USA Patriot

I love my family as well as this great country. I proudly display American flags around my home and I own too many items, which I continue to hang on to and the question I can't get out of my head is who, what, when, which, where and how does a person become a real patriot?

I am a husband, a father and extremely proud to be called UB, Uncle Bob, or GB, aka Grandpa BoB. I truly appreciate of all my blessings every day. I'm a proud American citizen, a property owner, and taxpayer. Like many of us, I'm an immigrant who entered the United States legally. My family once lived under communism in Cuba, but left all worldly riches behind and fled for a democratic way of life in the USA.

I am not a Republican or a Democrat. I have no political affiliation. I'm a Christian, but no longer attend regularly scheduled religious activities. I do not represent any special interest groups. I'm not an advocate for a specific lifestyle albeit I respect everyone.

As an independent, I was recruited to work for a Republican president, which required me to be vetted with special security clearance. I speak a couple of languages fluently, I earned advanced university degrees so I do not consider myself an idiot although I have sometimes heard my wives use that adjective.

One thing I enjoy learning is critical thinking. With all the time I have devoted as an educator sharing my lectures, conducting research writing and as a communicator producing content, I don't understand patriots who support someone who's never served this country but helps themselves to the riches this great nation has to offer by bending rules and attacking others.

Despite a number of malignant words, predatory behavior, misogyny, indecency, infidelity, and disregard for humanity, have we turned our backs on democracy?