(To the two people who read it: the "Analyzing POTUS" series will resume shortly.)
I believe that my high school honors political science teacher used the phrase
"patriotism, motherhood and apple pie" when describing the use of heartwarming
American rhetoric that covers many of us in goose bumps and reduces some to
tears. I, for one, like hearing "The Star Spangled Banner", and it doesn't matter
if I'm at a ballpark or watching TV during the Super Bowl--it's music to my ears
and tingly to my skin. (Get it out of the gutter, folks--I'm talking about America.)
The upcoming Fourth of July weekend always gets me thinking about patriotism.
I really don't do much to 'celebrate' this holiday. For me, this particular day really
isn't any different from any other one. Now before you call INS and arrange to
have me deported to Abu Dhabi, let me clarify: I am not just patriotic on the
Fourth of July. I express my feelings for and belief in this country in some form
or another almost everyday.
Dictionary.com tells us that patriotism is the "devoted love, support, and defense
of ones country; national loyalty."In keeping with that definition, my annoyance was understandable following
September 11, 2001, when it suddenly became an unofficial crime to not display
a flag somewhere on or near you. It is no secret (or surprise) that the flag industry
became very profitable following that national disaster, thanks to zealots--err--
patriots (sorry--typo), who had decided that it was necessary to vocalize their
love of the U.S. by telling others that they weren't patriotic. I much prefer the
two other types of patriots: those who had the flag on display long before 9/11,
and those who never flew it at all.
The first of these two types probably started meeting the definition of patriotism
when she was an Army nurse in France in 1944. She got out of the service, married
a fellow Vet, went home, bought a flag and she and her husband have displayed
it proudly every day for the last sixty-seven years as a reminder of their buddies
and what they died for. For that type of American, patriotism is evidenced by the
white headstones in our national cemeteries, a visual reminder of war and a
lingering, individual mental image that a personal price was paid.
The second type of American goes to city council meetings from time to time. He
has never missed a vote in a primary, general, referendum or other special
election. He reads up on National/World events and cares about how they
pertain to the United States. He has never served in the military. But he isn't
above going door-to-door to campaign for a candidate, marching against war,
attending debates or holding a candle during a peace vigil. He writes to his local,
state and nationally-elected leaders--and knows who represents him in each
governing body. He doesn't own a flag. To him, displaying the flag is just another
form of patriotism.
American patriotism isn't just about singing anthems and waving a flag, people.
It isn't displayed by the realization that you can still, twenty years after middle school, recite the Pledge of Allegiance (although, good for you!) Patriotism
certainly isn't evidenced by citizens who steadfastly professed to anyone who'd
listen that if George W. Bush was reelected in 2004, they'd move to Canada.
No, patriotism is just the opposite.
To be deemed a patriotic American, you must be an active participant in getting
Barack Obama out of office because you think he's dragging our country down the
drain. To be deemed a patriotic American, you must fight to keep Barack Obama
in office because nutjobs like Michele Bachmann, Sarah Palin and Newt Gingrich
threaten our progress as a nation. You cannot call yourself patriotic without
voting. You are patriotic when taking the stand that our country has been
violated and you demand military action. You are equally patriotic when you
take a different stand and question military action for dubious motives. It is,
indeed, patriotic to defend ones country--against itself.
Are you noticing a theme here? No matter your belief system--whether you're a
die-hard right-winged fundamentalist who thinks that John Boehner is too liberal,
or a bleeding-heart, tree-loving progressive who thought that Ted Kennedy wasn't
liberal enough, there is room all-around for patriotism--and opportunities to
express it everyday. The biggest obstacle to patriotism is apathy.
And being apathetic, well...is kinda pathetic.
Happy Independence Day.
