What My Kids Should Know About The Resistance On The 4th Of July

American patriotism emphasizes American values and not blind commitment to the nation. Patriotism is not some automatic trust in the leaders of this country. As Lawrence W. Reed, president of the Foundation for Economic Education, once wrote:

"Call it freedom. Call it liberty. Call it whatever you want, but it’s the bedrock on which this nation was founded and from which we stray at our peril. It’s what has defined us as Americans. It’s what almost everyone who has ever lived on this planet has yearned for. It makes life worth living, which means it’s worth fighting and dying for."

In those words, Reed defined patriotism. I want my kids to know its patriotic duty to resist anything that takes away our freedom and liberty and anyone who imposes upon our definition of patriotism.

My children were born into the rights they have today. They have no idea what human rights even are, or how long people have fought for equality and freedom. They just exist in today's world without a care. I want my children to know history and The Bill of Rights. I will make sure they know the rights of each citizen in this country. I want my children to understand that gender, ethnicity, nationality, disability, or sexual orientation should never limit someone's basic human rights and I want them to understand that no right is guaranteed and every right can be taken away with a stroke of a pen. They need to be vigilant and they need to pay attention.

Yes, there is a lot to do, and even in 2017 many of our rights are threatened. Our climate is changing, our bodies are constantly up for debate, and our health care is being used as a political pawn. There is so much going on and it's tough to concentrate, but I'm telling my kids to not feel guilty about standing up for what is important to us and those around us. We cannot fight for it all at once, so it's OK for us to focus on a few issues we know enough about to make our voice heard and to jump in whenever we are needed elsewhere.

I will show up to the Marches and I will call my Senators. I will do it all in the presence of my children because I want them to know their voices matter.

Recently, a friend said, "I disliked a lot of what Obama did, but I didn't throw a tantrum and go march in the streets. What do you think you're accomplishing?"

I responded, saying "Well, maybe you should have. If you truly thought whatever President Obama was doing was impeding on your rights as a citizen of the United States, and if you honestly believed he was 'ruining this country,' then maybe you should have done something. Maybe if you didn't just sit on your behind and grumbled to yourself, you could have created change. But you didn't. You just complained to anyone who would listen. And, what did you accomplish?"

My friend agreed.

It's always better to speak up for something you believe in, even if you think your voice is overshadowed by someone else's, than to sit quietly and let things just happen to you.

The Declaration of Independence specifically states that all men are created equal and deserve the same rights in life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Additionally, the Founding Fathers wrote that "whenever an Form of Government becomes destructive, it is the Right of The People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government." The Founding Fathers believed that the government should serve its people and yet here we are, living in a government that serves only itself and its political agenda.

I came from a country where people were not allowed to question their elected officials. The citizens in the Soviet Union were expected to blindly follow what the government said and did. My family fled that kind of regime to come to a country where we are free to criticize our leaders. So, I want my children to know their patriotism lies in their freedom. I want them to understand if the government isn't working for its people, the people must resist and replace.

While it all may seem bleak, the citizens of the United States have already accomplished a significant number of things. The Women's March inspired the country and laid the groundwork for future action. The people have blocked two unconstitutional travel bans, have successfully opposed the first health care proposal, and have pushed for a special investigation into the Russian infiltration into the presidential election. The town halls are flooded with constituents, there have been numerous boycotts of companies that are somehow attached to the President, not to mention numerous marches and protests: March for Science, March for Truth, A Day Without Women, and A Day Without Immigrants.

In other words, the resistance is not stopping any time soon. We continue to fight for women's rights, for black lives, for marriage equality, for our climate, and for health care for all. We continue to stand up against racism, against bigotry, and against homophobia. It may seem like a lot, but it's all important, so it's even more crucial to never give up.

Understand not everyone in our society has a voice that can be heard. Sure, all voices matter, but unfortunately not all voices hold the same power. So, it is important for the people in our society to not resist the idea of their privilege and, instead, come to terms with it and then use it for good.

We are a white, middle-class family. My husband is a while male, and our kids go to one of the best school districts in the country. In our society, we are privileged and there is no point of denying it. Those who deny their privilege are simply misguided. We understand how privileged we are and we also understand that it is our responsibility to use that privilege for good. We understand we must stand and advocate for those who may not have as much power as our ethnicity and gender grant us.

Finally, and most importantly, I want my children to know that they have the power and the obligation to hold our elected officials accountable. We elect people into office because we want our voices to be heard. Those people are responsible to us. They must serve the public. Our elected officials works for us and the moment they stop is the moment we must resist.

Our independence from Britain was the result of boycotts, rebellion, resistance, and an actual revolution. It was not a simple path. When Thomas Paine published Common Sense, an influential political pamphlet that argued for American independence, the Continental Congress finally allowed the states to form their own governments and to draft a declaration. Our independence came from a resistance and that is something I want my children to know and for everyone else to understand.