It’s our Independence Day, and mindless patriots are popping up all over the internet bragging about how much they love America while hating a majority of the people in America.
Usually, these “patriots” rant about how we need to protect America from immigrants and liberals and those who would change America from its original greatness. They proclaim their love for America and see any criticism of it as treasonous. “Love it or leave it!” they scream. (Let’s set aside for a moment the fact that many of these people never see their own criticism of liberal Presidents as treason.)
That’s the exact opposite of true patriotism. Our country was not founded on the idea that we should never challenge our government.
So let’s be true patriots. Let’s work to make America better. Replace “Love it or leave it” with “Love it and improve it.”
As (now-Senator) Al Franken once said, “Conservatives love America like a child loves his mommy, and mommy can do no wrong. Whereas we [liberals] love America like an adult loves someone, recognizing our mate has faults and taking the good with the bad, and always working to appreciate what’s there, being critical of what’s wrong and trying to help and make it better.”
That’s patriotism.
ventrellaquest.com 
Yes, we all love America and and deserve to be treated with. Except for those stupid conservatives, apparently. Was a bitter quote from Al Franken really the best you could do on a day of celebration and hope? How about this, if you want to hammer home a message while being positive…
“It is time for parents to teach young people early on that in diversity there is beauty and there is strength.” — Maya Angelou
Or, if you want to emphasize the struggle of making the United States live up to our ideals, and a hope for the future that this will be so…
“I, too, sing America.
I am the darker brother.
They send me to eat in the kitchen
When company comes,
But I laugh,
And eat well,
And grow strong.
Tomorrow,
I’ll be at the table
When company comes.
Nobody’ll dare
Say to me,
“Eat in the kitchen,”
Then.
Besides,
They’ll see how beautiful I am
And be ashamed–
I, too, am America.”
— Langston Hughes
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That should say, “.. treated with respect.” Proofreading is hard.
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Interestingly, I didn’t find Al Franken’s quote bitter like you did. And also, I found his quote succinct & quite easy to grasp his point.
Unfortunately, the quotes you offered instead – I can’t quite say that.
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