Posted by:
ss
(
)
Date: May 30, 2012 09:48AM
What is Patriotism? by John Tchaar (GOOGLE)
...to address the question of just what patriotism is and ought be: Is there a patriotism that is not nationalistic? How does the historic internationalism of the liberal left relate to the concept of patriotism? What do you value in the traditions of your country?
John Schaar, whose eloquent meditation on patriotism ten years ago in "The Case for Patriotism" helped inform the questions underlying this chautauqua, leads off:
Nietzsche wrote that words with a history cannot be defined. Their meanings are in their stories, their biographies. That is surely the case with "patriotism." Patriotism is as patriots have done. And in relatively recent times--say, since the American and French revolutions--those who have called themselves patriots or who have called others to the banner of patriotism have largely fallen into two camps.
The first company, whose signature is on so many of the bloodiest pages of the modern age, has its spiritual roots in the radical ideologies of the French Revolution. They announced the advent of a new god on earth and a new prophet/commander whose voice was the voice of that god. The new god, of course, was la patrie, the nation, and the new commander was the state.
Abbé Sieyès named the new god: "The nation exists before all. It is the origin of everything. It is the law itself." By 1792, in a petition addressed to the National Assembly, the ferociously jealous claims of the of the new god were made chillingly clear: "The image of the patrie is the sole divinity which it is permitted to worship."
Those claims have echoed in a thousand variations from that day to this. It is the worship of national power, of national greatness, nearly always expressed as power over other peoples and qualities, and as power that acknowledges no limits on its own assertion. This voice has been as clamorous and continuous in our own country as in many others. The line from Col. Alexander Hamilton to Lieut. Col. Oliver North is strong and pure.
The other company of patriots does not march to military time. It prefers the gentle strains of "America the Beautiful" to the strident cadences of "Hail to the Chief" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever." This patriotism is rooted in the love of one's own land and people, love too of the best ideals of one's own culture and tradition. This company of patriots finds no glory in puffing their country up by pulling others' down. This patriotism is profoundly municipal, even domestic. Its pleasures are quiet, its services steady and unpretentious.
This patriotism too has deep roots and long continuity in our history. Its voice is often temporarily shouted down by the battle cries of the first company, but it has never been stilled. Jefferson spoke for it, as did Lincoln and Martin Luther King Jr.
We should not be surprised if this voice is often heard lamenting or rebuking the country's failures to live up to its own best ideals, which have always been the ideals of the fullest possible freedom and the most nearly equal justice for all. Its specifically political ideal found its finest expression in Lincoln's "government of, by and for the people," and the American domestic patriot is often heard calling fellow citizens and their officials to this standard. That call is distinctly a citizenly call, and never more so than when, as Father Mapple's wonderful sermon in Moby-Dick has it, the citizen stands firm "against the proud gods and commodores of this earth" and calls every violation of the covenant to account "though he pluck it out from under the robes of Senators and Judges." by by John Tchaar
Showing 3 comments of 3
Patriotism means several things to me. On the one hand, there is the traditional sense, demonstrated by a common wish to maintain, yet also improve the well-being of the population. This is completely different from the extremist flag-waving and narrow-minded jingoism, which I define as 'pseudo-patriotism'.
What I believe in is not this hateful misappropriation of the concept.
Although we citizens may not agree on all issues, we should have respect for others and their ideas, and a mutual wish to work out our differences.
By nurturing a cohesive nation whose citizens share a genuine sense of commonality, we develop the country to adapt to modern times and the new needs that come with it.
Additionally, it wasn't too long ago that paying taxes was considered patriotic. The late Supreme Court Justice, Oliver Wendell Holmes, felt that one's true investment in a society was by paying taxes, to maintain a civilization.
It is a shame that this view has fallen from favor with so many Americans today.
One day, I hope that the USA will have learned from the bitter lessons of its past.
Remember what Abraham Lincoln said: "A house divided against itself cannot stand."
2. posted by: ttr at 07/03/2010 @ 2:37am
Give thanks to the patriots, all hear, near and far
Who fight for equality, freedom Templars
Raise your sights to our union, our fine common toil
Finding strength in communion with our land, sea and soil
All races embracing the right to proceed
To full understanding, success without greed
Both sexes a dancing commingling skills
So true to our natures, our passionate wills
As lovers we treasure the whole of our joys
And find in each other a love that employs
So to with our country, we give her our best
Each in our own way without jeering or jest
Procuring from study, and learning from life
Constitutional savvy, ameliorates strife
The civil among us are patriots most
And to the peacemakers true patriots toast
From heartlands to seaports, and back again flows
Warm winds of democracy... that all the world knows
That the founders were patriots, seems obvious now
And they showed us quite clearly... despite the cash cow.
The birth of Democracy was 'unnatural' to those
Who found deference to tyrants a profitable pose
And so now dear patriots, who tryst in times present
True wealth for all classes finds love now more pleasant.
3. posted by: mmuoio at 07/02/2010 @ 1:35pm
Patriotism is a misguided belief that if you participate in dialog laced with nationalistic references you are somehow more correct and more righteous than other other citizens that may not agree with your jingoism.
Patriotism is heralded by fascists as a means to align the masses. Germany and Japan in the 1930's are the best contemporary examples.
Bush and Cheney used the 911 attacks to invade 2 nations preemptively and to violate the rights of every American.
These events were done through the jingoism of Patriotism.
The USA has very dangerous Patriotism, whereas Canada's would be more civil as it is more sane.
What patriotism is in the USA is destroying the country.
We all have a lot of reflection to do on this 234th anniversary of our birth.