What Is Patriotism?

Calls for patriotism were used during the Bush Administration with the implication that those who did not support them in wartime were unpatriotic. But what about the summer of 2009 with its town hall meetings turned into shouting matches and signs that incited hate?

Webster's Dictionary defines patriotism as: "love and loyal or zealous support of one's country."

Does President Barack Obama love his country? He's put his life on the line to serve it, so, evidence points to a resounding yes. That is not hyperbole. The threats against this president are up 400 percent over his predecessor.

Are there reasons for citizens to be angry? The economy, for Wall Street, has begun to turn around. The problem is that it's not happening for Main Street. We're justifiably frightened by and frustrated with the oligarchy that has intertwined itself like the tentacles of a Jules Verne octopus into congressional reelection coffers. We get it. They are, for the most part, not there for us.

Can the same be said of President Obama? He didn't have to take on the third rail of health care reform. He could have been like all the presidents before him since Truman; talked about reform but never have gotten anything past the special interests that have exposed themselves as more interested in their specialness than in what the country needs as a whole (see definition: patriotism).

That's not what President Obama did. What he did was to put the wellbeing of his constituents (the American people) ahead of his own safety and political future.

See again, definition: Patriotism.

The paid special interests critics cry foul. They made up whatever would frighten people to steer them away from both their own self-interest and from what is required to save our economy (see: projected increases in health care costs).

These special interests would argue that they have their own pressures. They have jobs to keep, boards and stockholders to please, big mortgages to pay, children to put through Ivy League schools, ex's to support, country clubs with large dues. That last may have revealed some skepticism, but it's true that there's no crime in being rich nor should there be. Everyone would like to be rich and we all would be if it weren't so darn expensive.

But does that make them unpatriotic? They are, after all, citizens of this country and citizens in this great country have a right to dissent.

What they forgot in their bizarre shouting match was that there are legitimate questions about health care reform that could have been to their advantage: Should there be an employer mandate? Should Cadillac plans be taxed? Should there be a requirement to get coverage? Should there be a public option? Will costs ever go down if there is not?

These are valid questions.

So, why did they invalidate themselves through demagoguery? And, by doing so, did they reveal something about themselves and their own understanding of patriotism and the right to dissent?

Like it or not, Barack Obama is the elected president of our country, of all the people, in a time of war. We have Iraq to get out of, Gitmo to close, Afghanistan/Pakistan (shame on anyone who tries to say they don't go hand-in-hand) to figure out, loose nukes and nuclear programs to prevent or control, and preexisting and too often neglected conflicts to resolve in a way that is fair to all sides for a change.

President Obama may deserve criticism. It is NOT unpatriotic to question his policies in a time of peace or war. But trying to undermine his presidency, his legitimacy, his personal safety, especially in a time of war, IS unpatriotic at best.

There are many battles ahead for this country and for its citizens after the mess left by the prior administration. The situation in Afghanistan has no good answers. No matter what choice President Obama makes, he (and we) will not have a clean result. Health care costs and care have spiraled out of control. It must be managed or America will go far more bankrupt than through the deficits created out of stimulus or bank bailouts. Unemployment is on the rise. We need the president's and the vice president's help to defeat the oligarchical special interests who are oh-too-happy to see the middle class and its higher wages go by the wayside.

And then there's climate change.

That challenges Americans' patriotism, as well. It's not just the weather. It's the consequences of climate instability. You think we're not in trouble because winter came early to some parts of the U.S.? Try to find a drink of water in Kenya today.

This article by Bill Becker, entitled, "The Real Patriot Act", details the concern by leading military figures about the national security dangers represented by climate change:

A panel of 12 distinguished retired generals and admirals has just released the latest in a series of reports over the past two years warning that global climate change is not just an environmental issue, or an economic issue, or a public health and welfare issue. It's an urgent matter of national security.

Among their conclusions:

• Our current energy posture causes military, diplomatic and economic vulnerabilities that are "exploitable by those who wish to do us harm."

• A business as usual approach to energy security poses a "unacceptably high threat level from a series of converging risks"

President Obama had two choices when he came into office. He could address the pressing problems: health care, climate change, war, despite the financial emergency left by his predecessor -- or he could have used that financial emergency as a way to defer the third rails of health care, climate change and war.

That he chose the more difficult road that is similar to the road chosen by President Franklin Roosevelt before him, was to our good fortune, whether the majority of Americans realize it or not. That it earned President Obama an extreme and bizarre reaction from special interests (much like FDR had to put up with, but without the gotchas of 24 hour cable news, the blogosphere and the racism that has surfaced against America's first African-American president) is to OUR misfortune.

We can question our president's choices, his policies, the speed with which his initiatives take effect. But, when someone tries to undermine his effectiveness, especially at a time of war, it's fair to ask if they're patriotic to do so.

This is not a new question. Those who supported the Bush Administration asked that question repeatedly of their critics. Here's a question for them: If they want President Obama to fail more than they want America to succeed, how is that patriotism?

If these critics were kids in the neighborhood mouthing off for attention, you know what you'd say: Knock it off.

