Surviving Patriotism
How fast this nation forgets what we are celebrating our independence from… religious oppression, for one. And authoritarian government? We aren’t celebrating for the right reasons anymore, that’s why I don’t celebrate “patriotic” holidays. Not when religious fundamentalists are pushing to reinstate the very establishment that had us coming to the new land for freedom from it. And then of course, promptly enslaving and slaughtering the natives who cherished and lived symbiotically with the land in the name of “Christian values”.
“Go live somewhere else,” some would say but this is my home too. You know who has to flee their country? Millions of people under threat of violence from not only its government but its people as well. Refugees running from corrupt nations looking for peace anywhere. Literally dying at a chance to make it across a border that may offer them some relief. Taking the risk that they may kill them too. How soon before we are fleeing this country for those same reasons?
We recognized the 4th in our worship service this morning. Many didn’t want to go because they didn’t want to talk about it or hear about anything political. Over half of our congregation is either queer and/or female. The struggle never stops for us. The laws against our healthcare, our bodies and even our clothing are growing in numbers by the day as decrepit old men, hang on to dear life just to make sure no one else feels good about living.
In any of my past churches, I would have opted out of today too but Unitarian Universalists always have an interesting twist on hard topics. True to my expectations, they reflected on both patriotism of being one people as a country, remembering 9-11 and that the days ahead preparing for the election cannot be faced with more anger. Instead, they ask for small gestures of kindness and respect - knowing the battleground will unfold in front of us whether we like it or not.
After COVID took over, the church I used to go to amped up their “patriotism”. Nothing was subtle or gradual. They took that pandemic as a sign the end was near (for real this time) and took hard, rooted stances. I can’t say other churches did not, as I’m sure the other end of the religious spectrum showed up at protests and the such. Evangelicals have been gearing up for battle for a long time. Unitarians are the ones who will slide flowers down the barrels of guns and peacefully block the tanks from rolling in. Still showing up but showing up gracefully.
As an empath, I feel like it would be easier to live with a hardened heart and slip into endless cynicism but too many people have given ME too many moments of their gentle kindness and those little bits of love have kept me alive. I can’t deny that type of love to another suffering soul. After all, it is their own insecurity and hurt that are hurting their neighbors. It’s dehumanizing the immigrant, the trans-person, the Republican, the liberals and the Christian Nationalists. None of us should be taking the faces and hearts from another human and watering them down to one label. Myself included. It’s a hard thing to do right now but it’s so very vital.
How do we survive the colossal shit show that’s barreling towards us? With loving kindness, I guess. Finding joy and peace in whatever place it may be lingering. Collecting moments to keep the flame of hope kindled. How do you think Jews made it through the Holocaust? Surely not out of spite- though I would not blame them if they had.
When the rabbis came to Matthew’s door and demanded to know why Jesus was eating with the sinners, Jesus didn’t come out guns blazing. He simply answered them.
When the people cheered for his arrival on Palm Sunday then changed their minds only a week later- Jesus did not scorn them. He did not tell them they would go to hell. He asked his father to forgive them.
When the Roman’s came to arrest Jesus, he did not revolt. He could have had God strike them down. HE could have struck them down with one wave of his hand. He could have had everyone fight for him. In fact, Jesus stopped them from fighting for him. He took the beating, the humiliation and the cross when he really didn’t have to.
John 18:4-12 recalls:
Jesus, knowing all that was going to happen to him, went out and asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied.
“I am he,” Jesus said. (And Judas the traitor was standing there with them.) When Jesus said, “I am he,” they drew back and fell to the ground.
Again he asked them, “Who is it you want?”
“Jesus of Nazareth,” they said.
Jesus answered, “I told you that I am he. If you are looking for me, then let these men go.”
This happened so that the words he had spoken would be fulfilled: “I have not lost one of those you gave me.”
Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest’s servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant’s name was Malchus.)
Jesus commanded Peter, “Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?”
Then the detachment of soldiers with its commander and the Jewish officials arrested Jesus.
While we’ve read the Old Testament the recounts the harshest of punishments from whom Jesus calls father, Jesus tells us repeatedly that he has died for all sin. The war isn’t with each other but instead asks us to do His work through love. It is only evil we should resist now. Everything else is an offense to Him, his ministry and his message.
Ask yourself what freedoms you are celebrating this week that perhaps your neighbors cannot celebrate. Then ask yourself why, in the land of the free… not everyone is free?
