NOURRIR
ISSUE
9
J U LY 2 016
ISSUE
7
MAY 2016
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NOURRIR STAFF FOUNDER AND CHIEF EDITOR
Freya Boulakbeche freya@nourrirmag.com CONTENT EDITOR
Justin Hickman media@nourrirmag.com
CONTRIBUTORS
Lucy Beni, Catherine Franklin, Laura Buccieri and Renee Minus White ON THE COVER
Bee Keepers of NYC, Photo by Lucy Beni SUBSCRIPTIONS
Media@nourrirmag.com www.nourrirmag.com
NOURRIR’S MISSION STATEMENT Nourrir, the French word meaning “to nourish” is a multi-media lifestyle magazine designed to feed all five of the senses - sight, sound, touch, smell and taste. We will feature food, fashion, travel, current events and women who inspire us. We don’t want to tell women how they are supposed to be, we want to give them information that will support their path, today. With commitment to responsive and insightful storytelling, and a keen and fresh editorial eye, Nourrir dares women to not only be good enough, but exceptional. We believe in you.
media@nourrirmag.com
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NOURRIR CONTENTS
STAFF
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EDITOR’S LETTER
4
CONTRIBUTORS
5
NOURRIR AMERICA
7
TWO BUDGETS 8 LUSTS & MUSTS
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NOURRIR PATRIOTISM SPOTLIGHT
11 13
NOURRIR FASHION
27
FINAL THOUGHTS
30
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EDITOR’S LETTER Learning to question one’s own beliefs, the very thoughts that propel us in our lives, give true freedom; a lesson learned towards Love. July we celebrate Patriotism. Not the “rah rah” ideas that divides us from each other, or from the rest of the natural world, rather that which is able to hold two diametrically opposed beliefs in one’s hand and still see the “good”. Last month, we lost an amazing Patriot in Mohammad Ali. Nourrir Edition 9 - Patriotism Revisited is dedicated to him. Ali believed standing up for what was “right” was American, even while he lost titles and followers. He proved over and over again that prevailing beliefs aren’t always on the right side of history. We suffered another devastating loss of life in Orlando, a hate crime perpetrated against some of the most alienated of our country: LGBTQ minorities. And, what about Mary Jo? Istanbul? Brexit? What were the motivations behind such heinous acts of cruelty and violence and rejection of inclusion? I challenge us to ask, does it even matter? Will the motivations change how we, the so-called innocent, behave towards the perpetrators? My question to you, how will we treat all people, regardless of the things they have done or not done, with the same amount of love? When we can stop the cycle of punishment, blame, and hatred towards those who kill, we will finally be what we ask them to be. This is not a political statement; this is a law of the universe. Also, I am personally thrilled about our newest contributor Lucy Beni. She has a fresh eye and a intelligent sense of the world. I think you will be awed by her images and representation of Americans at work in the Bees Spotlight and cover! Welcome Lucy. We welcome back Renee White, what an honor. She is a founding member of the Chantels (we die!) and a long time Fashion Editor for the New Amsterdam News, an institution in African American print news. Patriotism, when coupled with choice, compassion and the desire to see “things from someone else’s point of view” becomes an expression of beauty, diversity, individualism, expression, culture and love. When coupled with fear, hatred and righteousness it becomes breeding ground for civil war, terrorism and other hate. Regardless of your beliefs about politics, religion, food, schools, etc. We each have been given free will. What will you chose? Join the discussion at www.nourrirmag.com. Share your thoughts with us on FaceBook.
Freya C h i e f E d i t o r, Fo u n d e r
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CONTRIBUTORS RENEE MINUS WHITE Renee is the fashion and beauty editor for the N.Y. Amsterdam News, and founder of a Time to Style, Inc. - a production and communications company that produces fashion editorials, fashion shows and presentations. Also, as a founder of RMW Enterprises, has penned fashion articles for Montgomery Ward’s, Essence Magazine, and Leavit Advertising Agency. She is the proud product of Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City.
C ATH ERIN E FR A N K LIN Catherine believes that we are all artists, each with our own specific talent and story to tell. She is obsessed with food, art, design, people and philosophy as well as the effects these things have on each other and our envirnment. Catherine is known to say “If we all act from a place of fearless love, it will lead us in the right direction.”
