For the Love of Country
It’s been awhile since I’ve written a personal blog, but this July 4th I wanted to put down some thoughts that have been rolling in my head for awhile.
Photo by David Tedder - IG: @david_tedder_photographer
Models Damien Kyle - IG: @damien.kylec and Shanna Forrestall - IG: @shannafromla
Follow @4fcproductions for more digital content with heart.
With the intense changes in our country over the past few years fueled by the Covid crisis, it’s challenged me to look at my allegiance to this place, this country, I call home.
In many ways, I’m not happy with who we are and the way this story has transpired. It’s been very disheartening at times to see the blatant racism, misogyny, sexism, lack of empathy and loss of rights that’s plagued us the past few years, but I have found hope.
I’ve come to realize that my outdated allegiance to a flag has shifted to a search for a place representative of my ideals and my love. I have decided that America is “family”. I was born with it, I did not choose it and even though it comes with obvious blessings, moving forward I have the ability as an adult to redefine my relationship with this place.
In other areas of my life I’ve learned to mature. And to me that means managing my expectations, being a better steward of my time, energy and love and sometimes redefining key relationships. And that is what I plan to do with America.
So, this July 4th I am going to revamp how I choose to “Love” America. I am grateful to this country for many things. Even born as a white woman in a poor family and a relatively uneducated and over-religious region, and even after suffering just about every kind of abuse and resistance possible - I can still say I’ve had a great life. Compared to women in other countries, compared to many POC… I’ve definitely benefited from privilege.
But today, as the adult woman that I am, I am going to ask more of myself as an American and demand more of this place I call home. I am no longer content to sit back on my “red, white and blue” laurels and pretend we’re a “great” country right now. I am not OK to hide behind a flag that does not exemplify the attributes it represents.
Equality. Safety. Empathy. Freedom. Liberty. ——— FOR ALL.
These are things I require of myself and my community and my country. This July 4th I am going to focus on committing myself to doing whatever I can to make my country truly great again. As a creative producer/storyteller, I want to use every medium possible to help spread the ideals that actually got us here, and to reclaim the values I hold precious.
I won’t run. I don’t argue. I can’t ignore. This year I plan to meditate more, walk in more love and empathy, assist those I can, and encourage the individual and the community to return to a life of love. I will create create every art piece in every medium I can - that will help us to connect to each other, empathize more, forgive, heal, and inspire us to a life with gratitude, joy, peace, self love, community love, empathy and hope. I believe American can be great again, but today we should apologize, forgive and return to our real ideals.
“Give me your tired, your poor, Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door! “ - The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc.
Happy July 4th. I love you America, but you need to grow up. I will grow with you.
Sincerely, Shanna
““I believe that there lives a burning desire in the most sequestered private heart of every American, a desire to belong to a great country. I believe that every citizen wants to stand on the world stage and represent a noble country where the mighty do not always crush the weak and the dream of a democracy is not the sole possession of the strong.””