PATRIOTISM
Does anyone know what we are talking about?
I am patriotic. We all make such a claim. And yet I suspect that we have given little thought to what that actually means. I am not sure that we would assent wholeheartedly to any of its contradictory meanings.
Is it about improving the capacity of America as a whole (society or nation) to achieve at the highest possible level (make America Great Again)? This implies that we should recruit and offer citizenship to the best minds and spirits from all countries in the world (that’s how we did it in the past) and deport any present citizens that fall short of such high standards. Who could doubt that this would make America “greater?”
Or should we make whatever sacrifices are possible to help people throughout the world that lack resources and opportunities and be “greater” in moral worth than any other people?
Or is “America” an abstraction and its people the reality, so that improving the quality of life of all its citizens is the ultimate test of patriotism?
Or should America control and exploit as much of the world’s wealth as possible?
Perhaps it means that we should strive to make ourselves as independent of other peoples as possible, isolating ourselves from entanglements, obligations, all dealings honorable or dishonorable with non-citizens who live in other countries.
It would seem that if it is all these, then it is contradictory and hence meaningless. If it is none of these, then it is without meaning. If it is one of these, then the choice is arbitrary and just one’s personal preference.
I suggest that for most people it is contradictory, and I believe that most of us and the world would be better off is we stopped using the term. Love of country and its people yes, and not instead nor more than people everywhere.
Furthermore, as we weaponize “patriotism,” we cease to be a united society and the answer to the question will finally be “whatever is good for me and mine.”
For the more we fight over who is or who is not a patriot, the more we will fail to work together toward any common good.
The new speaker has made me wonder about things. Like my former white Christian nationalist coworker, he’s obsessed with what he thinks the Bible says, he’s obsessed with conversion therapy, he’s obsessed with how people live their lifestyles, and he says we don’t live in a democracy, we live in a Christian republic where he’s been raised up to power by god himself. I’m fine with his self imposed demon fightings and struggles, but he, and my former coworker are dragging us down as a nation. They’re projecting , that’s not patriotism.
My opinion, like many terms, patriot has been stolen and weaponized by one extreme and derided by the other extreme. On Line Merriam Webster states it is "love for or devotion to one's country". The first example sentence really hits home for me. "You may not agree with him politically, but no one can question his patriotism." Around 1984, my father was chairmen of our county republican party, he went to big bipartisan meeting in Columbus with our democratic US congressman and others. As a veteran, he met Sen Glenn for the 1st time. He came home more excited than when he had met Reagan or HW Bush. Sen Glenn was dedicated to his country in military, astronaut, and politician and should be respected even if you don't agree with his politics.
Patriots don't have to be veterans. In late 90's I met state senator at church, in talking found out he co sponsored numerous bills with a distant cousin (Berg grad) and shared hotel when stuck over night in Columbus. That is patriotic service to our country, find common ground and be civil, even friends with the opposing party, even though you don't agree on all politics.
Now, as an old, cranky, tax paying, voting, veteran myself. I note many politicians screaming how patriotic they are do not have the resume and/or actions to back up the claim.