Reading and posting to the tough questions group, I realized I am still a liberal at heart, soul and mind. But what does that really mean? A friend many years ago said I was so open minded that I was closed minded. I think he meant that I would let others have their say but not really listen to it.

On Tuesday night, my home town had a fireworks display. Before the "bombs bursting in air", a local community choir sang patriot songs. For a while, I just listened, watched people, and let my mind float. Then, a song was sung, I don't remember the title, but something inside me began to grow and I found tears in my eyes.

Our history has been a bloody one from almost the beginning. We fought Indians, we fought the French, we fought the English, we fought each other. We fought in Mexico, in Cuba, in Europe and in Asia. Sometimes, those wars felt justified; sometimes, even history, said some of the wars were wrong.

Our history has been one of nation building almost from the beginning. Towns and councils were formed, governors were appointed, judges and magistrates ruled on law. Universities and common schools were established. We put our mark on this land and set up making a country, a nation.

The battles now are waged in courts as well as fields of other countries. We've been and still remain a nation of indivisibility yet we each see something different. Do I agree with every Democrat? No, I don't. Do I disagree with every Republican? No, I don't. As the saying goes, some of my best friends are Republicans.

I don't like shock jocks or one sided political talk shows (both radio and television). There are some talk shows that only provide the liberal, progressive view. Equally there are talk shows which have only a conservative view. To listen to one at the exclusion of the other doesn't really help me understand the issues.

A conservative syndicated columnist wrote yesterday that there are no "D" for Democrat or "R" for Republican on the graves of fallen military men and women. Do I support this war in Iraq? No, I don't. Do I support the war in Afganistan? Yes.

Do I support the men and women who are deployed and fighting in both countries? YES! I do. One does not make me less patriot than the other or vice versa.

I am a liberal. Sometimes even a yellow dog Democrat. (For the yankees that might be reading this, a yellow dog Democrat is one who would vote for a yellow dog on the Democratic ballot before he or she would vote for a Republican." I am also an American, with a deep love for my country. When my country appears to be going on a wrong path, I hope I'm there to say so. When my country appears to be going on a right path, I hope I'm there to encourage.