Lyrical Logic

I’ve been doing some reflecting as I sit at home on the 4th of July, not really in the mood to celebrate “freedom” when so many people around me are losing it. But, as I was laying in my hammock, drinking a beer, trying to figure out how to explain what I’m feeling, I saw a post from Iowa Governor Candidate Rob Sand when he quoted Mark Twain. “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time and your government when it deserves it.” That pretty much sums up how I feel.

I need to start looking at this like I look at Christianity. Because I believe in the core principles that the United Methodist Church taught me. I believe in Jesus, I believe in the resurrection, and I believe faith is an individual experience. Period. But I look at church leadership, of all denominations, and I feel like they don’t accurately represent what I believe. And while I believe in the basic foundations that this country was founded on, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, I don’t believe in the leadership we currently have.

It’s the best way I’ve found to describe this feeling. Being an American means I have protections and freedoms that others don’t. Being an American right now also means I have less freedom than the men around me. But I refuse to believe that the idea of rolling back freedoms because people don’t agree with you are the values that the founding fathers had in mind.

I refuse to believe that they would see the president as anything other than a wannabe king. I refuse to believe that they would approve of the clear attacks on the 1st Amendment and that they would want to push their religious beliefs on everyone here. I refuse to believe that they would see where we are today and be happy with where we are.

Our country is not a monarchy. Our country is not a theocracy. Our country is a democratic republic where the voice of the people matters more than someone’s religious beliefs. Our country allows for the freedom of expression and the freedom to protest and to call out the government when we don’t like the way things are going. It isn’t meant to belittle anyone who wants to stand outside in 95 degrees to express their dislike of the current administration and their policies.

I sit and write this from the comfort of my nice condo on July 4th, 2025. I recognize that the fact that I’m a white woman, a white straight woman, gives me the ability to not fear being rounded up for looking different. I recognize that my sexual orientation gives me an advantage when it comes to obtaining services from some businesses. But you know what else I recognize? That I get to use that privilege to elevate the voices that are struggling to be heard. So, if you need a voice to help lift yours up, email me (lizardelle29@gmail.com) and I will help use this small little platform that I have to lift your voice. I will do whatever I can to help make your voice heard. And that’s a promise.