Wendy Oellers-Fulmer: Patriotism is a word that should unite us

To The Daily Sun,

Words can be powerful, evoking emotions from anticipation and joy, to anger and fear. As our country celebrates its 250th birthday, one word associated with this momentous event has become politically charged.

Recently, I designed a red, white and blue necklace to feature at a Fourth of July Craft show. We give every piece of jewelry we create a name, and I chose “Patriot’s Day.” When I shared that name with others, I was advised against using it because it might be considered too divisive in today’s political climate.

That gave me pause.

A patriot is a person who loves his or her country and is willing to support and defend it. It says nothing about ideology, political party or religion. Patriotism can belong to all of us.

An American flag hangs in front of our house. To us, it symbolizes the ideals on which our country was founded: that all people are created equal, that our rights and dignity are inherent, and that our government derives its legitimate power from the people.

Like many Americans, I have concerns about our country’s future. But these concerns do not diminish my love for it. They remind me how grateful I am for one of our greatest privileges: the right to vote. As the Declaration of Independence reminds us, "it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish" governments that fail to protect those fundamental rights.

The Great Seal of the United States bears the Latin words "E pluribus unum," “Out of many, one.” These words are as meaningful today as they were in 1776. Patriotism need not divide us. Instead, it can celebrate the rich diversity and history of our country, while reminding us, that despite our differences, we are one people.

Wendy Oellers-Fulmer

Gilford