The Native Iowan

On my side of the globe it is the 4th of July.

It was in 1980 that I last sat and watched the 4th’s fire works and hotdog cooking antics without knowing…

Knowing what it all meant and was for.

On July 4th 1980 I was 22 years old. Drove and old push-button Dodge. Worked construction for Ray Nehl. Was fit and tanned and young and beautiful.

But I didnt understand the 4th of July. Then it was a day off, a day in the summer air, a day with a long night.

On January 11th 1981 I unwittingly bid farewell to the USA. I never “lived” in the US again. Tho I visited a lot, frequently, often… I never called the USofA home again.

I became an expatriated American way back then. And I learned about Patriotism. Took quite a while, it cost me many, many lessons but learn I did. And now I know, I Know…

Patriotism is a positive.

Period.

Being patriotic is something one learns. It didnt come from standing every morning before class, hand on heart, reciting the pledge of allegiance. It didnt come from lessons learned from elders… those elders that had sacrificed by “Serving”. Those elders that survived and would sit quietly, smoking in the dusk, watching the fire works flash and awe, with a tear running down the cheek.

I learned Patriotism by leaving the USofA, and entering the world of multiculturalism and, importantly, multi-Nationalism.

There is an old, old joke that goes like this… “What do you call someone that speaks 3 languages? Trilingual, of course. 2 Languages? Bilingual. 1 Language? American.”

There is a lot within this old play on words… there has been much written and discussed about “being American”. We all have heard of “The Quiet American”… another play on words. Yet, as a young expatriated American, I quickly learned much about my personal Patriotism. Noting well my Patriotism may not be like yours.

I moved from Iowa to Solomon Islands in January 1981. I entered a land that was traditionally NOT “American”. The Solomons had been the stomping grounds for Brits and Aussies and Kiwis, but there were few “Yanks” around. The Peace Corps program totalled less than 25 people in 1981. There were some Yanks working in the Islands but they were few and far between.

A July 4th doo wasn’t common place in the Islands back then. The small number of Yanks on each Island would hold some type of celebration. I remember one that was organised (in the 90s) by an American lady that didnt approve of alcohol. Suffice to say the “dry” 4th celebration got turned into a 2-kegger thanks to Tom Shoen. I still recall the tea-totalling lady being unhappy there wasn’t more soft drinks. Noting we had beer left over the next morning.

As a Solomon Islander it was easier to wait for the 7th of July, when the Solomons celebrate their Independence Day. More Solomon Islanders around than Yanks, thats for sure.

Often, The Melbourne Cup would be a bigger day, a bigger party in the Solomons than the 4th of July.

I do not recall when the “ANTI” movement started and National Holidays became a time and place to vent unhappiness, unease, unrest. Maybe the “anti” side of things has always been there, but not as in-your-face. I attended quite a few “protests” in my time, but there was never any intent then and there to be violent.

I fear times have changed.

And the beat goes on…

Happy 4th of July to all…

Smiles

More later