"Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to
whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism
is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the
blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of
war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate
and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing
the rights of the citizenry. Rather the citizenry, infused
with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of
their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know?
For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar."
-Julius Caesar
.... Linda M. 2/6/02
Thinking about patriotism
-- I
wanted to stimulate folks to think what exactly patriotism is and isn't
and how what goes for patriotism these days may not be what was
originally meant by it.
Patriotic Acts- Every generation finds its own definition of patriotism. For the author, it's
rooted in a Vietnam-era boyhood on Lexington Green and is flourishing amid a
post-Seattle awakening.
"Senate Democratic leader Tom Daschle criticized the U.S.
military campaign Thursday for an 'expansion without at least a clear
direction.'" Said Daschle, "I don't think the success has
been overstated, but the continued success, I think, is still somewhat
in doubt...Before we make commitments in resources, I think we need to
have a clear understanding of what the direction would be...We've got
to find Osama bin Laden and we've got to find other key leaders of the
al-Qaida network, or we will have failed.'" Trent Lott retorted,
"How dare Senator Daschle criticize President [sic] Bush while we
are fighting our war on terrorism, especially when we have troops in
the field. He should not be trying to divide our country while we are
united." Hey Trent, remember what you said when Clinton was
fighting the Kosovo war in 1999? "We can support our troops
without supporting our president." Lott's brazen hypocrisy is a
disgrace! How can Mississippi keep re-electing this bozo?
Just spotted the article on patriotism in whitecloud
I have been meaning to write on the same theme for a few days now. I
wanted to stimulate folks to think what exactly patriotism is and isn't
and how what goes for patriotism these days may not be what was
originally meant by it. I also wanted to include some other things not
usually thought of as the essence of patriotism.
When we say that someone is patriotic, we must mean that s/he loves
his/her country. However, a country does not exist without the people
who live in that country. Therefore, patriotism really means love for
people of one's country.
Now, if one loves people of one's country, than s/he cares for them
every step of the way. One, for example, does not run the red light or
drive under influence, if one is patriotic. One says "you're
welcome" (or some such similar thing) as a response to "thank
you." One does not ask "what do you want?" but "what
would you like?" One is gentle and sensitive to his or her
neighbors and takes deep interest in their welfare.
One is humble rather then boisterous, one listens more than s/he
preaches.
One takes care of all children and elderly as her or his
children/elderly. If you are patriotic you respect those who gave you
life more than those who denegrade your life. You do not let anyone go
to bed involuntarily hingry if you are patriotic.
I could go on and on to show that all of these everyday sort of things
are in the essence of patriotism. No flag waving or standing up/sitting
down/praying on command could ever substitute for these acts of love for
one's fellow human being.
What does patriotism mean to an American? America's founding
documents are aflame with the dictates of casting a critical eye
towards the whole notion of unquestioning allegiance to any who
presume upon those they govern. That was the great sin of the
Crown of England. The crown presumed to demand the subservience
of its citizens, regardless of the consequences to their own
well being.
America's greatest moments, greatest achievements, celebrated
days, were born of the insistence to follow that most American
of instincts: the instinct of the citizenry to over rule it's
rulers.
Independence Day was the first such display of that great
treasure and heritage that is the spirit and inward flag of the
American Dream. The dream of a nation ruled by the will of the
people who had the right to partake in the process of
self-governance.
The first holiday of the year after the bringing in of the year
is Martin Luther King Jr. Day. It is a day we celebrate the life
and work, and what it stood for, of a man who felt, along with
Patrick Henry, that death was to be preferred over a life of
quietude towards the injustices of his government.
The second such day, is the celebration of the birthday of
Abraham Lincoln. A president who went to war with half his own
nation.
The third is the celebration of a man who refused to be King:
President Washington.
Memorial Day is the next particularly American holiday. One
which honors those who fell in battle for the preservation of
such ideals.
Labor Day is a day in which to acknowledge the heritage of
working-class heroes who prevailed against both corporate and
government rulers who wished to deny them the right to decide
for themselves the terms of their lives and allegiances.
America is an idea, as much as a land or political entity. An
idea which flies in the face of being a subserviant people. It
is the ideal of a people who know no orders other than those
they consent to. An ideal born of civil disobedience, nurtured
and strengthened in the continued insistence of citizens rights
to those freedoms without which our constitution and history is
void of its distinction.
DO NOT clamor to dispel the very spirit of America by clambering
for the quietiude of those who do not question the wisdom of
this president who did not even garner a majority of their
votes! If America stands for anything; If America fights for
anything: If America calls for anything, let it be this: Do not
protect our freedoms by taking them away!
Patriotism in America today says to its leaders: You will NOT
take away my rights of privacy, association, movement, speech,
or any other. You will not trample upon the spirit of America by
laying the foundations and infrastructure to take my heritage
away! Say no to any and all attempts to infringe in any way upon
the constitutional rights of my heritage.
