Mr. Hagen, three cheers for the Red, White and Dodger Blue!
You are on to something in that Walt Disney created Disneyland to promote just the kind of patriotism you suggest. A kind of fusion of the past and present to create a better future. America's past was not perfect but it was good. A closer look will reveal that the bad was done by individuals not devoted to American principles. I grew up in a neighborhood with many ethnicities mostly hispanic. I do not remember one of us badmouthing America.
Fun fact: during the My Lie massacre in Viet Nam Lt. Calley was stopped by an American chopper pilot who landed between the Marines and the villagers. What is wrong with America can be fixed by what is right with America.
Big Birthdays in the Hagen house today. Yay. Publish a picture of the big bouncy you rented. Take care.
The sports fandom analogy is a good one. The USA doesn't need to be perfect for us to be patriotic. And I think patriotism can easily act as a catalyst to try and improve the country.
Thanks, Brad! Appreciate it. My son is actually 2 now (might have left that a little unclear in the article), so born on the 247th birthday, but still pretty fun. Worth thinking about aiming to have another kid on the 250th haha.
“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: — 'Tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in all cases whatsoever," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to GOD.”
~Thomas Paine: The American Crisis I, 1776
American patriotism requires a return to holding that dearness for that celestial article of FREEDOM Paine so eloquently describes.—Editor, TPW
Mr. Hagen, three cheers for the Red, White and Dodger Blue!
You are on to something in that Walt Disney created Disneyland to promote just the kind of patriotism you suggest. A kind of fusion of the past and present to create a better future. America's past was not perfect but it was good. A closer look will reveal that the bad was done by individuals not devoted to American principles. I grew up in a neighborhood with many ethnicities mostly hispanic. I do not remember one of us badmouthing America.
Fun fact: during the My Lie massacre in Viet Nam Lt. Calley was stopped by an American chopper pilot who landed between the Marines and the villagers. What is wrong with America can be fixed by what is right with America.
Big Birthdays in the Hagen house today. Yay. Publish a picture of the big bouncy you rented. Take care.
Well put. Hugh Thompson was an absolute hero—thank you for the prompt to go read about him again.
I think you’re exactly right about Disneyland—I have another article brewing on that.
Haha no bouncy today—thankfully he hasn’t figured out how to ask for that yet.
The sports fandom analogy is a good one. The USA doesn't need to be perfect for us to be patriotic. And I think patriotism can easily act as a catalyst to try and improve the country.
Thanks! Fully agreed.
I'm a little late, but great piece, and I'm so happy to hear about your newborn! Being born on America's 249th birthday is truly something.
Thanks, Brad! Appreciate it. My son is actually 2 now (might have left that a little unclear in the article), so born on the 247th birthday, but still pretty fun. Worth thinking about aiming to have another kid on the 250th haha.
“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of his country; but he that stands it NOW, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: — 'Tis dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to TAX) but "to BIND us in all cases whatsoever," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious, for so unlimited a power can belong only to GOD.”
~Thomas Paine: The American Crisis I, 1776
American patriotism requires a return to holding that dearness for that celestial article of FREEDOM Paine so eloquently describes.—Editor, TPW
Happy birthday to your son!
Thank you!