Don’t argue with a kid in wheelchair – a belated 4th of July post.
by Kemp Brinson
I’ll confess I’ve never been very patriotic. Having a degree of dogmatic reverence for the country where I just happened to have been born just seemed sort of silly. I guess I never swallowed the civics class version of the american political story: the delicate balance of powers and checks and balances to ensure things move forward on an even, measured pace. A lawyer from the start, I guess, I challenged every detail of what they fed me.
Experience tells me my instinct was correct. It doesn’t work that way in the real world. I saw a politician play dirty up close. I watched money buy justice. I’ve been a cog in the machine.
This weekend an old friend from high school came to visit with her family which includes a three year old with spina bifida. Likely confined to a wheelchair and a regiment of medications and uncomfortable procedures for the rest of her life, she will experience psychological and physical pain her entire life, and endure a society that is largley not on her side. On the other hand, she was lovingly adopted by my friend, who for some reason felt a compelling need to raise a child with special needs. You go girl.
We went to Cypress Gardens and watched the ski show and fireworks. I tried to help the little girl to her seat, but she informed me in no uncertain terms that she would do it herself and that I was not to touch her. I tried to help her anyway, and she shot me “the look.” It was the same one my wife gives me that indicates my life is in peril if I don’t stop thinking for myself and start listening. It was spooky. Never, ever, stand in the way of the goals of a kid in a wheelchair. Earlier in the day we went to Common Ground park and then came back to Winter Haven for frozen custard at KC’s Big Dipper. Sunday we went to SeaWorld.
Ahhh, SeaWorld. You know, the place run by the beer company that gladly collects $75 a head for the privilege of watching caged wild animals do tricks to a cheesy commercial soundtrack in exchange for big handfuls of dead fish, all for fun and profit. The animal will live about half as long as it would in the wild and has a collapsed dorsal fin. You can even have a beer and become an orca yourself while you watch.
On the other hand, anyone who doesn’t get just a little emotional watching a 10,000 pound animal dance in the water with a man who is 1.8% of his body weight just isn’t human. There is definitely something of value to be learned about trust, hard work, nature, life, dreams, and mutual respect from that type of experience.
We all experience imperfect things that help restore our trust in humanity, despite their imperfections: a beautiful animal launching a man out of the water, a space shuttle launching a man into the cosmos, a black man in a white house, and a handicapped child climbing up the bleachers all by herself to watch the fireworks show. These are real American stories, warts and all, not utopian visions. Sure, other countries have stories too, but these are MY stories.
So pass me that ice cream cone. I’ll pledge allegiance. I’ll give a resounding cheer to the flag clutched in the hand of that sequined lady at the top of the water skier pyramid. I’ll even swear an oath to that Constitution. Not because my country is perfect, or the best, but because it’s MY country – OUR country. And I’ll try to do my part to make it a little bit better before I’m through with it.
The preamble of the Declaration of Independence is more well known, but I like the sense of fellowship embodied by the last line: “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.”
Count me in.
Dogmatic patriotism has been a tool of evil for hundreds of years. It is a sentiment easily exploited by dictators and emperors.
There are few slogans I detest more than “my country, right or wrong.” It was something I often dealt with when I served in the army. I remember sitting in a base cafeteria just before Desert Storm. A full bird Colonel decided to take a seat at our (five First Lieutenants) table. He asked what we thought about the upcoming war. I was the only one to voice opposition to the war. The other Lieutenants were appalled… first at my opposition, and second that I would actually voice my opposition. When I later asked them why they were in favor of the war the most common statement was on the order of: “I want to put into practice all of the training I have received.”
Really? Getting to try out your high tech lethal weapons on other human beings trumps actually thinking about whether or not the war is justified? My military career was fairly short.
I think it is the responsibility of every citizen to be critical of their own nation. And we should praise our leaders and be proud of our accomplishments when it is deserved. I am happy that our nation has more often than not done the right thing.
I am also proud of the authors of our Constitution. It is the greatest political document ever written.