This piece was published elsewhere in 2021. Twenty years ago I was living in small town Virginia, a fish out of water. An atheist gay liberal who'd just graduated from a fancy Northeast liberal college. It was my day off, but I went into the newsroom that morning (I was a crime reporter for the paper) for obvious reasons.
This is what I like about you, Josh. You can be a critical SOB but you don't shy away from admitting/recognizing your own flaws, short-comings and mistakes. You're the kind of human I'm glad exists.
Yes, Josh. I relate. I have always deep down loved a 4th of July parade (they always made me cry a little) but now I see the real value of the things that I also mocked or joked about. My son plays High School football and I absolutely love going to the games on Friday night, volunteering with all the moms, etc. Everybody stops and hand over heart, listens as chorus kids sing the National Anthem. Never thought I'd feel I fit in better there than the theater world that I have left.
Being from south Florida from a farming family on my mother’s side and homesteaders on my father’s side, I greatly appreciate this article. I would love if you would expound upon what made you change your mind. This topic needs a deep dive.
This is a great observation. Like you, I did not understand patriotism or understood other approaches to living. Christian values were suspect to me. And anyone swinging a country‘s flag felt bad. Why was there a need to push everything into a binary existence: good vs evil? Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.
This is what I like about you, Josh. You can be a critical SOB but you don't shy away from admitting/recognizing your own flaws, short-comings and mistakes. You're the kind of human I'm glad exists.
Lovely short piece.
I appreciate your humility and openness.
Yes, Josh. I relate. I have always deep down loved a 4th of July parade (they always made me cry a little) but now I see the real value of the things that I also mocked or joked about. My son plays High School football and I absolutely love going to the games on Friday night, volunteering with all the moms, etc. Everybody stops and hand over heart, listens as chorus kids sing the National Anthem. Never thought I'd feel I fit in better there than the theater world that I have left.
Being from south Florida from a farming family on my mother’s side and homesteaders on my father’s side, I greatly appreciate this article. I would love if you would expound upon what made you change your mind. This topic needs a deep dive.
This is a great observation. Like you, I did not understand patriotism or understood other approaches to living. Christian values were suspect to me. And anyone swinging a country‘s flag felt bad. Why was there a need to push everything into a binary existence: good vs evil? Thanks again for sharing your thoughts.