This black man and his patriotism

by George Cook www.letstalkhonestly.com

First let me say that I love my country, the United States of America. I served in the United States Army to protect this great country and am proud of it.

I know that the success I have had and some of the things that I have achieved could not have happened any place else in the world. God bless America.

That being said I have read and heard many conversations on African Americans and how we express our patriotism and have decided to share MY thoughts.

I do not speak for all African Americans just me. My opinions and beliefs are based on what I have gone through.

I just wanted to show the dilemma when it comes to patriotism I face as a black man in America. I wanted to show why it's hard for me to really show my patriotism the same way many white Americans do.

As I wrote earlier I served in the United States Army to protect the rights of every citizen in this country. My problem is that my service allows:

Cops to stop me for no reason and when I ask why ( black men feel free to nod your head ) be told that my car matches the description of a stolen car or that I match the description of a mythical suspect in a mythical robbery.

Can you imagine living through life having to understand the fact that any dealings with the police can end up with you being dead. Better yet can you imagine teaching your child how to survive an encounter with the police. That's what black mothers do every day. A mother should be proud and happy when her son gets a drivers license. For black mothers it's just another added worry.

My service allows cops like the ones that murdered Sean Bell to get a fair trial.

My service allows groups like the KKK to exist.

My service allows people to tell me I can't call myself African American because it's divisive . Let me just say this. If I start calling myself African Iraqi then we have a problem. As long as word American is there I should be able to call myself whatever I want.

My coverage allows people to say things like, "This is not supposed to happen here." I always wondered where it was "supposed" to happen.

My service allows ills like gangs and drugs to thrive in the "hood" and not be recognized as problems and dealt with seriously until they spread to the suburbs.

I could go on but I'm sure you can see where I am coming from whether you agree with me or not. As a black man I get to see the good side and the just plain ugly side of this great country so while I love it I am not happy with many things that happen here.

I show my patriotism by trying to point out these issues and trying to fix the problems so that this great country can be even greater than it is.

There's a part of the Pledge of Allegiance that reads:

"...With Liberty and Justice for All "

When that is true I will be the most flag waving patriotic guy you have ever seen. Hell I will wear a suit made from the American Flag and have my car painted red, white, and blue.

But until then let me show my patriotism in my own way and not question it

George L. Cook III

www.letstalkhonestly.com

George L. Cook III