My Ultimate Proof of Patriotism

I’ve never felt compelled to display the American flag. I walk around my neighborhood regularly and see house after house proudly letting the stars-and-stripes flap in the breeze. I could count the flag poles and easily lose track of the tally. There are that many.

That kind of public manifestation of patriotism never interested me. And it isn’t just a United States thing. I was born in Cuba and never had the urge to display the Cuban flag, either. I’m a proud gay man married to the love of my life, yet the thought of flaunting the rainbow-colored flag is also a firm “nah.” Flags, the quintessential symbol of pride, whether it be nationality, ethnicity, or even fraternity, seem so unnecessary to me.

Please don’t get me wrong. I have nothing against those that choose to show their patriotism this way. Many flags are quite beautiful – colorful, artistic, and iconic. I also understand that they serve as physical demonstrations of a deep-rooted sense of belonging. Plus, flying a flag inside and outside the privacy of your own home is decidedly your prerogative. Live and let live.

But my patriotism, my idea of serving my country and my nationality, live and breathe in my soul and in my brain. I became a US citizen when I was 12 – March 1978, to be exact – and it is one of the greatest accomplishments of my life. I may have been too young then to realize its importance, but I certainly get it now. I have lived nearly all my life in this great country, and I honor it every day.

Patriotism, to me, is akin to pragmatism. It’s about the greater good. I have been working and paying taxes since I was in high school. I had part-time jobs from 9^th grade all the way to my university graduation. I enjoyed full-tuition scholarships to a two-year community college and then to a university for the final years of my undergraduate studies. I graduated with honors from both institutions. If I was going to be lucky enough to get a free education, I was certainly going to work hard to deserve it.

I’ve paid off three cars. I’ve co-owned three houses, including the current home I share with my husband. I prepare my income tax returns every year in good time. I enjoy patronizing local retailers and ordering online from mostly stateside businesses. My husband and I have a dream to visit all 50 US capitals. So far, we are about half-way.

From my vantage point, those are the hallmarks of moving the country forward. You work for a living, honestly earning your money. You pay your fair share of taxes. You own real estate. You feed the economy by being a consumer. You obey all laws. You are kind to your neighbors. You live peacefully and without any incident that would affect others around you. You uphold the tenets of the society you call home by example, not by symbols. That, my friends, is my ultimate proof of patriotism.

However, I do have a little something that screams United States loyalty. While I don’t own a flag, I do own a shirt. A couple of years ago I bought the coolest shirt. It is red, white, and blue. The colors are arranged in such a way that it could pass for a flag if it were on a pole. Every time I wear that shirt, I think of my Cuban-American heritage and smile. I wear it proudly. I feel like I belong in this country.