As Independence Day approaches I am reflecting on the state of
freedom, patriotism and religion in this great nation. I feel the same about
patriotism as I do about religion. It is full of hypocrisy and fallacies.
Religion is brimming with mythology and misinterpretations and so
are the commonly accepted ideas about the founding of “this great nation”.
There’s nothing like growing up in a religious commune as I did,
to illustrate all the bold faced lies in religion. I saw firsthand how it is used to control and
manipulate others, and used for profitable gain. I turned completely away from religion
about five years ago when I realized that I could not pretend to believe
there was some omniscient being, micromanaging people’s lives and making
judgment on right and wrong. The white Christian theology many of us are
fed from the cradle does not reflect the true diversity that is represented on
our planet earth. It is a narrow and condescending belief system that
when closely examined by a critical mind cannot hold up to scrutiny.
This is also how I feel about patriotism; we are saturated by
images of the mighty Red White and Blue and fed false ideas about how liberated
we are. I find many of these beliefs fictitious. We are governed by a heavy
handed government; who feeds us a false sense of freedom and security. When we
speak as a people it takes a herculean effort to be heard over the influence of
the all mighty dollar, and white male Christianity.
White Christian America and everything that goes with it, is
offensive to me, and I'm sure my views will be offensive to some who read this.
But consider who really built this country. It was the
determination of a few souls fleeing their homelands seeking freedom from
condemnation; they fought tooth and nail to scratch out an existence for their
belief in independence. It was the First Nations, making sacrifices of their
own freedom and their way of life. Suffering the humiliation and heartbreak of
having their land and culture raped. It was on the backs of all the immigrants
who came here seeking liberty. This country was built on the struggle of vastly
different cultures, and brave men and women from around the globe. All of these
varied and beautiful people poured into one nation, with the same goal, to live
and be free.
So reflecting on this I see America as needing to go a long way
yet to meet its goal of true freedom. When we have erased bigotry against
gender, race, religion, and sexual orientation, when we no longer have laws
polluted with religious ideals, when we are really free to live without
condemnation, when our voices are heard over and above the clamor of the all
mighty dollar, when we are all equally represented and have the ability to live
without suppression and intolerance, then we will be truly free.
It should be noted that I am grateful for living here, in this
country, and not in a country where suppression and abuse of human rights is
even more egregious. I am simply stating my opinion on where we are now,
and where we need to go. I thank the
universe I am free to write this.
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