{"id":26114,"date":"2016-12-22T00:01:44","date_gmt":"2016-12-22T08:01:44","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/barbarafalconernewhall.com\/?p=26114"},"modified":"2016-12-22T00:01:44","modified_gmt":"2016-12-22T08:01:44","slug":"patriotic-holiday-gifts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/server.stagingweb3.net\/barbarafalconernewhall\/patriotic-holiday-gifts\/","title":{"rendered":"Fifteen Patriotic Holiday Gifts for the Worried Progressives on Your List"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Patriotic<\/a>
A\u00a0Warriors game in blue\u00a0state California, where subscriptions to the Los Angeles Times or San Francisco Chronicle would make patriotic holiday gifts. Photo by Barbara Newhall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

By Barbara Falconer Newhall<\/em><\/p>\n

The holidays are upon us, and it’s getting\u00a0way\u00a0too late to put a package in the mail in time for the celebrations ahead. But it’s not too late to give patriotic holiday gifts to friends and family troubled at the prospect of an\u00a0incoming president who intends to (or might\u00a0accidentally) throw a monkey wrench into\u00a0the 229-year-old American\u00a0experiment.<\/p>\n

\"Patriotic<\/a>
Fourth of July flags fly in Pentwater, Michigan — a red state this year. Photo by Barbara Newhall<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The idea for social action\u00a0holiday gifts came from my Millennial kids, who don’t seem to be all that\u00a0interested in receiving the\u00a0usual shirts, sweaters and jewelry that I love to shop for in the weeks between Thanksgiving and Christmas.<\/p>\n

Heading their wish lists this year were requests for what I’m calling patriotic holiday gifts — donations in their honor to organizations that will help\u00a0keep the U.S. of A. and its institutions and ideals on an even keel during the stormy years ahead.<\/p>\n

They were asking for donations to places like the ACLU and Our Children’s Trust and subscriptions to news media\u00a0doing solid\u00a0investigative journalism like the New York Times and the Washington Post.<\/p>\n

I don’t know how many Millennials would describe themselves as\u00a0patriotic. It’s an old-fashioned word that, for many, suggests a closed mind, nationalism and my country, right or wrong. For me, patriotism means being stubbornly loyal to the American project and the ideals it’s been striving toward\u00a0since the constitution was signed in\u00a01787.<\/p>\n

I believe in self-government, the rule of law, justice, equal opportunity, civil liberties and public education. I believe in keeping those spacious skies spacious and those\u00a0purple mountain majesties purple. I believe in freedom of speech, religion and the press. I think that makes me patriotic, so right here, right now,\u00a0I’m claiming the term patriot for me and mine.<\/p>\n

I hope you will join me in giving friends and family the gift of a United States of America that’s good to go\u00a0for another 227 years.<\/p>\n

Here’s my list\u00a0of patriotic holiday gifts. It includes charities, businesses and political action groups.\u00a0Some contributions are tax deductible, some not. Please add your own favorite patriotic holiday gifts by clicking on the word “comments” above.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, Merry Christmas. Happy Hanukkah. Happy Kwanzaa. Happy New Year. And a Jolly\u00a0Winter Solstice.<\/p>\n

My Favorite Cause: Healthy Media and Real Journalism<\/h5>\n