Today, the 4th of July, I had the honor of being at an event where the head speaker was a prominent political figure working for Dick Cheyney.

I’ve often wondered how the people making decisions regarding national spying and wars that seem empirical in nature to me, think about their actions.

In his speech, he said, what sounded to me to be “it’s okay because god changes our nationalism into patriotism” and ” god prevents our spreading of democracy from becoming empire building”. Along with the implication that we are only a nation because we uphold the traditions of the christian founding fathers and our dear heavenly father.

As an exmormon, the mixing of Mormon religion and policies that stripped out parts of the bill of rights is disheartening. If I had my drothers, Snow den would have spoken and this guy would be hiding in Hong Kong, pursued by governments everywhere.

But, and here is the thing, I still love my country. Often it is easy to be jaded after leaving a cultish religion, to be jaded by big systems, government, etc.

But one can still show respect and honor the country, the concepts Franklin and Jefferson stood for, or recent SCOTUS decisions and ignore the pieces of religion mixed mingled with politics.

Happy Jul 4th all!!!