Original illustration by TNG illustrator Cathryn.

Feelings toward patriotism can be tough to sort out for your average American homo. In many ways we do live in a Panglossian “best of all possible worlds” in terms of the comparative freedoms, opportunities and cultural diversity that exists in our country. However, you can also realize just how quickly that society can make someone a second class citizen when they don’t conform to the straight, white American idea. With that in mind, and in acknowledgement of independance day, this week’s staff survey question is as follows:

How do you currently feel about being an American? 

As usual, fee free to leave your own answer in the comments box.

1. Zack, Co-founder and primary contributor:

Things could be a lot better here, but I have a feeling that they are a lot worse in other places. I wont know for sure until I live everywhere,  but for now I’ll say that being America is neither the be all and end all of social freedoms nor the worst place to be. At the very least we have the right to protest, and as long as we have that we have hope that we can improve our station. 

2. Michael, Co-founder and primary contributor:

I’ve always questioned my personal patriotism.  I burn a flag if it means expressing the freedom that our great country gives me to do so.  During the long, dark 8 years of the Bush administration, I felt very pessimistic about the state of affairs in the US.  On election day, 2008, I felt a glimmer of hope for the first time in nearly a decade.  Now, 160 days into his administration, I’m not so gleeful.  We need true vision and leadership to undo the two-terms of backwards policies and dumbing down of our country.  I might still be surprised by Obama, but I’m definitely less optimistic about our country than I’ve been in the past 6 months.  

I hear Canada is really nice this time of year.

3. Matt, Staff Contributor:

I consider myself a citizen of the World. Certainly I’m glad to have been born in America, and I dearly love so much about this place, but philisophically, I don’t think anyone should form a blind attachment to a place just because one happened to be born there. Sometimes I’m proud of America, sometimes I am not. But I don’t feel that we are made of different stuff than the many other peoples of this lonely planet. I regard blind patriotism (whether toward America or not) as one of the greatest dangers to the world today.

4. Corey, Managing Editor and Staff Contributor:

When I lived in the suburbs, I felt proud to be an American.  When I lived in DC, I felt ashamed to be an American.  When I lived in the Middle East, I felt embarrassed to be an American.  Now I live in the real world, and I feel numb to being an American.

5. Chris, Theatre Editor:

I realize I’m going to sound like the Pollyanna of the group, but I feel pretty damn grateful to be American.  Yes, Bush II sucked and the damage done will last longer than his 8 years in office.  Yes, I disagree with a lot of what goes on (and is going on) in the country.  But I think the 4th of July is an important time to regain some perspective.  Do we have gay marriage and equal rights in all 50 states?  Nope.  But the news from India regarding their “ban on homosexuality” should make you think.  Things are far from perfect, but with a global look, we could have it a lot worse, folks.  That’s no reason why we shouldn’t strive to make ours a “more perfect union” but as a global citizen, I do think it’s important to retain perspective.  I remember talking to a friend of mine during the “Marriage Protection Act” days of Bush and saying that I wanted to just run off to Canada.  He said, “Well, be grateful that you can.”  And he’s right. 

6. Ed, Staff Contributor:

Grateful to all the people who dedicated their lives to fighting for freedom so that a bunch of queers can say whatever they want on the internet and protest against our nation’s leader without being rounded up and shot. Motivated … I want to do my part to guarantee those freedoms remain in place. Dedicated … I will do my part to make sure, that when I leave this world, there are more freedoms in place for all human beings. Faults and all, I love being an American.

7. Mike B., Staff Contributor:

In the 8th grade I wrote an op-ed for my middle school newspaper proposing that students be given more time to visit our lockers between classes. Hard-hitting stuff, I know. My principal sure thought so, and struck the column from the paper, a move so petty it still shocks me. It was then that my mother gave me one of the greatest gifts of my life: a copy of a Supreme Court decision (Tinker) that clearly prohibited the principal’s censorship, and the support to pursue my cause all the way up to the superintendent of schools.

I won. My column ran. But more importantly, I learned that our freedoms function only when used, and that it’s our duty as Americans to use them, not to sit around and complain that someone else isn’t “giving” us our rights. The petty and power-hungry are common to all nations and therefore unremarkable. So my feelings about America depend on whether Americans of good will actually exercise our freedom to correct our national faults. Obama may yet disappoint us. But I still have faith that we won’t disappoint ourselves, and right now, that’s all I’ve got. 

Adam, Chicago Editor:

Ehh. It depends on the day and depends on the situation. Most times I think that even though we are advanced in warfare and democracy, we have a long way to go in the efforts of love, peace and equality for all human life.

Cathryn, Staff Illustrator:

I’m kind of ambivalent about being an American. Sometimes I feel really proud of the country and I always feel very fortunate to have the freedoms that I have. I also often feel conflicted about what it ‘means’ to be an American, and I question what, if anything, really makes America any better than any other country. Ultimately, I have faith in this country because it’s where I’m from, and I appreciate it for it’s good and bad. 

Editorial Staff:

Hans B., Editorial Assistant:

It’s far from perfect, and I’m still recovering from the last 8 years, but it’s home. I love the vast diversity of cultures, views, natural beauty, people, and experiences. For better or for worse, i love it just as much as I love being critical of it. TNG