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Spending my 4th of July doing some things I think our Founders would heartily approve of: drinking hard cider at 11am, hassling my elected representatives on a variety of issues, and praying for the deliverance of our nation from a mentally unstable dictator and his plutocratic cronies.

(I will also probably watch 1776 and Hamilton at some point today, since I have no intention of venturing out of doors while we’re still in surface-of-the-sun heat index territory)

I am a patriotic American, and I believe that means demanding that my country do better — and being part of the process of getting us there, in what ways I can. To me, that is the true essence of patriotism: to hold your nation accountable to its stated ideals.

We have also done terrible things, yes. Not everyone drafted into the American experiment came here willingly. Systemic injustice is the legacy we must grapple with and not shy away from addressing & repairing.

But those who did choose this, and those who *still* choose it, every year, they come because we *could* live up to that dream, with enough will. I really do believe that. This is a place where both the ingenuity of individuals and the strength of communities can effect great and positive change.

I'm not saying we're unique among the nations of the world in that regard, either -- but the promise of America evidently still calls to many. I don’t know if the work is harder now than it’s ever been — we have seen very dismal days before — but we are certainly facing a heavy challenge.