Mouthing off with blatant untruths and unconscionable scare tactics over the airwaves, on the blogosphere (the new American neighborhood), or by shouting down questions at town halls when there are valid questions that need answers, is no different.

They should knock it off.

More on this topic at THE ENVIRONMENTALIST

Follow Janet Ritz on Twitter: www.twitter.com/janetritz

Comments

[seawolf77]

Patriotism is the tool used by government to convince their citizens to kill people in other countries, do things they would not ordinarily do, and in general a shameless manipulation by a faceless tyrant. When I was in high school whenever we had a big game they would get us all together and sing and clap and stomp our feets and cheer. then they would tell us some insulting story that the "other" team was using to diss us. We would get madder and cheer even harder. Didn;t matter if the story was true. In fact it was intentionally false. Why? Becasue you are in training from the moment you are born to conform to this horrble preictable world conservatives call home, all in the name of order. We do this. You do that. One. Two. Step. Step. Step right.

[HMDMSR]

What Is Patriotism?
by Emma Goldman
1908
San Francisco, California
Men and Women:

What is patriotism? Is it love of one's birthplace, the place of childhood's recollections and hopes, dreams and aspirations? Is it the place where, in childlike naivete, we would watch the passing clouds, and wonder why we, too, could not float so swiftly? The place where we would count the milliard glittering stars, terror-stricken lest each one "an eye should be," piercing the very depths of our little souls? Is it the place where we would listen to the music of the birds and long to have wings to fly, even as they, to distant lands? Or is it the place where we would sit on Mother's knee, enraptured by tales of great deeds and conquests? In short, is it love for the spot, every inch representing dear and precious recollections of a happy, joyous and playful childhood?

If that were patriotism, few American men of today would be called upon to be patriotic, since the place of play has been turned into factory, mill, and mine, while deepening sounds of machinery have replaced the music of the birds. No longer can we hear the tales of great deeds, for the stories our mothers tell today are but those of sorrow, tears and grief.

[HMDMSR]

What, then, is patriotism? "Patriotism, sir, is the last resort of scoundrels," said Dr. [Samuel] Johnson. Leo Tolstoy, the greatest anti-patriot of our time, defines patriotism as the principle that will justify the training of wholesale murderers; a trade that requires better equipment in the exercise of man-killing than the making of such necessities as shoes, clothing, and houses; a trade that guarantees better returns and greater glory than that of the honest workingman...

[Mannock]

"Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious."
- Oscar Wilde

[vascopyjama]

Patriotism these days means getting as much as you can by any means you can without any responsibility. Oh yes, and wrapping yourself up in the flag just like they do on Wall Street.

[Moo Goo Gai Pan]

Pro-God, pro-gun, pro-life and pro-American = PATRIOTIC!

[EWeiss]

Country last. It's okay - everyone already knows.

[PWM]

Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious. - Oscar Wilde

[Mannock]

I wish that I had read your comment. I just wrote that responding to HMDMSR.

Good line!

[Hazumu]

I'm retired from Active Duty (I prefer to call it 'graduated'...)

When anyone tells me, "I'm Patriotc!"

I reply with;

"I'm sorry, how long have you had this patri-osis?"

[William50]

Patriotism, has been an out of use word by the proper American society since 1969. Nationalism has not been taught for at least as long and being a society that is free of race, sexual or religious context is the same as saying we are nothing.
Both parties need and rely on keeping this nation separated by religion, race and sex. This is seen in every election campaign and even in the statements made during an election. The truth is to unite a nation beyond a single moment at an election (when a large percentage of the voters would have voted any one but Republican) takes more then a politician and their paid hacks to accomplish. A nation has to have a goal greater then health care or defeating groups in countries far far away. A country needs to be able to grasp a concept that the nation, and they in turn, are working for something great, an idea, a dream that will take time but the results are earth shattering and the individuals of that nation can take personal pride in what they do. Neither party has done that for sixty, seventy years. The people need a dream and a course of action...but no member of either party wants to accept it....
middleamerican2010
Casey

[Charles Stoveken]

HOORAY FOR YOU CASEY ! LET THE YOUNG PEOPLE DREAM AND HAVE GRAND VISIONS OF A NATION AND A WORLD TO COME THAT IS IN THEIR POWER TO CREATE. WHERE IS THE LEADER WHO IS CAPABLE OF LIGHTING SUCH A SPARK AND AND TURNING IT INTO A WHIRL WIND OF UNITED RIGHTGEOUS PROGRESS . HISTORY , WE KNOW , HAS A HABIT OF PRODUCING SUCH CHARACTERS , SEEMINGLY OUT OF THE DUST THEIR PARTICULAR TIME THEY AND THE TIMES THEMSLVES DEMAND THEIR APPEARENCE. DO THE TIMES MAKE THE MAN OR DOES THE MAN MAKE THE TIMES / CHARLES HENRY PATRIOT

[henryberry]

One thing patriotism is not is perfunctory. Perfunctory patriotism is the coerciveness of a dictator or the intimidation tactics of extremists. Debates about patriotism usually lead to each opposing side claiming greater patriotism than the other; which are not much different from "my father is tougher than your father" arguments.

