June 15, 2026
Personal Reflections
As summer draws near, I begin to crave certain foods that feel inherently American — things like coleslaw, fried chicken, bacon cheeseburgers, milkshakes, ice cream, popcorn just to name a few. I indulged in just about all of these this weekend, including Gluten Free (but not celiac safe) fried chicken from Gold Standard in Downtown Olympia.
There are other things too like certain radio hits or moments in music history that feel American in the best way. America’s music history is so rich and vibrant! On Saturday, I went to a concert filled with hits from the 1980s and this weekend, I am attending Harlequin Productions “Million Dollar Quartet” which celebrates Elvis Presley, Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, and Jerry Lee Lewis. Despite how incredible these events are, they only scratch the surface of our country’s remarkable music history.
With these ideas in mind, let me tell you about something that happened yesterday:
With the taste of fried chicken lingering in my mouth, I meandered our Farmer’s Market and listened to Rod Koon and Friends make music on their stage. I smiled and watched as community members sang along to their cover of “Brown Eyed Girl.” In that moment, I realized this is what it actually means to be an American.
In the midst of the terrible news cycles, I’d forgotten how care deeply for our country. Despite how horrified I have been over the last decade of politics, I do love our country, and THAT IS WHY I HAVE BEEN HORRIFIED because who we are is so much better than this.
When I was in college, I focused my studies on American history, politics, and culture. I remember one of my professors, an immigrant, told me something deeply profound and I hope I never forget it. He said,
“We love the Schoolhouse Rock song, ‘American Melting Pot,’ but I want to challenge you to think of our country differently. Ingredients in a ‘melting pot’ become assimilated into the mainstream flavor. Yes, they still make their contributions, but little compromises happen along the way where their own unique flavors becomes less strong or individualized. Instead, we should think of America as a big salad where ingredients do not have to be reduced in order to not only contribute to a delicious meal, and their individual flavors can remain as vibrant as ever.”
I don’t know about you, but sometimes news cycles are so atrocious that it becomes tempting to just pack my bags and move to another country. The way I see it now, I don’t ever actually plan on leaving Thurston County or America altogether.
If people who love America the way I do choose to leave, who will be here to fight for justice, peace, love, hope, equality, and diversity?
There is a quote that comes up in my online algorithm all the time that says, “I did not say the pledge of allegiance every day in school to settle for anything less than ‘liberty and justice for all’.”
There are scriptures that comes to mind from 1 Corinthians 13 that say:
4 Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast […] 5 It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking […] 6 Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. 7 It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 8 Love never fails.
This is the kind of love I hope we can all hold in our hearts as we continue to fight, advocate, and do everything in our individual power to make our country a better place. May love be at the core of all we do and say in this crucial moment.
Keep making art, celebrating art, and showing up for our community. We need you!
This Week in the Arts
Coming up this week, I will be publishing three pieces in my JOLT Column including:
Review: Masterworks Choral Ensemble’s “80’s Dance Party” Concert
The Washington Center for Performing Arts Announces its 2026-27 Season
Arts & Pride Month Conversation Series: James Dover
To read my articles as they come out, I invite you to subscribe to the JOLT News and/or follow me on Instagram and Facebook, then invite a friend to do the same! :)
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