My cousin's white gloves.
She loaned them to me once when all I wanted in this world was to stand on Main Street and watch the Memorial Day parade. Back in those days folks dressed up for the parade as best they could. A northern New England paper mill town with 380-something people, several flags and plenty of veterans.
I was of grammar school age, poor but finally glove-proud, ready to participate in this solemn occasion. Folks were standing tall and straight and were silent. Women wore white gloves, men had shirts with starched collars. Some had hats which they removed at just the proper time. I marveled at how respectful everyone seemed, an atmosphere quite unlike what I was used to. It took three men to go into our little grammar school and get the flag. One man held it, the other two either guarded it or just wanted to walk along side it. It made me cry and I remembered Mrs. Nichols singing My country 'tis of thee.
Today is a different story. Way different. I'm sick over the current goings-on in our country. People flashing White Power signs, Nazis marching in plain sight, elected leaders making racist statements, Republicans trying to figure out how best to defund schools, health care, any safety net. The destruction of worker's rights, civil rights, human rights. Government-sponsored destruction of families, children being put in cages, disrespecting the environment, destroying established norms.Seems like patriotism today is defined by a lapel flag pin and a photo op with a couple Marines. How sickening. How unprincipled.
The Republican Party and all their enablers must be held accountable for turning their backs on this country....from Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnel on down. What sorry excuses for Americans. What utter embarrassments. As for mob boss Donald Trump....well....let's hope he gets his.
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