Patriotism and Michelle Obama: A 4th of July Reflection

Patriotism is not "my country right or wrong." In the words of the great German-American Civil War General, Republican Senator, Secretary of the Interior, journalist, editor and author Carl Schurz, it is: "Our country, right or wrong." When right to be kept right; when wrong to be put right." Another great 19th century American, Mark Twain, put it this way: "Each man must for himself alone decide what is right and what is wrong, which course is patriotic and which isn't. You cannot shirk this and be a man. To decide against your conviction is to be an unqualified and excusable traitor, both to yourself and to your country, let men label you as they may."

These sentiments come to mind this 4th of July in connection with the flap earlier this year over Michelle Obama's saying that she was proud of this country for the first time; something that both McCain and Hillary jumped on with the claim that they had always been proud of their country. Michelle has repeatedly clarified her meaning and her intent, pointing out that she was talking about her pride in our political process for the first time in her life and reminding audiences that her own career, independent of her husband's, is a testament to the steady progress that America has made on both race and gender issues. But the entire debate makes me uncomfortable, because it panders to a phenomenon in our political life that might best be called red, white and blue-baiting.

Patriotism demands the ability to feel shame as much as to feel pride. We should be proud of our country when we have done something to be proud of, when we have lived up to our own standards. But the flip side of genuine pride is being able to recognize when we have fallen short, and to hold ourselves to account. The false pride of perennial celebration, of wearing flag lapel pins while betraying the values that the flag stands for, is like the self-esteem curriculum for toddlers, where everything is praised and no achievement ultimately has meaning.

My mentor at Harvard Law School was Abram Chayes, a great lawyer, thinker, and patriot who served as Legal Adviser to the State Department in the Kennedy administration and helped craft the ultimate solution to the Cuban Missile Crisis. He was America's top lawyer in its relations with the rest of the world. Twenty years later, when the Reagan administration secretly mined Nicaragua's harbors, an act that triggered outrage from as staunch a conservative as Barry Goldwater, Nicaragua asked Abe to be part of its legal team in a suit against the United States in the International Court of Justice for violating international law. Stuart Taylor profiled Abe in the New York Times, under the headline: "The American Accuser." When asked about suing his own country, particularly after having represented it in government, Abe replied: "I did think about it, but in the end I thought that there was nothing wrong with holding the United States to its own best standards and best principles." That, in my view, is a very deep form of patriotism.

Michelle Obama expressed the pride in America that so many of us feel now that we are able to show ourselves and the world that we are making huge strides toward our commitment to human equality by nominating an African-American as a presidential candidate, a man who attracts crowds of Americans of every creed and color and who energizes a new generation of Americans to plunge into the democratic process. And not just Obama's candidacy -- Hillary's too. Both candidates reminded the world of the things that many of us love most about our country -- our diversity, our willingness to recognize and conquer the obstacles we have ourselves created as barriers to success in our society, and our capacity for renewal. Living abroad throughout the primary season, I talked to many Americans who felt that they could hold their heads higher as they traveled around the world, because at least in presidential politics we are coming closer to practicing what we preach.

We still have a long way to go. Just this week we were told once again that the interrogation practices that some of our interrogators have been using against detainees were techniques that the Chinese practiced on our own soldiers during the Korean War. We long denounced these techniques as torture, until some of our government lawyers, to our eternal shame, decided that "torture" required imminent death or organ failure. Acknowledging that shame in no way in no way diminishes us as a country or a people. It is simply the necessary first step toward setting things right. That is a process, fueled by honesty and self-criticism, that we can be proud of.

Comments

[idreamofskiba]

I really wish that, when quoting her on this, people would include "adult." She said in her "adult life." That always seems to get left out somehow, even when she is being defended.

[ann1]

I'm willing to bet if a poll were conducted, a large percent of AA would agree with that comment.

[MicheleCA]

The word "really" is always omitted as well. Are you certain she is being "defended"?

