Patriotism is not Synonymous with the Republican Party: It's Time They Stopped Using the "P" Word

Whether Obama or McCain is better fit to deal with defense and overseas issues, I'm constantly amazed how those who can't really defend our failed foreign policies choose to hit below the belt using the "P" word, hoping such an asinine emotional response will promote the Republican candidate. You may agree or disagree about the war in Iraq or how we got there. However, suggesting that those who are in opposition are either less than patriotic or, worse, are giving aid and comfort to the enemy is irrational and undemocratic.

It's ironic that most people now believe the war was entered into on a false premise -- that there were weapons of mass destruction -- that we as a nation were somehow in jeopardy. Even the current administration has stated that the original rationale was bogus, but refuses to back away from the current course, using the excuse that Iraq is better without Saddam Hussein. Or alternatively mind-blowing that, since Iraq is full of terrorism now, it's terrific that we are there -- even though our actions motivated the terrorists to move into Iraq in the first place.

What boggles the mind, however, is the view that by stirring up debate on the issue, in particular the infusion of new troops into the conflict morass, those who oppose such actions are putting the troops already there in additional harm's way. Or that to diminish our forces or withdraw would be an insult to those whose lives were lost or whose bodies were permanently maimed.

Another fallacy is that the families of all those who suffered would either be shamed or see little purpose in the loss or wounding of their loved ones. So, rather than admit a mistake that might save countless others, it is better to throw lambs to the slaughter. This is an opinion which makes no sense at all. Although we are usually more than willing to sell our stocks when they are on a nosedive, rather than throwing good money after bad, we are loathe to do this about something more precious, the expending of human life.

Why do these families feel an admission that the war was a stupid mistake will reflect on the honor of those who simply followed orders? It was not their decision to go to Iraq. All they did was submit to their superiors, which was part and parcel of the contract they signed when they joined the armed services. A charge that the war was ill conceived is a reflection on the civilian leaders who ordered their military subordinates to follow their bidding. They are the ones who will be dishonored. This is a fact many people refuse to accept.

It is sad these people lost their treasured family members or continue to watch them suffer, but how does it really help their grief or sorrow by sending countless others to share the same fate? Their children or siblings or parents are gone or permanently disabled. There's little we can do to alleviate their pain. Why should we send others to participate in a war that's so obviously a mistake, as if they were lemmings going over a cliff? It's simply outrageous.

Even more so as the news from Iraq makes it clear that there's no end in sight. People should cut their losses as they would when they've reached their limit at the blackjack table, instead of reaching into their pockets for their credit cards, jeopardizing the rent or mortgage or possibly worse.

The bottom line is that people should never regard those in opposition to their point of view as unpatriotic. If they want to view the other person as mistaken, that's okay, but to castigate us as somehow less decent and honorable than they are goes against the grain of exactly what their loved ones, who suffered or lost their lives, were in fact fighting for.

Comments

[readytsf]

Yeah, what are they thinking. Just because we obstruct every single measure designed to protect the country, or cozy up to it's enemies, or spill it's military secrets in our newspapers, that doesn't mean we're not patriotic!!!!! Silly Republicans!!!!

[Michale32086]

Very good points, all....

Michale.....

[eCon]

Don't forget giving terrorist detainees the rights of American citizens!! Civilian courts indeed...

[Michale32086]

Actually, enemy combatant prisoners have MORE rights than American citizen prisoners...

Go figger, eh...

Michale.....

[bgregs]

Don't you mean giving suspected criminals the inalienable rights granted by the creator and guaranteed by the Constitution for ALL men, not just for American citizens?

[Michale32086]

"IMO, in the current election cycle, "patriotism" has become a code-word not for putting people down who oppose the Iraq War, but as a means to question Barack Obama (his background is "different," "foreign," etc. -- not a "true" American) and to feed into people's xenophobia. To me, this is an even uglier misuse of the idea of patriotism."

Agreed... Which plays quite nicely into my position that the Left is as equally guilty of this as the Right is..

Michale.....

[bgregs]

Now that's not entirely true, Michale. I haven't heard anyone on the left call into question Senator McCain's patriotism. By contrast, this election cycle I've heard it again and again from the right towards Senator and Mrs. Obama.

Further, when we go back before this election cycle, I've had my OWN patriotism questioned whenever I asked any probing questions about bush, the Iraq war, Afghanistan, terrorism, etc... and NEVER by a lefty, always by the nutjobs on the right. Now then, having said that there are MANY people on the right who are NOT nutjobs, and I'm NOT saying that everyone on the right questioned my patriotism. All that I'm saying is that those who HAVE questioned my patriotism are on the right!

[Michale32086]

I was referring to the Dem primary where Clinton called into question Obama's patriotism..

Michale.....

[anon004]

Most of this "questioning" of people's patriotism because they oppose the Iraq War pretty much stopped with the election in 2006, didn't it? Honestly, since about 80% of the US voting public is now opposed to the war, can anyone really make the case logically that 80% of the US is unpatriotic?

Those who continue to do it are mostly the people like Ann Coulter and Sean Hannity, who do it sell books or get ratings.

Are there really a lot of military families who have had loved ones killed or maimed who think that their sacrifice will be meaningless unless other military families are forced to suffer the same way? Most of what I see and hear is that they are struggling to get on with their own lives (sadly, with minimal assistance from the current administration), and, understandably, don't have a lot of energy left over to continue to be rah-rah for the war.

IMO, in the current election cycle, "patriotism" has become a code-word not for putting people down who oppose the Iraq War, but as a means to question Barack Obama (his background is "different," "foreign," etc. -- not a "true" American) and to feed into people's xenophobia. To me, this is an even uglier misuse of the idea of patriotism.

[Michael Russnow - Huffpost Blogger]

HuffPost's Pick

I have seen many documentaries in which families who have lost loved ones or seen them suffer enormously have said that if we pulled out -- in particular with the realization that the war was ill planned and badly managed -- it would mean that the death or tragic happenstance was in vain.

They understandably don't want any sense that what they've experienced happened for no good reason. Thus, they blind themselves to such a possibility by continuing to support our involvement in Iraq, while painting those who don't with less than patriotic strokes.

[Michale32086]

As I have mentioned in a previous post, compassion is the hallmark of the Democratic Party and military service (and more generally, Patriotism) is the hallmark of the Republican Party.

While it may not have much basis in reality, that IS the electorate's perspective..

One can probably trace this attitude back to the violent anti-war protests of the 60s..

Michale......

[bgregs]

Yup..... Course, then there are the exceptions like myself. You know, those who served in the military, are EXTREMELY patriotic, and yet are democrats.......

Course, that reminds me of a guy I knew back in 2001. It was right after bush got selected, and he was griping about the tax cuts that he was getting through congress (this was before 9/11, I don't remember exactly when in the year....). I asked this guy if he'd voted in 2000, he said that he had. Then I asked him who he voted for, and he replied "bush". When I asked him why he voted for bush, he replied (swear to god!!!) "Because I'm registered Republican." That scares me, since his vote counts JUST as much as MINE.......

[Michale32086]

I have always had a problem with people who put Party Ideology before anything else.

One of the first questions I ask a candidate is "Are you an American first or a Democrat/Republican first".. That notion was so good it was appropriated by a well known Demcorat pundit for her own use. :D Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

I am a registered NPA (No Political Affiliation) and don't care dick what party a candidate is from. My ONLY criteria is, is the person good for the job..

Michale.....

[bgregs]

No, it's not time that they stop using the "P" word, it's time that we schooled them on the actual definition!!