it wouldn’t something innocuous as blood.
posted by Michigan-Matt on
Actually David, my hunch is that you were one of those gay activists who stood in the back of the room egging on other, less intelligent gays into rebellious actions and violent actvities… while you were shielded by the safety of not having to act… just incite.
I hope there’s a hotter place in Hell for your type and, no, there are no hagFags to comfort you there.
posted by David Skidmore on
“I hope there’s a hotter place in Hell for your type and, no, there are no hagFags [sic] to comfort you there” says Michigan-Matt.
These are not the words of a rational human being. Michigan-Matt appears to be quoting Fred Phelps. My advice is have another sherry (better still, have the whole bottle) and a nice lie down.