That said, in my view, patriotism is essential when it comes to preserving the fundamentals and sometimes the existence of a country. Patriotism most purely is attachment to a country with regard to its duration almost as identification with the country. This isn't really much a part of politics at all. In today's politics however and the cultural wars, patriotism is often wheeled out as merely a label by one side or another to make it appear more virtuous; when in fact it is merely a tactic by ones consumed with their own agitated self-righteousness.

When the fundamentals or existence of a country are at mortal risk, the patriots will come forth and no one will know or be interested in what political party they belong to or what their political beliefs are. This is why I think the notion of patriotism is misused in relation to the military presence in Afghanistan and the war on terrorism. The U. S. is not mortally threatened, and common sense and honest, realistic assessment are more important than patriotism.

[ahren]

This NEW element in America = the who is a patriot and who is not a patriot charged against citizens who "dissent" in my opinion is one of the saddest chapter in history. It is a totalitarian society's tactic used to silence its citizens. That the nation has embraced this element without question is for me more than disconcerting.

The America I know - LAND OF THE FREE - is in jeopardy.

[jhamm1]

OK. Criticizing tea-baggers, birthers, the likes of Beck and Limbaugh as "certifiably full of chit" is one thing, but why the devil do we have to mimic Republican tactics by calling these mo rons "unpatriotic" or "anti-American"?

Patriotism has nothing to do with it, and we are perfectly within our bounds to rebuke these guys without resorting to the same nationalistic rhetoric that Bush and his cron1es loved so well.

[Neal Jansons]

Patriotism is nothing but an emotional manipulation to make people feel like they owe something to the "leaders" and the country when in fact they don't. I grew up being told again and again that "the world doesn't owe you anything" and since that is the case, I don't owe anything to the world.

Birthplace is random...why should anyone be loyal to some group, location, or leaders based only on where they happened to be born?

Let my country earn my love and loyalty.

[EndRacismNow]

I agree that our country today doesn't deserve our loyalty. Patriotism replaced the word nationalism which the Nazis made into a bad word. Nationalism is a love and loyalty of one's people. Since the term American has been watered down due to multiculturalism, there's not really any good reasons to be nationalistic or loyal to a corrupt corporatist government that serves the elites of the world before its own people. I believe that the form of patriotism that conservative subscribe to is a love of what the country used to be while progressives have a love of what it could be. Both are idealistic and probably unrealistic.

[Sub Libertate Quietum]

Patriot:

n. One to whom the interests of a part seem superior to those of the whole. The dupe of statesmen and the tool of conquerors.

Ambrose Bierce

[jpmccn]

More propaganda for the masses.

[Carl Caroli]

Haven't you heard? Patriotism is what the right wing neo-cons define it to be. All else is treason, fascism, communism, socialism, ....

[PWM]

Only in the neocon mind can one be a fascist and communist at the same time.

[jhNY]

As maddeningly predictable as it was when the Bush cabal would wrap itself in the flag and intone about dissent in a time of "war", it is as nothing compared to the frustration I now feel when supporters of Obama drag this line of rhetoric out for another airing now that Teabaggers and Faux News watchers have proved so able to win the attentions of the coporatocracy's press corpse. Our doings in Afghanistan are not a "war"-- they amount to an occupation in conflict with a nationalist insurgency-- as do our doings in Iraq. We are now neck deep in the sorrows of empire, to borrow Chalmers Johnson's book title, and our troops are being shot at and blown up on a regular basis-- but in twos and threes at a time, and all for the amorphous and shifting goals of a Beltway elite who populate the think tanks and lobbyists and spokesmodels in the pay of war profieers as well as the seat of government. We have sent an occupying army into two sovereign nations and whatever our original intentions and motivations, we have eventually been met by nationalist patriots with a hatred for foreigners, and infidels, on their soil. Our troops are doing the best they can under the circumstances, and I mean in no way to belittle their successes, sacrifices or suffering, but we're not living through a time of "war" just now, but a time of sorrows, which we can end at any time we wish.

[EndRacismNow]

It's a waste of time to try to 'spread democracy' in countries that don't want us there. Just try putting yourself in the Afghans or Iraqis shoes. Imagine a strong power came to our country and threw out the government then established permanent military bases in our country. American nationalists would be fighting the occupiers with just as much zealotry as the Afghans or Iraqis. It's time to dismantle the American empire. It just costs Americans billions in taxes and keeps the military industrial complex rich. The left needs to get its balls back and restart the anti-war movement that has been silenced by Obama being elected. All wars are bad whether they have a D or an R stamped on them.

[jhNY]

In my comment above, I wrote: 'and all for the amorphous and shifting goals of a Beltway elite who populate the think tanks and lobbyists and spokesmodels in the pay of war profieers as well as the seat of government.'

Please accept this attempt to render it into better English:

and all for the amorphous and shifting goals of a Beltway elite who populate the think tanks,lobby-shops and p.r. outfits in the pay of war profiteers, as well as populate the seat of government.