Love, American style

I just want to say, in case it ever comes up, I love America.

It has never occurred to me – any more than it has occurred to any of you – to love any other country.

It’s true, some Americans who love their country still like to park their corporate profits in other peoples’ countries, which sounds a little bit like cheating on your lover.

But anyone who can read a bumper sticker knows that loving your country and loving your government are two very different things.

As for Rudy Giuliani and all the grief he’s getting for saying President Obama doesn’t love America, you’re not going to change anyone’s mind by arguing about it.

But I think we are entitled to know what the ground rules are, so there are no misunderstandings.

For example, does loving America mean you have to love the Americans in it? To the point that we help them to pay for college, or raise their wages? Does it mean being more welcoming to would-be Americans? Does it mean loving the slow-poke in the car ahead of you?

Ronald Reagan famously blamed the schools and Hollywood for planting doubts about America’s specialness. So maybe we need a little less questioning and a little more indoctrination. Maybe a more upbeat national anthem would do it.

I heard “Everything is Awesome” last night on the Oscars. It didn’t win, but it’s still catchy.

So there it is.

Although, I am hoping that once we have everyone loving America again, it will still be acceptable to hate the cable company. I have no idea what all those charges are for.