My Newfound Patriotism (Thanks DNC!)

I’ve never been particularly patriotic, always loving America, but more as a fixer upper….worships money a bit too much, tough record on race, not to mention for a while there it was pretty hard to be “out & proud” and “proud to be an American.”

But GURL! Watching this convention, the Obamas & Co. have me in a red-white-and-blue-bikini-serving-apple-pie-with-a-side-of-Bud-to-Lee-Greenwood-at-Super-Bowl-halftime kind of mood.

Because, just between us, I’ve been a little scared lately. And last night I had the weirdest interaction with a cab driver. I was unwindin’ with some Audra McDonald in my earbuds, and he asked me if I was gay. Affirmative, my chariot of ire! “President Trump is going to protect America from gays. And criminals. Criminals and gays!”

Now, he may very well, as we’d all move to Mykonos. Form some sort of gay criminal commune. But that aside, it appears that Trump’s platform of scattershot vitriol is giving people broad permission to hate out loud….on topics DT hasn’t even reached yet. Vagueness as a rhetorical tactic. It’s like a very angry DIY project. “We provide the candidate, you provide the platform! Don’t worry — he’s empty enough to hold whatever hate you do!”

BUT THEN I tune into the DNC, where they’re counterserving hate with hope. Hearing lies and sending love.”When they go low, we go high.” “Reject cynicism, reject fear, summon what’s best in us…and show the world we still believe in the promise of this great nation.” And I couldn’t be more proud to be an American. Because THIS is how our country’s leaders are responding to a dangerous demagogue: with LOVE!

I can’t wait for Hillary tonight. And I can’t wait to help her win! And I can’t wait for that one distant day when we all look back on this wild ride and say, “Remember in the 2016 presidential election, when ‘Let’s elect a sane, competent person’ was an applause line?”

We got this, America! And to all the people with hate in their hearts, we got you too. We’re gonna build a country for all of us, and it starts with love.