LAURA BUCCIERI Laura lives in New York City where she is currently getting her MFA in Poetry at The New School. Traveling is one of her biggest loves. Her mom started taking her all over the world when she was young, and that same wanderlust is now engrained in her. She is especially fascinated by the literary work in the places that she visits. When abroad, she alway try to find a bookstore that will have English translations of local poetry. Similarly, she hopes that her work “translates” across multiple minds and places. Gertrude Stein phrased it best when she stated, “I am writing for myself and strangers.”
ERIN SMITH Erin possesses a dry humor, mixed with keen human understanding that makes her one of the funniest people we know. These qualities certainly are rare when combined. With her journalism degree in hand, Erin stands above the fray by avoiding mockery while evoking connection. Erin is also our beloved “staff writer”, “editor at large”, and friend. She is a woman wearing many hats, as so many of us do. In edition 8, she brings to life Nicole and world of Koch.
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CONTRIBUTORS MELISSA KANDIDO Melissa is a wander lust-er, dreamer, mother, daugther, dancer, wordsmith, educator. Currently a history and geography teacher to middle schoolers, and an English and art teacher to high schoolers at Windhoek International School in Namibia. She is also a mother of “three karmic forces of energy”.
LUCY BENI Lucy Beni is a documentary photographer and photojournalists currently based out of New York City. She was born in Brussels, Belgium but was raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She currently focuses her work on different types of communities of people, mainly centered around New York City, be they urban beekeepers or the LGBTQ community. She also enjoys shifting her view to a more global scale through travel photography and future stories outside of the United States. Along with Lucy’s main focus on documentary subject matters, she also creates fine art and personal photography works.
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NOURRIR AMERICA American Patriotism: Not Just One Belief BY LAURA BUCCIERI
A baby girl is born in DeYoung, Illinois. Her mother keeps up the home and her father works for the water plant. They raise her as Methodist. She attends an elementary school down the street from her house. She learns the pledge of allegiance, the rules of kickball, and her state history. She makes the high school honor roll. She attends Princeton University. Her freshman year dorm mate requests a room transfer, citing racial differences. Neither of her parents are college graduates. All of this is new to her. She decides to pursue law, and then attends Harvard Law School. She hopes to uphold the values of America, and help low-income tenants with housing cases. She knows she can be both brilliant and black. Several years later, she becomes the First Lady of the United States. A baby boy is born in a suburb outside Dayton, Ohio. His parents love him very much. In elementary school he learns that he likes to compete. He learns every word to the Pledge of Allegiance, and he can say it faster than anyone in his class. His parents are proud. They expose him to sports at a young age. He likes the usual American sports: baseball, basketball, and football. And yet, he smiles every time he’s in the water. He is a three-time all-American swimmer. His dad grills him a steak on the weekends and they discuss his future as an athlete. In high school he is king of the world. He gets a scholarship to Stanford for swimming. He can sing every word to the national anthem before the swim meet. Later, he is arrested for rape and will serve six months in prison. A baby girl is born in Metairie, Louisiana. Her mother is a speech therapist and her father is an insurance agent. She is raised Christian Scientist. She attends elementary school, where she learns she can make people laugh. She is good at doing impressions of teachers and students. Her parents teach her southern hospitality, and how to place her hand on her heart during The Star Spangled Banner. She attends college in New Orleans, where she performs stand-up comedy, influenced by American classics like Steve Martin. She moves to Los Angeles, works hard, and ends up hosting her own daytime talk-show. A few years later, she comes out as a lesbian, and as the years goes on, she becomes one of America’s most outspoken LGBTQ leaders. A baby boy is born in Akron Ohio. His father is an NBA star and his mother raises him alongside his siblings. His parents raise him as a devout Christian. As a child, he
moves around the country a lot. His dad plays for various NBA teams. He is a small kid, but he wants to be a great American athlete, like his father. In high school, he works hard at becoming a great basketball player and is named to the All-State team. He is recruited to a small college to play basketball. He is a small guy with a ferocious love of the game. He feels a connection to his father, his country, and his god when the National Anthem is played before each games. A couple years later he ends up being the NBA’s MVP two years in a row. Any “ism” — whether that be patriotism, sexism, or Taoism — has to do with a belief, an attitude, and a collective doctrine. But, one is not born believing in these “isms;” they are taught how, and what to believe. American patriotism is not instilled in children from birth. Instead, it is slowly and carefully taught, via constant reiterations in American culture: baseball, malls, pop culture, Independence Day, the Super Bowl. Along the way, children develop a sense of allegiance to this notion of America that was built for just for them, right in front of their eyes. Since America geographically is big and its’ citizens come from vastly different backgrounds, American patriotism manifests differently from one individual to the next. The parents of each of the children mentioned earlier have built America using different building blocks, built on similar foundations: the desire to do what is right, and to make a better life. Each child is heavily influenced by the school they went to, the religion they were brought up with, the town they grew up in, and the culture they were exposed to. One child’s patriotism might lie more in their hometown or state, while another’s may be rooted in their country as a whole. They might feel more pride in their ancestors and family heritage, over a general American heritage. Two children born on the same day in different states and circumstances will probably grow up loving and hating different things about America. So, what is American patriotism? If each American relates to the country differently, and is taught to feel pride in different aspects of American culture, then what connects all of these people? America has prided itself on being a free nation, a nation that does not press its values and beliefs upon its citizens. Maybe, these differing views of patriotism is American patriotism: never forcing one belief, but rather valuing differences in order to be a strong whole.
