I never cease to be amazed at the conservatives who are surprised that I (and most of my liberal friends) are patriotic. It happens every July 4th, every Memorial Day, every Flag Day: "I can't believe YOU are celebrating this", as if to be a liberal means to hate our country. I was reminded of that mindset once again on Monday. So, let me state it clearly:

I am patriotic BECAUSE I'm a liberal, not in spite of it.

I love the fireworks displays, I love the flag, I love our history. I still feel that lump in my throat when I see the military color guard marching in the parades. When the national anthem plays, I stand and put my hand over my heart. I was raised to respect the symbols of our nation, and for the sacrifice of those that made it possible for me to and my country to survive and thrive.

Why should being a liberal change any of that?

Perhaps it's just the conservative mindset. While they rail against government, they accuse liberals of being unAmerican. While they support legislation to protect business over people, they accuse liberals of not caring about jobs. While they crow about the Constitution, they pass laws blurring the line between Church and State. Who cares more about the country? I think it's a fair question.

If I had to guess, this meme about liberals "hating America" started about the time we invaded Afghanistan. The standard line from them was "I support the troops - do YOU support the troops??" (asked accusingly). Of course what they meant was: "I support the war - do you support the war?", with the obvious implication being that if you didn't support the war, then you didn't support the troops, and you hated America, you anti-American terrorist-coddling scumbag. This was reinforced by slapping a yellow ribbon (made in China) on the back of their SUVs, and a smug smirk on their faces.

This has morphed into the meme that if you're against government spending cuts, then you must be a socialist, which is their (current) definition of anti-American. It's amazing how the Cold War hangover is still affecting the brains of people who should know better. What has made our nation great is not business, but people. Liberals are only anti-business in that they're pro-people. People come first in our book.

It was the people in the 20s and 30s that sucked it up and sacrificed during the Great Depression. It was those same people that organized into unions and changed businesses from The Jungle to the 40 hr work week in a relatively safe environment we enjoy today. It's the people that worked hard at menial jobs to make a better life for their kids. It's the people that helped their neighbors when they needed it, and pushed the government to give voting rights to women, and end discrimination against blacks.

It was business that pushed back against all of these things, and shipped jobs overseas (or south of the border) when it meant more profit. And yet Republicans specifically (and conservatives in general) support business, and are against laws that help maintain the status quo that our ancestors fought so hard to put in place.

I am angry that these anti-people pro-war conservatives have dared to claim the flag of our country as their own. I am angry that they have dared to redefine what it means to love our country. I am angry that they have dared to redefine what it means to be patriotic. They even tried to redefine "liberal" as being anti-American, something I refused to acknowledge, even when others of like mind began calling themselves "progressives" instead.

I reject their definitions - as should all liberals - and do it proudly and loudly. I am a liberal, and while I may not always love who runs the government and what they do, I love my country and all of its symbols just the same.

I am a liberal and I am patriotic. Get used to it.