[Jazzylady26]

Well, let me tell you something about your patriotism. Try being a little 10 year old black girl, in the midst of the civil rights movement when all the whites around you are shouting that infamous name at you, telling you that they'd like to lynch you among other things, burning crosses, other white children shouting at you to to go home n***ger. Whites all over the country letting you know that you are the most hated thing on this planet and that there is no room in this country for you. For me, my patriotism is not like your patriotism, and it never will be. My eyes, my spirit, my soul, have seen whites in their rawest form, wearing their racial hatred like a suite of clothes for all the world to see, not even caring what they looked like, and yet touting themselves to be the most wonderful nation on earth. Don't worry, I know what many of you will be thinking when you read this; she should be glad that her black butt is here in this country. I agree whole heartedly; I've seen what whites and their colonialism have done to other black or brown, or yellow nations. Not to mention Native Americans. All those symbols and things whites enjoy don't mean much to mean to me because whites kept them away from me for so long. Happy lapel pin!

[LarBear]

Part 2
While in the Navy, a group of 5 of us off my ship were headed back to our ship, docked in the Philippines... An intoxicated person with black skin jumped out of the shadows with an opened straight razor and threatened to slice us "white mutha f'ers up"... Should we have blamed the whole of people with black skin tones, for what this one person did? Thankfully, blessedly, we had lots of friends with black skin aboard ship... To me, this says more about "Black" people, then people with black skin tones...
I disagree with people with black skin tones who "Self Segregate" as "Black" people... ALL have a "right" to do so, just as I have a right to disagree with Segregation... In your story you assigned the horrid behavior of some people with white skin, to all people with white skin tones... I dislike "Self Segregating" WHITE" people, as much as "Black" people... Both Groups dishonor MLK's Dream...
Yes, I'm still working on forgiving ME/Self as a child, for my reactions to a Father who was very emotionally abusive to his children... I understand his being bossed around by 4 older sisters, created in him, a fear of intimacy with his own children... I'm still working on bringing ME self Love... Been doing so for a long time now... Awakening can be a very slow process...

[LarBear]

Jazzylady26 (You do NOT say that "story" actually refers to you)
Part 1
Whoopi Goldberg recently stated she has unresolved anger in her, in connection with "white people"... As a young girl she had to step off the sidewalk, to give the "right of way" to any white couple... There is an action one can take to change this... A Mental Game one can Play... I call this: "Bring ME Home"...
I can do nothing about what others do ( or DID) to ME... I CAN change my response, right here, right now, to what happened to ME in growing up... (The past is NOT past, when I am continuing to emotionally re-act)...
Example: Whoopi "Bring ME Home"... Am I angry at the rules at that time? Am I angry at the "white couples"? OR, most likely, am I still angry with me for stepping off the sidewalk?
I can NOT change the "other"... I can only change what is in me and choose ME to either continue to re-act, or instead, to respond... Response is ME taking charge of ME... Whoopi can gently, lovingly, forgive Whoopi... She was a young girl... For -give-ness = (For giving ME Love of Me)... I E, (Bringing ME Home)...
My "Bring it Home" best guess is you continue to hold on to anger at Self, projected outwards as, and onto, your Belief in "WHITE PEOPLE"...

[jeanrenoir]

All educated liberalss know what Michelle meant. Most of us have felt renewed pride in America because of America's support for Obama, as well as past shame over our history or racial injustice. Michelle's problem, as with Barack's Bittergate gaffe was simply her naivete about how her remarks would play in Peoria. For Middle Americans, America is the core of their pride in themselves. So if you critique America in a way they don't accept, they take it personally. We all know this. And anyone who recommends that Michelle "be herself" and just let her critique of America for its racial past, and ambiguous present, candidly rip is politically NUTS. Michelle MUST smile and keep doing "terrorist fist jabs" on The View, etc., to make white Middle America feel as comfortable with a black woman as First Lady as it's possible to make them feel. Most of them will still reject her, but so what? All we're ever talking about in presidential politics is the tiny margins which decide these races. So Michelle blew it big time the day she committed the Kinsley gaffe of being honest about her mixture of pride in and shame about America which educated people take for granted. Sophisticates feel exactly the same ambivalence about ANY human society. I met a fine Norwegian recently in Oaxaca who'd left Norway for good because of her sense of ITS failings. Norway! But Middle Americans aren't immigrating to Oaxaca.

[sino53]

Is it too much to ask the "progressives" in America to take the Fourth of July to at least accept and admit publicly that America has done some fabulously good things in her history?

They're always telling us about the bad things. How about at least enumerating the good things, for once?

The oldest successful working Constitution in the Western world.

No matter how much any President is ever hated, he always cleans out his desk and leaves office when his term is up. No "President for Life" here like in so many other countries.

Tens of millions of immigrants (including my own ancestors), seeking to get away with Eurasia and seek a better life here.