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TWO BUDGETS: FRUGAL For the gal who has champagne tastes on a shoestring budget - looks for under $100 J U LY ’ S T H E M E : PAT R I O T I S M
Ariana Grande For Lipsy Heart 2 Pack Pearl Earrings, $14
White Woven Panama Hat, $25
White Peep Toe Sandals, $35
Dot Print Halter Neck Swimsuit, $23
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TWO BUDGETS: SPENDY For the woman who has capital to invest in a chic wardrobe - looks for under $1000 J U LY ’ S T H E M E : PAT R I O T I S M
Kenneth Jay Lane, Hoop with Coral Sticks earrings, $45
Rebecca Minkoff, White Fringe Leather Tote, $359
Billabong, Beach Brigade Sandals, Vegan Leather $44 Anna Kosturova, “Aztec” Seashell Monokini, $245
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LUSTS & MUSTS Here are five things we’re obsessed with this month - don’t say we didn’t warn you.
MUSIC
Ocean Drive by Duke Dumont Get ready to dance! Transport yourself , envision yourself spinning to these infectious beats in the clubs of Sydney, Ibiza or New York. This track from the 7th extended play release of this English Powerhouse.
BOOKS
Muhammad Ali: The Greatest Edited by the Toni Morrison, this auto-biography leaves out none of the grit, fight and love of the American Icon. This best seller is ever more relevant as the world mourns another loss of a hero.
G I F T S TO G I V E
Organic Wave Spray by Intelligent Nutrients Your best beach hair yet! All natural, certified organic ingredients. So clean you could eat it, if you really wanted. Sea salt, quinoa protein and green tea extracts build volume, absorb oil while protecting your hair. Indulge!! E V EN T S
A PP S
Tidal Jay Z and Beyonce killing it with and app that broadcast Lemonade, the “movie” and album AND a discography of hard to find Prince. All we can say is, Thank you, thank you. The Black Album, check. Indigo Nights, check! The Chocolate Invasion, check!Rave In2 the Joy, check. Etc. etc. Prince fans be warned.
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Macy’s 4th of July New York, USA Brooklyn Bridge, July 4, 2016 Iconic Brooklyn Bridge is a pehnomenal vantage point to check out the Macy’s Fireworks display. America loves the 4th and her fireworks. Celebrate the spirit of indpenedence.
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NOURRIR PATRIOTISM BY C ATHERINE FR ANKLIN
It’s July: Independence Day and Bastille Day are maybe on our minds. So, shat does it mean to be patriotic? How should we celebrate these holidays? What exactly are we celebrating and how do we or should we define being patriotic. Some people demonstrate reluctance in defining specifics; they insinuate that the ideals synonymous with American patriotism (today) don’t align with their values or with the direction they wanted to see the United States go in. A self-described humanist British Colombian said, “I couldn’t understand how anyone could justify being patriotic in America, if that meant supporting and defending the American dream. A mostly unattainable dream wrapped up in the false hope of capitalism, deflecting reality, which is a society ruled by the elite upper class. A system that surpasses the poor while simultaneously encouraging them to believe that if they work hard enough they will one day be rich and successful, and then shames them when they don’t succeed in a system in which they are destined to fail. The running of American society today makes it almost impossible for people to penetrate the lines of the invisible class system that is very present, but rarely acknowledged, and therefore even harder to address.” Phew, if this is true, where does this leave us? All very valid, and arguably true points depending on your statistical sources. But, we also have a lot of great resources and potential for taking positive action. And, there are Americans who care and are working towards making real changes. None of these people classify themselves as patriots or being patriotic because the present day definition is dominated by a population of people whose idea of love and freedom is fueled by fear: fear of terror, fear of change, fear of opposing beliefs, fear of fear itself? The simple definition of patriotism, as defined by Merriam Webster dictionary, is: love that people have for their country and expatriate as; to leave one’s native country to live elsewhere; also : to renounce allegiance to one’s native country. Merriam Webster’s words seems quite harmless; after-all, how could love be a bad thing? But people
