“That isn’t American!”

“They aren’t American!”

Who is American?

What does it mean to be American?

White supremacists, KKK, militias and the like say they are the true American Patriots.

Civil Rights leaders say they are representing the true spirit of the nation.

In Washington, political parties fight over who represents the real and true “American People.”

When people march in protest of pretty much anything.  That’s American.  It’s their country too.

When someone “takes a knee” in protest of an injustice, that’s American.  It’s their country too.

When someone says they don’t like that kind of protest.  It isn’t what they would do.  That’s American.  It’s their country too.

When someone proudly flies the flag, says the pledge and sings the anthem.  That’s American.  It’s their country too.

When someone refuses to salute the flag or say the pledge.  That’s American.  It’s their country too.

When someone hangs the flag upside in a symbol of national distress, or even burns it.  That’s American.  It’s their country too.

When someone disagrees with that.  That’s American.  It’s their country too.

When the Black community and their allies shout “Black Lives Matter.”  That’s American.   It’s their country too.

When others shout that the ones they disagree with are NOT Americans.  That’s American.  It’s their country too.

But we need to think carefully before we say some are IN and some are OUT.

We don’t have to like the diversity or people or opinions in the country.

But when we say it’s our country.

It’s their country too.