Their right to speak their mind, without fearing the midnight knock on the door.

An amazing degree of personal freedom, regardless of one's views, from Scientology to the National Rifle Association; from Huffington Post to Stormfront.org. All free to speak their minds.

The liberation of over a billion people from Fascism, imperial Japan, and Soviet Russia.

The manned landing on the Moon.

The Internet (networking protocols originally designed by the Defense Department).

Most of the world's Nobel Prizes in science, economics and medicine.

Just to name a few.

With all this moaning and groaning about all the bad things America has done, sometimes it helps to remember that the glass is more than half full.

[PierreLeClerke]

If our Constitution was truly working, the current administration, along with their co-conspirators, would be wholly imprisoned.
The "independent" Just us department would have prosecuted it for it's innumerable crimes and we would not be in a war for profit! What do you celebrate today?

[MichaelinPhilly]

Here's one American progressive who absolutely agrees with you. I've been spending a lot of time over the last year on the forums of French and Belgian newspapers, to both understand those countries (where I've spent time) and improve my French. I generally lurk on their domestic topics - just ask questions, don't judge,,,, But since the primaries started, I've been reading their coverage of our politics (always interested in seeing how things are explained to others). I am frankly fed up with the anti-American invective - not just criticism of our foreign policy, but judgment of domestic matters that gets personal ("You have the death penalty, therefore you're barbarians". You get the idea.) I'm starting to sound like a right-winger in replying to such garbage, and have decided to honor the 4th (and exercise anger management) by staying away today from one forum in particular. I will never apologize for being an American, no matter how much I disagree with the policies of the moment. It's a disservice to my ancestors who left tsarist-dominated Poland for a better life, to those Americans who died to give certain (not all) Europeans the right to bash us, to those of us doing what we can to make this country better.... My patriotism is higher than it's been in years and it's got nothing to do with Obama: learning what some other people think of us has helped me appreciate what we have and what we are. and can be

[MamaLlama]

Michelle Obama said the words. Americans heard the words. We can understand what she meant. . not want you say she meant. . nor what she said she meant. It is very clear no matter who or how often this is white washed.

[theplaintrutho1]

For the first time in my entire-life, I'm proud of our country, that decided to step-out-the-box, and put a lady or A.A. in the forefront for this very powerful position.
Hopefully, not as tokens (Ferraro-Jackson) but living up to the potential of our "Declaration..." and birthrights of all Americans. Native-Americans, Jews, Latinos, Asians etc.

Two hundred plus years of the white man only club that has finally led us to today's conditions and mishaps calls for PATRIOTIC CHANGE, white, black, female or other.

[ceindependence]

In the last 75 yrs. Russia under Stalin killed 50 million, China with Mao killed 10 million, Cambodia with Pol Pot kiled one+ million, Germany two world wars killed 10 million, Bosnia and central Europe have killed in the thousands. Africa is still killing in the hundreds of thousands, Japan killed one million in China and the Pacific Islands and France, England and Spain had colonies where they took natural resources and property, to say it nicely. Now which country would you choose to be proud of?Do we have sexism and racism? Yes, of course! What country doesn't? But we do acknowledge our mistakes. We should do so with the perspective and respect. We have improved and if we were so bad that we cannot be proud of our country, how is it that an african american or a woman could become our next president.

[theplaintrutho1]

You don't get in, and the point is not HOW MANY we kill.

Two wrongs, don't make it right. So I kill many of yours, and you kill 1 of mine both unjustly.

Your way of thinking, I should be less hurt because I only lost one, and you're justified because you only killed one.

Some people are absurder.

[learnsomething]

Michelle said. For the first time in her adult life, she is "really" proud of her country. "Really" being the key word. Only jerks will continue to make an issue of something that is a non-issue.

[theplaintrutho1]

I beg to differ.
The word "really" has nothing to do with it.
First off, She was talking in a continued sentence, about the spirit & excitement of the primary process.
Secondly, The Lady is in Her what, mid-forties?

Taking that in to account, lets say She is soooo gifted at the age of 20, She is in college actually giving a crap about politics at the party-time-age of 20. Lets count back 25 years, WTF was there to be sooo proud of in American politics?

Hmm. lets see, starting back with Reagan, (She was probably 16 yo) through Bush Sr., two terms of Clinton (finger-wagging, "I did not have,,," plus "White-Water") & Newt's "Contract with America" then "LITTLE-BIG" Bush-Cheney season.