The love of one’s country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border? -PABLO C A SAL S love, or think that they ‘love’ in many different ways. History continues to prove that despite our best human intentions or because we do something out of love, or what we think love is, that it is good or right: Vietnam? WWII? Guantanamo? Using love to define patriotism leads to two diametrically opposed outcomes: awesomely positive or terribly dangerous depending on how we define love. Given the current state of affairs worldwide: bombings in Istanbul, BREXIT, US Elections and elsewhere this epoch may be one of the most important times to think about how one shows love for their country. Time to start asking ourselves different questions (or to start asking altogether) about our actions and the words we are using to define them. Love, is something that is free and open and makes people feel good. Something that pushes us to be kind to and help others, to be good to and nurture ourselves. When we love truly and honestly it can be painful and not what we expected. We see things that we don’t like, but we don’t stop loving. This is the best part in love, it is actually what love is all about; moving through the ugly hard times and truths, and not giving into them or letting them over power us, but being empowered by the love that fuels us. When we love we are tolerant of differences and don’t feel the need to control or repress. There is no room for evil or hate in love.
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— continued So, while it is great to love your country it is not just about defending something that we think is right or that we believe in, but rather upholding a love for a place that includes everyone. We must extrapolate, our country, or state or community is just a small part of the whole. Moving forward includes other inevitable challenges: basing our present and our future on a country that was founded on the taking land that belonged to others and repressing them in the process without . Placing love, acceptance and good at the fore forces us to honestly recognize what the foundation of this country was built on: ‘freedom’ payed for with the lives and cultural destruction of the native americans and enslaved Africans. We must acknowledge the suffering that took place then, and now, and is transmitted and felt by the descendants of those who suffer. In order to move forward we must recognize, and not in the hopes to find closure, but in giving validation, that their suffering, the suffering of all groups and people, is real, and needs to be acknowledged. The point is to somehow touch a small audience and “wake” even one person so we may stop to think and challenge our ideas and opinions. One person can encourage all of us to really step out of our comfort zones and have new perspectives. We can stop fighting for being right and start fighting to protecting and loving each other, regardless of the borders and differences that exist naturally or that were created by us; let’s get comfortable with being uncomfortable sometimes. community, love and belonging have nothing to do with nationality ,race, religion or borders.
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NOURRIR SPOTLIGHT Beekeepers of NYC by Lucy Beni PHOTOS BY LUCY BENI
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The typical view of beekeeping as the old man with a white beard in the countryside has evolved to fit the urban lifestyle. With knowledge of the health benefits of local honey and the importance of bees to our ecosystems becoming more prevalent, New York City beekeeping has become increasingly popular within the last decade. Large numbers of people marched for the sake of bees at The People’s Climate March in the streets of New York City on September 21, 2014. Even more significant, however, are the faces behind the urban beekeeping trend. The New York City Beekeeper’s Association’s members are responsible for most of the activity going on in this city. Tim, Molly and Tom are three of the most dedicated and passionate urban beekeepers in this group. The group meets regularly to share information and newfound knowledge of their craft. They also readily aid each other with each of their individual and group beehives.
Tim Cerniglia Jr. is a contractor and a part of a family becoming increasingly involved with beekeeping, with himself as his family’s most involved member of the beekeeping community. Tim lives on his uncle’s property in Greenwich, Connecticut where his uncle shared his love for bees with Tim. Now Tim has passed his adoration of beekeeping on to his young nieces. Tim keeps a few dozen hives at his home, with many others scattered around other locations in Connecticut. He is always scouting out new locations for more hives. In addition to his hives in Connecticut, Tim shares about ten hives with fellow New York City Beekeeper’s Association members on the roof of a gallery in the Chelsea neighborhood of New York City. A couple other members and he share the responsibilities of these hives, including harvesting honey, feeding the bees and checking for pests. Tim attends all of The New York City Beekeeper’s Association meetings, teaches classes, leads talks and informational bee gatherings and even continues to take classes.
