While watching the 4th of July parade in Bend, I was struck by the plethora of patriotic attire and American flags on a day that brings Americans together to celebrate the Declaration of Independence from Great Britain and the beginning of a long and uncertain struggle to secure that independence. I thought that in spite of our political differences Americans can still unite to honor our country’s birth.

My reverie was abruptly shattered by the sight of a woman marching in the parade wearing an “F— Trump” T-shirt. My first thought was to confront her and demand to know why she thought such an expression was appropriate in a parade commemorating American freedom where half the participants and spectators are children. Since she was on the other side of the street, I chose not to do so.

A week prior, my vacation rental tenant invited me into the house to see something. From the living room window, he pointed to a shirt hanging on the side of the neighbor’s house and clearly visible over the fence. This shirt, which he said had been there for several days, also had the same epithet about the President as the one in the parade. After apologizing to my tenant for the fact that he and his wife had to be subjected to that display, I went next door to ask the owner to remove the shirt, but she did not answer the door. The tenant later told me that he saw her outside and asked her to take the shirt down. He said she did so after an “unpleasant” exchange.

There are no boundaries to liberal resentment of President Trump. That resentment has found expression in many ways, the most graphic being the figuratively dismembered head of the president held by comedienne Kathy Griffin. Other Hollywood personalities have communicated similar sentiments. Even members of Trump’s family, normally off limits, have been the targets of ridicule and threats from Hollywood elites.

A member of Congress, Democrat Maxine Waters, urged fellow Democrats to forcibly confront members of the Trump administration wherever they are found.

Several such instances have occurred, perhaps the most egregious the demand from the proprietor of the Red Hen restaurant in Lexington, Virginia, that White House press secretary Sarah Sanders and her party leave the restaurant. She then organized a group of Trump haters to harass them at another establishment.

While such intemperate behavior by the left is not new, the invective against Trump has reached unprecedented levels. Have liberals decided that civility has no place in our national discourse? The left hates not only President Trump but also the traditional values conservatives hold dear, the idea that America is a special place — as Reagan said, “ a shining city on a hill.”

A Gallup poll conducted in early June found that on this Fourth of July American patriotism is at its lowest point ever, with only 47 percent affirming they are “extremely proud” to be Americans. Fewer than one in three Democrats describe themselves that way, while three out of four Republicans express great pride in being American. Even worse, just 23 percent of political liberals feel pride in being American. Few liberals identify with the wonderfully inspiring lyrics of Lee Greenwood, “I’m proud to be an American, where at least I know I’m free.”

Michelle Obama remarked in February 2008, during her husband’s campaign for president, “For the first time in my adult life, I am really proud of my country.” It seemed an odd admission for the wife of a man aspiring to be president, but now it is clear she was simply voicing what many Democrats and others on the left feel about the country.

Does this revelation mean that Democrats are only proud of their country when they hold the reins of power and control of government institutions? Sadly, that seems to be the case.

— Paul deWitt lives in Bend.