Today is Independence Day, the anniversary of the birth of not only a new nation, but a new sense of optimism, of idealism. Surely we owe the Founders the respect they deserve, as do we owe those who gave their lives to defend these ideals the World.
The love of this great country of ours is an undying commitment. However, how do we measure one's devotion? Is it by waving the American Flag on a daily basis( with more and bigger equaling more patriotic)? Is it by unreluctantly supporting every action that our government partakes in, whether right or wrong?
A true patriot can not be evaluated through superficial activities, nor can he or she be questioned due to dissent.
Too many times, there are those who equate what is all things Christian, conservative, and white, with being "American". Too many times, those critical of the status quo are casted out of the realm of Americanism.
In a recent CNN poll, 90% of those surveyed believe that Senator John McCain, while only 75% believe Senator Barack Obama is. Yes, this does indicate that a vast majority of Americans think Obama loves his country, but what of the 25%? Does choosing not to serve in the military over helping the poorest members of society, or speaking out against an unjust war, or being a member of the Democratic Party, or being married to someone who pointed out past transgressions of the country she loves, make Barack Obama anti-American?
Let's face it, if he was, he would not be in the Senate. If he was, he'd not be running for the highest office in the land.
In the days after September 11, those who would invoke the mildest of criticisms of the Bush Administration would be marked. Millions, including myself, were spat upon in our opposition to the invasion of Iraq. Was our opposition a showing of unpatriotism? Quite the contrary; true patriots let their countrymen know when their country is heading toward a wayward path.
This Nation of ours was not founded by fearful men; it took the highest degree of brevity to resist authority in the defense of liberty. It should be no suprise then, that a man like Thomas Jefferson would say that "Dissent is the highest form of patriotism".
Or Robert F. Kennedy pointng out that, "The sharpest criticism often goes hand in hand with the deepest idealism and love of country."
In the spirit of these brave men, let's thank God we're allowed to dissent without retribution...it's why I celebrate the 4th.
1 comment:
Your commentary is brilliant.
I must add also that most people see blind faith in government as patriotism. They also see absolute trust in the American business model as key to being patriotic. These two features of "American Patriotism" is what makes it hard for critics of American imperialism and consumerism, such as myself, to consider ourselves part of the same crowd as these other patriots. In reality, intellectuals, like ourselves, are of a particular brand of patriotism: we care about the condition of our country through the eyes of the greater world around us. We recognize that the USA is not inwardly focused and that its actions affect the globe. We want a strong, positive, and responsible America, whereas the blind-followers would prefer America act to pursue its obsessive desire for power.
Sad world we live in. I wish your words were the definition of a patriot.
-Zach Pallin
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