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Molly Conley is a young and newer member of the beekeeping community but is already very passionate and has quickly become one of the leading figures of the Beekeeper’s Association. She is a graphic designer and is currently aiding Tim with his honey brand development of BeeKind Farms. She is at the same time working on the development of her own brand. This is her second year with her own beehives, but has done a few years of apprenticeships with the Beekeeper’s Association. She currently owns one hive in the West Village in New York City and a few others at her house in New Jersey City. Tom Wilk is a wine seller who has developed a growing passion for beekeeping over the past decade but has only owned his own hives for the past three years. He has a couple hives at seven different locations across Queens in New York City, the place he grew up and has always lived.
These locations range from the roof of an elevator company, with no elevator, as Tom likes to point out, to the back porch of a very unique communal inner-city farming house by the name of Hellgate Farm, where chickens and lavish gardens fill the cramped backyard. Though these three beekeepers each come from different backgrounds and live different lifestyles, they are a few of the most dedicated members of this ever-evolving hobby in New York City. The New York City Beekeeper’s Association is more than just a group of beekeepers; it is an extremely passionate group that aids each other in spreading their shared love for beekeeping. They are a family within themselves that care for the family that is New York City’s bee population.
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NOURRIR FASHION Camilla: Looks for On the Boat & Beach BY RENEE MINUS WHITE
Whether you are on the beach, a boat or the boardwalk, pretty prints are the way to go. At Camilla’s Spring/summer’16 show for Australia’s Mercedes Benz Fashion Week, the looks were bright, colorful, bare and fun to wear. Her prints were styled with a Mediterranean feel. With drums on the beat, it was party time on the boardwalk. The food was delicious, the drinks were flowing and the clothes were out of this world. And the children stole the show! Australian designer Camilla Franks celebrates summer with a comfortable collection. By the looks in her collection, you can also tell that she is an artist. Her namesake brand was launched twelve years ago. Each piece is infused with a story. The destination and adventure of Camilla is her off the beaten track travels. Her looks are unique, and often quite intimate. In the collection, there’s huge emphasis on details and a dedication to quality craftsmanship. She has sixteen boutiques that keep her traveling around the globe. Folks enjoyed the show. Her looks are definitely the way to go this summer! Good Show! In New York, The American Apparel & Foot Association (AAFA), held a successful event that celebrated its 38th Annual Image Awards at 583 Park Avenue. The evening was hosted by InStyle Magazine’s founding editor, Hal Rubenstein. The event was supported by charity partner Mercy Ships. The 2016 Image Award winners included Person of the Year: Joseph Abboud; Company of the Year, BBC International LLC; Designer of the Year: Christian Siriano, also a Project Runway Winner: Retailer of the Year: Shinola Detroit; and Fashion Maverick of the Year: Iris Apfel. Each received a statuette created by world-renowned designers and artists, Ruben and Isabel Toledo. “At the heart of the American Image Awards is our to honor our incredible industry, while giving back to a partner that will somehow make the world just a bit better, “ emphasized AAFA President and CEO Rick Helfenbein. “AAFA was overwhelmed with the incredible generosity last night, with an unforeseen $100,000 donation to Mercy ships made in the name of our Fashion Maverick honoree Iris Apfel.” The generous donation was made by president and CEO of United Legwear & Apparel Co., Isaac E. Ash. Young Christian Siriano continues to intrigue fans and the media. He dresses many of the worlds leading ladies. Siriano entertained the audience with his wit and humor. Joseph Abboud embodies American ideal of diversity. He discussed his journey to become one of the most prominent menswear designers and style makers. There was an enthusiastic applause as Robert Campbell, brom BBC International, took the stage. He was recognized for immense contributions to the footwear industry.
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FINAL THOUGHTS Taunted by Borders BY MELISSA KANDIDO
I feel taunted by borders and teased by boundaries which is why I feel Patriotism is a complicated concept. Maps are simply lines on paper and those lines divide the paper, no different than the margins that tell me when I have written into the outpost of my perimeter, breaking the brink of my scribe frontier with my ink. However, my thoughts crossing through invisible doorways of confinement does not mean my brain, my being and my body spectacularly transcends my nationality. I am a U.S. citizen who generally doesn’t feel much allegiance nor patriotic emotions about being U.S. citizen. My Stateside experiences and rearing has shaped who I am, but not more and not less that my experiences of growth from living in Zimbabwe and Namibia. The experiences that helped me grow in these nations do not have to be in conflict or competition with each other, because I have found a peace in honoring how they have shaped me. But it took some time to work into that peace. Complex terms often end with “ism.” ISMs are suffixes added to a noun when referring to a broad range of ideologies in a general sense. Because it is broad, patriotism means many things to many people. For the majority of my life, I would say I subscribed to George Bernard Shaw’s view that “patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all others because you were born in it.”
