I’ve been thinking a lot about our country lately.
I’m a democracy nerd of the highest order. I once thought I’d be the first female US Senator from the Great State of Florida. (That title is still open, btw. Get your shit together Florida!).
The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States starts as such:
“We the people of the United States, in order to form a more perfect union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
The money line? “In order to form a more perfect union.”
The founders of our country knew that we were imperfect, are imperfect, will continue to be imperfect. And yet, I still believe that there is more that unites us than divides us.
Regardless of what you think about the immigration situation in this country, I know that you believe that families shouldn’t be separated and forced to live in cages without access to basic hygiene.
Regardless of what you think about the defense situation in this country, I know that you believe that no vet deserves a lifetime of homelessness and shoddy healthcare.
Regardless of what you think about the gun situation in this country, I know that you believe that weapons of war shouldn’t be carried into school, movie theaters, malls, churches, synagogues, or mosques.
Like you, today I’m going to celebrate my freedom by stuffing my face full of hot dogs and hamburgers, chips and guacamole, ice cream — incidentally, all foods invented elsewhere and brought to the United States on boats and backs.
But I’m also going to honor my freedom by learning more about the candidates running for the nomination of my party of choice. I’m going to confront facts that fly in the face of my long-held beliefs. I’m going to change my mind. I’m going to open up my calendar and my wallet and give of my time and treasure.
I continue to believe that there is nothing wrong with America that cannot be fixed with what’s right with America. Let’s do make America great again… by recognizing that there is more that unites us than divides us, by digging in, each and every one of us valuable people living on this land, and continue to confront and learn and grow and forgive and improve this great nation for the mistakes of the past so that we together can use our hodgepodge mishmash tired hungry and poor bouillabaisse of a citizenry to build our future, to continue to form a more perfect union.
And, while we’re at it, pass the macaroni salad!