Oh yeah! Plenty to be proud of there!!!!!

[findingthetruth]

As I read this article ----- as soon as Barry Goldwater was mentioned ---- NOT. For those who do not know the history of Goldwater and the South, I suggest you research. So, Ms. Slaughter --- YOUR summation to try to discredit Michelle Obama SPOKE VOLUMES in your methodology.

As many times as Michelle spoke of WE, as a nation getting involved in the political process ---- and yet, you AND others continue to distort her words ----- ONLY means you'll always have the sentiments of your mentor Barry Goldwater, Strom Thurmond, Trent Lott, and NOW ----JOHN MCCAIN.

Have a great 4th ----- distorting the words of the Constitution.

[jade7243]

Clearly, you did not read this article. If you had you would read an article that at no time attempted to discredit Michelle Obama.

Unfortunately, your "handle" is ill-fitting. No truth at all in anything you wrote.

[findingthetruth]

jade7243 --- YOUR comprehension is precisely why this article was written.

[HAYMONBRANDON]

MICHELLE OBAMA IS A PROUD AMERICA WHO WORK HARD TO GET WHERE SHE IS TODAY .I DON'T KNOW OF ANY CANDIDATE'S WIFE WHO HAVE TO PROUD SHE LOVE 'S 'HER COUNTRY.NEVER THAT I CAN REMEMBER IT IS SHAMEFUL THAT THIS IS DONE BECAUSE HER HUSBAND IS BLACK. SO NOW WE ARE MOVING ON .I HOPE THIS MATTER IS DONE. SHE WILL MAKE A BEAUTIFUL AND GREAT FIRST LADY WITH A LOT OF CLASS TO THE WHITE HOUSE. HAPPY FOURTH OF JULY OUR COUNTRY BIRTH MAKE US PROUD OBAMA 08.

[Chuckwheat]

Banging on the all-caps key comes across as rather shrill.Are you worried about not being heard?

[714Day]

Chuckwheat, have you ever noticed that when people are trying to communicate with someone who cannot understand their language, they begin to shout as though the listener is hard of hearing? Doesn't work then either.

[pithy]

Bling allegiance is exactly that - blind.

Take for example your children - if you ignore every transgression, never admit that the child misbehaves, make one excuse after another for their behavior, after 20 years you will have raised a sociopath.

I find the right wing blind devotion to flag and country very frightening.

Sociopathic, actually.

[PandeiroMan]

Do you mean like those rappers with all the diamonds and platinum? Bling allegiance IS bad for the country.

[714Day]

I have an allegiance to my bling which will hold even if I do go blind.

[ElliotNC]

I wish that "Talking Heads" would take a holiday from spin on the Fourth of July. I've really grown weary of those who take every single opportunity to twist everything into a reason why their candidate is superior.

Take a break and grill a hamburger!

[AbstractImp]

Thank you for writing this. I am fifty two. I have rarely been proud of this country.

For my entire life, this disgrace that calls itself republican has been castigating the man I consider the greatest American president, FDR, and has been working to destroy the society that he helped us to build. Even the bridges and roads they built are falling down! And the democrats have had no soul since he left, except where it was taken from them.

Twice in my lifetime we have murdered a million people for no good reason, using massive superior air power against impoverished villagers. Just who would be proud of that? If that is “the new America” then I am an expatriot.

Look at all the dictators we have set up, all the atrocities and slaughters we have orchestrated and overseen, especially in Latin America, so often in that collusion between business and government we have come to call “American interests”.

America better see just where they stand these days, and they better get a grip on their leaders. Or a fascist like Dick Cheney will get his fist around your throat.

We are lied to daily about patriotism, supporting the troops, about loyalty, and about how even thinking for yourself somehow dishonors the nation, while questioning disreputable practices in this “administration” borders on treason. Ha!

Those attacking Michelle Obama are making us all less proud. You would not want to share your own true pride with such people.

[VeteranAmerican]

If you think this country is so bad leave

[Shawn828]

And that very statement is what the writer is talking about. We do love our country, we just aren't blind to what it does wrong. So we aren't going anywhere!

[RussT]

refining his stance on Iraq? Happy 4th of July!!!! And vote for FISA!

[findingthetruth]

Please take out WEBSTER ----- and locate the MEANING of "refine" and not allow the GOP to define it for YOU.

[TXOBAMAGIRL73]

Give us all a break