I don’t remember what it feels like to be proud of being an American. Don’t get me wrong, I am beyond lucky to have been born here, I appreciate and value my rights as a citizen and no matter how many times I’ve threatened to move to Canada (mostly for that dreamy Trudeau), I doubt I would ever emigrate. I want, more than anything, to be patriotic like I was in my childhood, ignorant of anything governmental besides the pledge of allegiance and the songs on School House Rock. To the rest of the world, we are embarrassing ourselves, and that is embarrassing to me.

I stopped saying the pledge in 3rd grade. Mrs. Lee, my teacher, didn’t know exactly how to handle my refusal, especially after I gave my reason. I was in spiritual crisis. I had been recently confronted with the concept of mortality when our dog died. Of course I wondered where this beloved pet had gone, so I asked my parents, who were awfully pragmatic about the whole thing. They told me that all sorts of people had all sorts of ideas about that and I was welcome to do the research. Everyone could make that decision for themselves. It became a primary focus — spirituality or lack there of. I told Mrs Lee that I no longer wished to say the pledge because I did not agree with the “under God” bit. I also looked into when that part was added and it wasn’t even in the original! The outrage. How else had I been lied to? I respectfully sat during the morning pronouncement, and did so in perpetuity. Consider the tone set.

When you’ve made up your mind, that’s when you’re dangerous. I’ve never registered for a specific political party because I prefer to vote based on individual candidates. I obviously lean to the left, but I’m not trying to be a dick about it. Government is in place to provide infrastructure, security and life improving services. I believe that we should all pay the same rate of tax to provide these things and if that is a little higher than I’m used to, so be it. We can all be and do better.

Bernie Sanders is dangerous. He made up his mind a long time ago and with single minded focus promoted his agenda through speech and action. He has proven time and time again that he believes that everyone does better when everyone does better. Bernie has shown that he cares about people, not corporations, and that he thinks it is unfair for said corporations to go unpunished for gaming the system and profiting from the systematic marginalization of entire groups of people. Everyone deserves to be educated, everyone deserves to have enough to eat and a place to sleep. We all deserve good jobs with paid family leave and opportunities to advance regardless of race, sexual orientation or gender. We all deserve to love who we love without government interference. Everyone has a right to healthcare without being certain that getting sick will lead to complete financial devastation. Women have the right to choose what happens to their bodies and deserve access to all options in a safe and non judgmental situation. Religion does not belong in politics.

These are all things that Bernie Sanders has decided. I’ve decided on Bernie Sanders. That makes me dangerous. All sorts of people have all sorts of ideas about this sort of thing. Consider the facts and decide for yourself.

https://go.berniesanders.com/page/content/splash