1944. Patriotism blew through the air like honey bees looking for a hive. America fought the enemy with soul, community and purpose. Forget your shopping and your American flag made in China. This is the time to recycle your tin, conserve sugar and fight totalitarian dictatorships with carpooling. This was an era of honesty with all of its inconsistencies, hatred, love, fear, racism and perseverance. Propaganda was plastered on brick walls in school buildings. Propaganda streamed through the air waves, shone on movie screens and rained down heavy and fierce on souls. People listened. Forty percent of all vegetables in the U.S. were produced through small Victory Gardens housed in backyards, balconies, jails, school yards and abandoned lots. People had ration cards they used, traded and sold for sugar, gas, and other commodities. People volunteered, conserved, fought and worked to help the war effort. Rosie the Riveter raised her fist in the air. We won. Atomic mess, Hitler suicide, tear stained Japanese internment camps, and cheering American soldier marriage. And than came the suburbs....

2009. Patriotism blew through the air like SUV's looking for a gas station. Built in obsolecencse, freedom fries and independence. Urban sprawl, lattes and convenience. Our loyalty and patriotism is measured by one of George Bush's most famous quotes after 911 in his efforts to ease our country and inspire patriotism by telling us to "Go out and shop" Our patriotism got highjacked. Lets highjack it back.

America. I have never been big on pledging allegiance to a country, to waving a flag or singing the national anthem. However I love this country. I love the colors on El Cajon Blvd, the mountain peaks in Alaska, the low hanging mist in Big Sur, the Sudanese Americans hanging by 711 with Mexican coyboys, churches at high schools and my family. I love the opportunity our country has to change. I love the homeless on the bus. I love the fact that I can bitch about the government and not get arrested. I love my friends and chickens.

Inconvenience. Los Angeles in the 1930's had the most advanced and extensive light rail public transit system in the world. San Diego had 100's of miles of light rail system.in the 1930's. It came all the way through City Heights. Than came the GM, Standard Oil and Firestone Tire buy out. Massive piles of train cars were demolished to make way for the latest new invention that ran on gas, rubber and had an internal combustion engine. The bus. Which is a perfect segway to my story. Here is my commute in 2009. It takes me about 2 hours to get from my job in Alpine to my house off the Blvd in San Diego, which is about a 1/2 hour drive. I may have a 55 minute bus ride, a 15 minute trolley ride (not including wait times which can range from 5-25 minutes), and a 1/2 hour walk just to get home one way. Fortunately I can carpool. Sorry Hitler. On Monday's and Wednesday's I get a ride to work. I get a ride back with a Buddhist co-worker to El Cajon Transit Depot and have a 1 to 15 minute wait to catch a 15 minute trolley to SDSU. I than have a 25 minute walk to my house with the orange garage door. Tuesday's I drive my coworker to and from work and on Thursday's he drivesbothe ways. He lives in City Heights which makes it perfect. Except for the fact that we have to leave at 6:30 in the morning and my first class is not until 10:30. Oh well. Friday's I ride my bike 15 minutes to my other job with The Wooden Floor Co. and have a 15 ride home. I never knew how liberating inconvience could be.

Patriotism redefined!! We are shopping for something I cant for the life of me find on a shelf. We are shopping for our kids future. We are shopping for community. We are shopping for a car with 3 hub caps and a bike from 1987. We are shopping for gardens, community supported agriculture, good local beer and eggs in my backyard. We are shopping for creativity. We are shopping for the Jubilee. For restoration. For frienship and life. I pledge allegiance to God and his creative genuis. I pledge allegiance to patriotism redefined.

When you drive alone you drive with Hitler. Join a Car Sharing Club Today!