Five From the Archive

What kind of citizen do you want to be?

As Independence Day approaches, I’ve been thinking about the responsibilities that come with freedom. This week’s selections explore patriotism, civic participation, and the values we choose to defend. Some are poems. Some are reflections. Each one offers a different perspective on what it means to belong to a community.

• Redefining Patriotism: Quiet Acts of Service
  Patriotism does not have to be loud.
• The Game
  “So much depends on Sunday,” townsfolk whispered. They spoke with quiet concern usually reserved for late frost or autumn harvest.
• The Freedom Mix-Up: Why Patriotism Means More Than You Think
  For a long time, people have mistaken freedom and patriotism for synonyms. They are not.
• Just Vote
  Every time I look at a ballot, I realize it is less about the names on the paper and more about what we actually value.
• Denial on Display: That’s Not Us
  Denial thrives on silence. So does power. If you’ve ever said, “That’s not us,” here’s how to prove it.

A Smoky Season

As I write this, much of my state and the West is burning.

Every summer, smoke becomes part of the forecast. We check the air quality before deciding whether it is safe to work in the yard, take a walk, or simply open the windows.

Have we become accustomed to the smoke?

I don’t mean the haze choking our valleys.

I mean the slow acceptance of things that should never become ordinary.

We have begun treating responsibility as though it were the enemy of freedom instead of one of its greatest expressions. Freedom has never meant living as though no one else matters. It has always required us to recognize that our choices shape the lives of the people around us.

We argue endlessly about freedom while saying far less about responsibility. We defend our rights with remarkable passion while treating our obligations as optional. Citizenship becomes smaller when it is reduced to protecting ourselves instead of caring for our neighbors.

That is what I mourn..