Decency and Gratitude

I am an American citizen.  I am also African-American.  My patriotism is at a very low point today, and has been for the last several years.  Patriotism to me has come to mean worshiping a narcissistic country that has made itself great by trashing everyone else on earth.  Therefore I was quite willing to write this country off.

However, over the last several hours, I am finding signs of decency even among the members of the dominant culture in this country.  Here are a few:

• When Facebook's Mark Zuckerberg refused to take down inflammatory posts by Donald Trump, several hundred Facebook employees and their managers walked off their jobs.
• When Trump gave a speech in front of an Episcopal church yesterday, religious leaders from many denominations condemned his use of the church without the diocese's permission, calling it a publicity stunt.  And some Republican congressmen are condemning the use of force to clear peaceful protestors from Donald Trump's path as he walked from the White House to the church.
• The Minneapolis Public School Board is deliberating about removing Minneapolis police from their public schools.  (It's about bloody time!)
• Democratic Presidential candidate Joe Biden gave a wonderful speech in which he promised to be an agent of healing instead of division.  Moreover, Biden frankly admitted the depth of healing required.  As the Guardian reports, "American history isn’t a fairytale,' Biden said, describing 'the harsh reality that racism has long torn us apart.'"
• And while members of white Antifa/anarchist/right-wing groups have infiltrated protests in order to loot and vandalize, the fact remains that many, many people from every ethnic background (including many white people) are standing in solidarity with the African-American and other nonwhite communities around the world against the racism which has for too long been directed against us.
• Trump's belief that he can use the military against U.S. citizens may be wishful thinking.  In at least one case, the National Guard has sided with protesters who asked Guard troops to lay down their shields.  That protest, held in front of the Tennesse State Capitol, may force me to eat my words regarding the use of protest in these times in Trump's America.  The protestors got a few things right!  Because of their nonviolent discipline, they managed to weaken the pillars of support of their enemy.
• The State of Virginia refused a Pentagon request to send National Guard troops to Washington DC.

I could go on, but I'll stop here.  I can only say, Thank you!