On point, as usual.

I have been thinking about this question a lot in the run-up and aftermath of the ding-dang election. Republicans were able to paint Harris voters as Un-American because they criticize x-y-z. Women criticize the patriarchy, Black people criticize the racism, LGBTQ+ folks criticize the Evangelicals hating them. From a Republican perspective all these people have one thing in common - they hate America.

For Republicans, there is one way to be American-- their way. And so when you say you don't want to be "just American," I agree. That would mean accepting the whitewashed history that I'm unwilling to accept.

It is common for an abuser to "gaslight" the person they are mistreating. They tell that person it is all in their head. They repeat their lies so many times. They want people to believe their version of reality. What passes for patriotism in the USA is a version of gaslighting.

The only thing I knew about the Buffalo Soldiers was the Bob Marley song. I'll have to find out more.