I feel that patriotism must be deconstructed as it is locked into a strange marriage with fighting for some ideal in which you believe. Although that seems valuable as well as a redeeming quality with great intentions, it is dangerous. The danger in connecting the need for conflict when another does not see the world the way you do is not I can clearly remember my intense childhood fascination with the “F” encyclopedia because of the flags of the world. The colors and motifs felt like a playground of joyful graphic Lego blocks. I painted them on shirts, bought a 1987 Benetton watch because of the flags on its face (still have it, still wear it). Enamored was I in the differences of design and shape. Later, I researched meanings of colors and symbols for national flags and recognized that there was no playfulness to the intentional use of color and design. Nationalism was woven into every detail—red for blood shed during independence struggles; blues for skies or oceans; swords and guns to defend what was won; rays of sun for dawn, for tribes, for pillars of belief. Then I remembered how many iterations the U.S. flag experienced because the U.S. went through that many growth spurts and painful historical changes. I often thought what my own personal flag might look like in all iterations of ages, phases, education and what would stay consistent to my flag—stars and stripes or sunrises and weapon
“Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.’ —ADL AI E . S TE VENSON
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I am able to see the U.S. for opportunity and middle-class effort. I am able to recognize the immediacy of information, fast food, and 24 hour access. I am able to discern that these can be both positive and negative and because of this, I feel less patriotic than I believe most to be. My father served in the military but tells me no stories of his time in Thailand, nor do I ask. I know no one who has lost their life in the armed forces. I have a friend who retired from the Coast Guard. I have two friends who joined the Marines. There was a time in middle school, at my shallowest, that I wanted to wear fatigues, camouflage and my father’s dog tags. A friend critically analyzed my fashion choices with a peculiar distaste for it bore no connection to its intended purpose. I had not processed what it meant to defend and kill for a cause, a country, a patriotic ideal. There is a fine line between standing up for what one believes and pushing beliefs or ways of life upon others, but I was doing neither—I was appropriating a ‘style’ that had nothing to do with my identity.
the noise of fireworks that drive me into the bomb shelter of my inner being. I enjoy sparkling things in life, in the sky, on my eyelashes and fingers but to know that those explosives represent blood, bloodshed (and not the life-giving menstrual kind), then I get weary. I am not naïve, I get it. There are wars fought for reasons and I benefit from them. However, I do not want to be bound to the one way of celebrating nationality, nationalism or patriotism.
My accent gives me away most of the time—as a foreigner, an immigrant. Some people call people like me ex-pats, or ex-patriots. I can’t claim that term as I am not sure I was a patriot before and the more common term for people who move from country to country is migrant or immigrant. I immigrated to Namibia for a better life for my kids and I. Here, they are safer; I worry about scorpions and malaria not human predators. Here, their brown skin is not criminalized for they are the majority. Here, their names are not the unpronounceably tripped over by tongues infected with mindblocks. Here, most shops are closed on Sundays and after 8pm. Here, opportunity lies in the sunrise and the sunset over the mountains. Here, I feel much more at home. I cannot say that these feelings make me less or more patriotic, but that it is complicated.
When I think about patriotism in a positive light, which I must to balance my ill-feelings, I think of pride and that can be powerful. But we mustn’t confuse pride with anti-anything. Maybe the juxtaposition of those elements have never enjoyed the spectrum it deserves and therein lies my discomfort with it.
When I lived Stateside, every media outlet obligated to wear red, white and blue and endure
Being outside of the US on 4 July is contrastingly different from 21 March in Namibia. Namibians are celebrating an independence only 25 years young. Death and sacrifice is not even a generation away for most. Celebrations of what it means to be independent include dancing, local artists, traditional dance troupes. Of course one day does not patriotism make. I can celebrate anyone’s independence but that doesn’t make me feel more patriotic than another. But not feeling forced to do it in the ‘traditional’ way is freeing in and of itself.
Yet and still, I just read a blog from a father who sincerely honors his transgender daughter in teaching him both courage and patriotism. I found this a new way to look at where I was born. I was born into a country that speaks of freedoms (even if it doesn’t always support them all in law) and that made me who I am in many ways as well. I can’t say I could have lived supporting the genderfluidity nor the sexual scale of Kinsey had I not been born in the U.S. So, there are areas that I must also appreciate in balance for my country.
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Can’t get enough of Nourrir? Check out last month’s issue. It was a good one.
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