My name is not on his patriot list.

This email says the President himself wants the Official 2020 Presidential Founder “FINAL list of American Patriots on his desk” by this very morning that I am typing these words. I received this email because my name doesn’t appear on the list. While I greatly appreciate the personal touch, I took great pleasure in knowing that the deadline passed as I slept, thankful that my name will not be “cemented in history alongside President Trump’s.”

What makes America great is that I can express these thoughts without fear. I can love my country and criticize its leaders when their actions or words don’t reflect my values. We live in a “both-and” country, not “either-or.” It’s not either love America or leave it. I can both love America and criticize its leaders.