The Problem With Saying ‘Merica’

“Merica.” No, that’s not a misspelling. In recent years, we’ve all heard someone say the name of our nation in this ironic manner. I’d be lying if I told you I’ve never uttered it myself jokingly. And yet, as with all terms and phrases, there’s a hidden meaning behind this formulation of the word America, a cultural explanation harkening back to the heightened form of patriotism experienced in the years following 9/11.

It’s hard to believe that it’s been over a decade since the most important event of the 21st Century thus far. While I was only ten, I can still remember the immediate national response. It was a time best symbolized by Toby Keith’s song, Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue. Within a week of the attacks, there was an American … click HERE to continue reading