Patriots All

By Jackson Dave

We’ve heard a great deal about “patriotism” in the years since 9/11.

Samuel Johnson tells us: “Patriotism is the last refuge for a scoundrel”. [Wait a minute; we thought this was a good thing!] Redneck truckers tell us: “America, love it or leave it.” “Minutemen” patrol our borders, protecting us from “aliens” that look an awful lot like our parents, a couple of generations back. [I thought an “alien” came from outer space.] Good, solid citizens pass picketing “PEACE-niks” with scorn and rebuke, then demand prayer in our schools.

What do we feel when we sing: ♫ “…from sea to shining sea”, or “♫…amber waves of grain”, God Bless America? What do we feel when we watch a video clip of the president signing a bill authorizing hydraulic mining of mountain tops in Appalachia, or that authorizes “harvesting” hundreds of thousands of acres of old-growth forest---bills that will provide a couple thousand jobs for a few short years, yet impact climate, bring illness to thousands and leave scars upon our nation and the world for generations?

What do we feel when our president deprives us of the rights that our fathers fought and died for on behalf of a vague risk presented by “terrorists”---when the real risk comes from our own meddling in other countries’ affairs and fallout from “half-baked” wars contrived to suit our politicians’ political ambitions?

What is “Patriotism”? People think patriotism is high regard for one’s country; but how exactly does that manifest itself? The dictionary tells us that patriotism is love for one’s country. That’s it. How do all these diverse issues converge on such a simple notion?

For many, patriotism evokes images of martial dominance---the so-called “might is right” syndrome. After all, “We saved the world…twice!” It’s natural to be proud of the accomplishments of our ancestors. But that’s not patriotism. Patriotism is well-founded pride in what one’s country does - - - - - - today---pride in how it treats its neighbors and how it treats the least of its citizens.

To love one’s country means to cherish and protect the land (flora and fauna), culture and institutions. There must be more. This definition doesn’t necessarily include “government”. The Constitution established our government, but what allegiance do we owe government, and what if it’s undermining the Constitution that defines it? That government tells us we should support its policies as an expression of patriotism. Is that true? Is the government our country? On that, clearly: No. Our “country” pre-dated the Constitution by quite a few generations, and we had a different government after the revolution under the Articles of Confederation.

In most “Western” countries the distinction between government and state is clear. In Britain, for example, the prime minister is head of the government, while the queen is chief of state. Under our Constitution the president is chief of state and head of the government. Ambiguity between government and state has been used by leaders over the years to sway and deceive us. Young men march to the drums of war in defense of their country, when in fact they’re “defending” the political ambitions of their president. Unfortunately, our government’s folly usually runs counter to the interests of our nation. Our leaders govern on behalf of the government instead of in the interest of our country.

But what of those other diverse notions? Why did Samuel Johnson, a fairly bright guy, feel so strongly against patriotism? What do we do to love our country?

We might describe affection for our country in terms of the love we feel for family. After all, we fight and die to protect our family, just as a patriot might do on behalf of his country. It’s natural to love our children, but that doesn’t include turning a blind eye to the trouble they get into. Does a loving parent tell himself and his neighbors that his kid is a “good kid” while ignoring signs of trouble? Or does he make it his business to know what his fourteen-year-old son is up to---who his friends are, where he got the money to buy that leather vest he doesn’t think you’ve seen?

Just as a loving parent is ever vigilant, a patriot monitors his government. It’s the nature of adolescents to test their boundaries; it’s the nature of politicians to succumb to greed and pursue political ambition. If yours is the biggest and toughest kid on the block, your job as a parent is more difficult. If you’re a citizen of the most powerful country in the world, your job as a patriot is to make it your business to know if your country is an international bully---doing a little ass-kicking (for political objectives), swindling or stealing other counties’ assets, influencing other countries’ political structures when that’s illegal for them to do in return, fomenting revolution, arm-twisting to get its way, addicted to drugs.…and oil.

Resurrecting images of D-Day, Argonne and Guadalcanal massages our collective egos and evokes validating glances of affirmation. But we don’t mention the “trail of tears” in a “discussion” like this. Rather we include images of tanks and bombers; “might makes right” because victors write history.

So what was Samuel Johnson speaking of? We’ve all watched politicians invoke the “patriotism” shibboleth to muster political support. If a politician broaches (real) patriotism, this is a discussion of sacrifice, and rarely attracts votes. Invariably, when a politician speaks of “patriotism”, he’s using it as a euphemism---what he’s really talking about is “nationalism”.

“Nationalism” is pursuit of the interests of one’s country in disregard, or at the expense of other countries. A patriot does not condone this any more than he allows his child to be dishonest or a scoundrel. These two “isms” are very different, in fact, opposites. Our government has told us that dissent is “un-patriotic”. But informed dissent is the essence of patriotism. In his quote, Samuel Johnson was referring to nationalism. Governments and those who manipulate us by intentionally misusing the term rely on our ignorance and complacency.

Am I saying that if you don’t agree with my politics, you’re not a patriot? Absolutely not! There’s room for a full spectrum of politics in patriotism. But if your president is waging irrational war or conducting torture, it’s your business to make yourself aware of that. Torture is torture; a patriot is aware of our international treaties and not deceived by rationalization or euphemisms. If it’s OK that the president whom you voted for is doing this, it’s OK for a president of any party to do the same. There is no room for partisan politics in patriotism. If lying to cover up personal indiscretion is an impeachable offense, then certainly lying to promote war, killing hundreds of thousands of people, undermining the Constitution, violating international law and torture are all impeachable “high crimes and misdemeanors.” There is no room for apathy or detachment with regard to the business of your government. If you voted for a candidate, as a patriot, you take responsibility for his administration, even more than if you voted against him. You hold that man’s feet to the fire of your expectations and his promises.

I am a Democrat (only by defaul). My greatest disappointment in government is not George Bush. In fact, the Bush saga has the palliative effect of validating my political perspective. My greatest political trauma has been Bill Clinton. I voted for him. He violated not only his potential, but also my expectations. I feel responsible for his errors of judgment and administration, of which I could easily cite a dozen.

On the other hand, redneck nationalists with their “America, love it or leave it” signs, and politicians who violate our Constitution and betray the founding principles of this nation on behalf of political expediency are not patriots. And what of lapel pins, the “pledge” and “patriotic” displays? If they feel good, that’s great. But let’s not confuse trinkets with the devotion that a conscientious citizen shows when he stands before his government, puts his safety, maybe his life on the line to hold our leaders to the standards that our nation is supposed to represent. Committed citizens, “unwashed” and bloodied hippies, students, intellectuals, marching the streets of San Francisco, Chicago, New York and Kent dragged our government from Indochina in 1973 after ten years of politically motivated and senseless carnage. That, my friends, is Patriotism.

Jackson Dave is a staff writer for Robbinsenese jacksondave.rsense@gmail.com

Butternut Soup

After cooking up a brew of this previously-guarded recipe, you'll wonder why you ever order soup in a restaurant. You could go to Downey's in Santa Barbara---or cook it up yourself! Butternut Soup.