“No Kings” is a “Love America” Day

I’m not much of a “pep rally” person. When everyone around me is chanting the same catch phrases in support of “our team”, I feel a little uncomfortable. I know that collective action is very important, but I’m happiest “doing my own thing.”

I also tend to be skeptical of loud affirmations of patriotism. I’m a firm believer that it’s what we do, not what we say, that ultimately matters.

And yet.

Our country is not just a geographic and political entity. It is a country founded on an idea, imperfectly realized, of freedom and democracy. And peaceful citizen protest, protected by the First Amendment to our Constitution, is a critical part of that freedom and that democracy.

And when we assemble on Saturday to assert our opposition to autocratic actions by the current Federal Government, we are not just complying with the law. We are expressing our warm embrace of the country itself.

Contrary to what the Speaker of the House has said, No King’s Day is an expression of love for our country. For improving the welfare of all our people, and for continuing our historical embrace of freedom and democracy.

For love of our country. And as famed freedom-lover Woody Guthrie put it:“This land is your land, this land is my land … this land was made for you and me.”