This week in lang we had the pleasure of reading the Partly Cloudy Patriot by Sarah Vowell. While I will admit that the piece overall was uninteresting to me, I did enjoy the discussion we had in class about what constitutes as a partly cloudy patriot. After bringing up numerous politicians and comparing them to either side of the spectrum of patriotism, I was curious as to how democratic politicians (Kamala Harris) that were just as wildly popular compared from before and after the Trump administration.
Before the trump administration was elected to office, Harris served as the Vice President. During this time, Harris was very outspoken on numerous controversial issues such as abortion, immigration (border control) and expanding healthcare. As vice president, Harris was perceived by many democrats to show a united front of patriotism during many of her speeches in congress or at public events. Harris did this specifically during the Democratic National convention where she is quoted saying " I see a nation that is ready to move forward". When Harris ties the idea of patriotism to democratic values, it allows vague sentences like this to make people feel hopeful for the future of America especially during such a strong political climate. Her talking about America and the nation in a positive light however is what many Far- right republicans accuse her of not doing. Senator Cotton of Arkansas is quoted saying this in the Guardian, “And it will be much worse under Kamala Harris,” Cotton said. “Just look at her record. She wants to ban private health insurance, she wants to ban fossil fuel production, she wants to ban guns.” By constantly painting Kamala Harris as this America hating liberal immigrant many republican politicians are able to further this narrative that she is a cloudy patriot. When in fact this is quite the opposite.
Harris during her campaign for the presidency was outspoken on several controversial stances the government had taken on state and federal levels but despite that she was still someone that advocated for the country on numerous occasions. For example, when Harris was serving as a senator in 2017, she coauthored a bill with Senator Bernie Sanders that would increase social security for the elderly by expanding tax rates on investments. This is a direct example of her making efforts to support and improve the country, something that cannot be said about the current administration. Her working with lower income families, the elderly and economists to create an effective and supportive plan for America in itself is demonstrating qualities of a sunshine patriot.
By advocating for the country and working to make it better, does Harris not qualify to at least have been a partly Cloudy patriot before the current administration?
I think so.
Now let's talk about her actions after President Trump was elected.
When president trump was elected in January of this year, many people, including democrats, were vivaciously outspoken about how horrendous of an administration this was going to be. Among those people was ex-VP Kamala Harris who came out numerous times to talk about the negative effects his economic policies would cause, how restriction of reproductive care would negatively impact the lives of millions of women and of course how the much stricter immigration control would likely displace millions of families and put hundreds of thousands of people in danger. I for one have not seen a single positive comment come out from the democratic side of our government since Trump was elected. And along with that Kamala Harris, while she has still used many terms and phrases that signify that she wants a united America, has also attacked Trump and his administration a numerous number of times. If she was a partly cloudy patriot before, at the very least she must be a cloudy patriot now.
This cycle of shifting in support for the government based on what political party or person is in power is common and well understood. With different people in power come different changes and with that comes controversy and protest no matter what. But the key to having a government where everyone can be a sunshine patriot is to be a fascist government. And it's well-illustrated by president trump today. If you are targeted and prosecuted simply for having a different opinion than those in charge, then of course everyone will be a sunshine patriot! That's why in my opinion this cycle of shift in support is important, it shows diversity in opinion, background and ideas and is ultimately what makes America and its politicians strong.
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