Our name.

How did we end up being American DNA? As we explored potential names for our little band of two, we played with our own names and integrating our initials. D ‘n’ A.

And America. American. We grew up proud Americans. But these days we are feeling alienated from that identity. Estranged by our flag. At odds with our history. The people of America are more divided than we’ve ever seen in our lifetimes.

A conversation between liberal and conservative Americans, on the surface, may sound like we want the same things. Freedom. Love. Equality. Justice for all. But dig a little deeper, and differences emerge. How did we get here, where the ideals of liberty, justice and equality mean completely different things to people?

It seems as if the idea of flying the flag, and even America itself, has been claimed by conservatives and the religious right. “Make America Great Again”. When was it ever truly great and for whom? For immigrants? For Blacks? For women? For Native peoples? And the simple wish for true equality for all humans, is shouted down as Un-American. Right?

Wrong. We believe in America and what it has always stood for; it’s simplest of pledges. “Liberty and Justice. For All.” So, let’s claim the flag. Let’s claim America. Let’s claim the ideals and ideas it was founded on.

And let’s fucking claim the name. We are Americans.