Good morning patriotism!

This morning began like many do: wake up, walk the dog, eat a toasted hamburger bun with a schmear of Nutella and sit down to check my email before I hop into the shower.  Among my email I received an email from my Grandfather that was pro-military and anti-immigrant, which is also, unfortunately, fairly common.But what was uncommon was that this time rather than just deleting the email immediately, I read every frustrating word.  Then I grabbed my computer and wrote the response below:

Please let me begin with the total admission that I have not served in the military.  I have not seen combat or been injured in warfare.  Many in my family--OUR family--have as have many of my friends and I respect them for their work, dedication and sacrifice.  This is not a path I have chosen.But I have served my country.The entirety of my adult life has been spent serving the people of this country, not in foreign lands but here on American soil.  I have not traveled overseas in occupation of other countries, I have remained here in the Unites States serving the people who live and work here.I have volunteered hundreds and hundreds of hours towards community service, working to pass or defeat important legislation, working to bring members of a community together, working to educate people on issues that impact their well-being.  I have worked in classrooms and the streets, in board rooms and courtrooms offering my time and energy to make this country—the United States of America—a better place.Unlike military service I have not been stripped of my freedoms and sent to fight.  But also unlike military service my duty will not end in four, five, ten or twenty years.  Unlike military service I have not been paid for my work.  I have not received pension or housing or money for college.What I do receive is condescending words from people who think that serving in the military is the only way to serve your country; that the work that I do in the late hours of the night when they are at home with their feet up watching television is not serving the country; that because I know racism and sexism and classism exist and call attention to these problems that I hate the US; that because I’m willing to give a little of what I have to better the life of others—whether that be time, energy or money— I am somehow un-American.I believe in the Christ-like principles of openness and giving and generosity and charity and apply these principles to my everyday life.   I am an American.  These are my principles.  This is OUR country.