The sterile waiting room held a room of ten veterans waiting patiently to be called to their doctor appointments. The conversation was passionate despite the room’s dull décor, posters on the tan walls denoting available health programs as a television, largely ignored, played a benign slide of veteran services silently on the wall. Shafts of sunlight streamed onto the floor from a large row of windows promoting spring. The black vinyl padded chairs, many empty, as if they represented the many absent who had fought and died for their country. “I vote every single time,” said an older female to the other nine veterans in the room. “The ones that don’t vote have loudest voices around.” Every veteran’s head resolutely nodded in agreement. An older gentleman sat in a red motorized wheel chair with an old wooden cane stuck in a holder in the back. His gun metal gray hair was cut short to his blue plaid shirt collar in the back and a decrease in Melanin had produced a white beard on his jaw line. “I don’t have the words”, he said as he clasped his hands in response to the conversation about a lack of voter participation in the recent Presidential Primary. “I was hit with shrapnel over there. I was given a Purple Heart. My pal, Gary was hit and lost part of his foot. Another friend was hit in the kidney.” He cleared his throat and softly uttered, “We gave it all.” The room grew silent as each veteran knew it was true. Just then an elderly woman, a volunteer, grinned as she strolled into the room pushing a cart and announcing loudly she had snacks. A piece of paper with “Veterans Only” written in black marker was taped to her cart. The veterans looked up in her direction as a tall man walked in wearing a blue hat that acknowledged he was also a volunteer. He laughingly said to her, “What are you doing, Trouble?” She bantered back, “You know, Tuesday’s my day.” Her curled berry colored hair bounced as she wagged her finger at him. A stout gentleman sitting with his arms crossed in one of the black chairs across the room, asked her, “You got any fishing equipment?” She pretended to search through the items in her cart. “I’m fishing around” she joked. Everyone laughed. The levity lightened the mood of the veterans away from the conversations about the state of the country and the consensus that the general population today didn’t care about maintaining democracy.

If you need a good reminder of the definition of patriotism, sit in a veteran hospital’s waiting room and listen to the conversations. Their love of country goes far beyond politics. They fought so we could discuss them and even disagree about them. They’re invested in America. Many spilled their blood on foreign soil for her. They don’t relate to patriotic apathy or indifference about democracy. Calls to action stir their soul. The sight of Old Glory can bring a tear.

Currently, there’s a section of citizens and some political figures, who have staked their claim as the only rightful owners of the Constitution, democracy and religious faith. I’m of the belief that if you have to say it out loud repeatedly, then most likely you are not whatever you’re proclaiming to be. Margaret Thatcher is quoted as saying, “Being powerful is like being a lady. If you have to tell people you are, you aren’t.” The same can be said of those claiming they are patriots. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines a patriot as one who loves and supports his or her country. Every veteran who has served their country falls under this definition. Every person who quietly goes to work, takes care of their family, pays their taxes, supports their community, or votes in our country’s elections is a patriot in my eyes as well. There are many ways in which a citizen can love and support their country. A patriot doesn’t engage in behaviors that are damaging to our democracy or to any of our American people.

How would you explain patriotism to an 8 year old child? It’s an exercise that would provide a conscious confirmation of one’s beliefs. Not since I first learned of Paul Revere’s famous ride in elementary school have I heard the word, “patriot” used as often as it is now. It’s a shame that the word is now being brandished about like a weapon. It’s important that we know what patriotism is and is not. It’s even more imperative that we know what a democracy demands and that we recognize its meaning, because frankly, people destroy what they don’t understand.

We the people are tired of being told by those with thunderous voices, that we are not Americans, that we are not patriots, that we do not bleed red, white and blue because we don’t fall for their deceptions, we lean toward common sense or because we care about people, and by people, I mean all people.

There are gas-lighters who could pronounce that birds don’t exist and there would be a great number of susceptible people who would believe them, despite the fact that our nation’s symbol is the bald eagle. There are those who may not recognize that simply hugging our flag doesn’t determine loyalty to our country, any more than washing a plane means you’re a pilot. The true litmus test is if we are willing to uphold our country and its values.

As we observe the behavior of our citizens and government leaders today, how far have we veered from the concept of compromise and statesmanship demonstrated in the efforts to establish our government? Has our faith in America’s destiny faded? Should Columbus have stayed home? What would Thomas Jefferson, who formulated the principles of our democracy in the Declaration of Independence and insisted, along with James Madison, upon the incorporation of the Bill of Rights into our Constitution, think about our government today?

Anything of value takes faith, care and discipline to maintain; whether it be a relationship, or character and integrity. Preserving democracy is not for the faint of heart and it is painstaking work that requires a dedication to its principles by people with principles. We can’t allow those who wish to destroy it win, just because the battle is hard or difficult. We are patriots, after all, we have to wage against those who use their political power to the detrimental of our country and its people and sadly, those who blindly follow them as well.

What are the best ways to save democracy? I’d love to hear your thoughts.

Pam Lowe is the editor of the Clay County Courier. Readers may contact her at plowe@cherryroad.com