9/15/24

Sunday, September 15, 2024

2011 We moved into our house in Bayside

In bed at 9, awake around 2:30, and half asleep until 4:20 when I got up and let Lilly out.  I let her out again at 6.

Prednisone, day 124, 7.5 mg., day 3.  Prednisone at 4:50.  Morning meds and 2 slices of Dave's Bread at 6:15.  

Sarah is here till Monday morning and arrived around 7 yesterday evening.  She'll be in Middleton this week and Austin next week.  It's her travel season, culminating in a vacation for her and Christian in the Maldive Islands starting November 1.   

 Can I love America?  Heather Cox Richardson's Letter from an American today includes this: 

I write these letters because I love America. I am staunchly committed to the principle of human self-determination for people of all races, genders, abilities, and ethnicities, and I believe that American democracy could be the form of government that comes closest to bringing that principle to reality.

There came a time, I'm not sure when it was, that I realized that I don't love America.  I wonder what it means to "love" one's country.  I recall my father years ago advising me not to love anything that can't love you back.  I wonder if the love of one's country is even possible, but if it is, is it a form of idolatry?  Deauschland, Deautschland über alles? I can love my neighbor, love my spouse and my children, but can I love an inanimate thing or entity in the same way?  Does love have the same meaning used in "I love Paris" as it does in "I love my wife"?  What do we mean by "my country"  The land, as in 'from sea to shining sea'?  The people?  The form or structure of government?  The behaviors of the government or the people?  Is a country's history part of what one loves?  How about its popular culture?  Its political culture?  What is it we love when we say I love America?  And how do we manifest or act out that love?  In other words, what does love of country require of us?  JFK said "Ask not what your country can do for you.  Ask what you can do for your country."  He reminded us that love is an action verb, not just a feeling.  I love my wife by helping her, by trying to make life's challenges easier for her, by doing the dishes, by going to the store, etc.  She reciprocates.  How does one "love" (action verb: do for) America, as JFK advised?  Presumably by so acting as to make the country better.

 Out of time, out of steam.   Busy day and evening with Sarah, including stretching the big canvas downstairs.