Patriotism

Patriotism means love of one's nation. It recognizes that the national culture one lives in it like a parent that shapes who one is. It is the loyalty of kinship that encompasses more than family and immediate community. But it is also a matter of pride, or personal identification. The popular bumper sticker, Proud to be American, amply expresses that. It does not state why one is proud to be American, but considers its message sufficient in itself. One takes pride in belonging to a certain group.
    Anyone who loves their country can be stirred by patriotic feelings, and history shows this to be the case. Patriotic wars ravaged the nations of Europe for many hundreds of years. It was not until World War I, with its incredible mortality rate and dubious rewards that war was really questioned as a barometer of patriotism.
    They called it the "war to end all wars," but they were wrong. The patriotism of a previously defeated nation rose with unlimited ambitions, fueled with pride and racism, and the stage was set for the insanity of World War II, which further empowered the rise of communism. With this war, and its unbelievable consequences, humanity held up a mirror to see its darkest fears and hates and irrational belligerence. Nazism appealed to people's fear, prejudice and pride, and showed the world what evil could be accomplished by people eager to be led by charismatic leaders, eager to manipulate the baser instincts of the herd. The horror and insanity of it all might have earned it the title of "war to end all wars," but the lesson learned was that we dare not define the limits of evil that humanity is capable of, for fear of breaking those limits.
    Despite this lesson, the killing for reasons of nationalism, ethnic solidarity, and even religion continues around the world.
    Patriotism is not a bad thing. As social creatures who take pride in cultural differences and achievement, it appears to be natural to the human psyche. In that patriotism depends upon our own actions, and the quality of people we are, it encourages us to do and be our best. It defines not only physical boundaries, but cultural ideals that we are called upon to defend.
    The United States was founded not only on the securing of independence from the control of an Imperial power, but on certain principles as well. Principles of individual freedom, human rights, the social contract, equality, the right to own property, free speech, religious tolerance—and, basic to this all, and from which all the rest was derived, was free thought, a confidence in reason over blind loyalties and domination by the strong. We believed in the common sense and good will of people who were not led by the nose who were hungry for power.
    Patriotism contributes mightily to these qualities. It can serve as a vehicle for cultural transmission, a goal, a stimulus for free thought, and personal achievement, and community love.
    But there is, as history attests, a dark side to patriotism. A slippery slope. When the ideals our nation stands for are set aside for the instruments of blind loyalty and belligerence, then what do we stand for? Are we not dangerously close to the same mindless dynamic that gave birth to two world wars, a cold war, ethnic cleansing, chessboard politics at gunpoint, imperialism, and a long history of neighbor killing neighbor?
    This is why we need to differentiate patriotism from nationalism. The German philosopher Hegel elevated the idea of nationalism as expressing the will of God. He dared to suggest that God works primarily through armies, the most powerful especially. So doing, he gave moral license for all the devastation that followed.
    One man's thought. Another's man's insane justification to killed millions. That's how important ideas can be. That's why we need to be careful what ideals we endorse. When patriotism upholds and encourages high ideals, it becomes a vehicle for those ideals, a source of greatness and promise for humanity. When it slips into blind nationalism, it threatens us all.
    Nationalism derives its power from unsubstantiated fear and pride. Far in the distant past, this may have contributed to group survival, which might explain why it still lingers as a group instinct. In today's world, it is a dangerous anachronism.
    By differentiating nationalism (old ideals of belligerence and pride) from patriotism (new ideals of positive liberties of human development), we can see quite plainly how the two are at odds with one another. American patriotism, if we define it as the support and adherence to our founders' ideals, contradicts nationalism.
    It is possible, and well-documented by the past, for nationalism to support very inhumane and devastating policies. That is just a fact. People are aroused by propagandists, false information emotionally enflames paranoia, and horrible behavior follows.
    Patriots who understand this need to recognize nationalistic propaganda, which is the antithesis of real patriotism.
    It is not the purpose of this treatise to point at certain policies and call them unpatriotic. That is up to the independent reader to do. But we can help people to see what they are dealing with.
    When a leader, advocate or spokesperson delivers a speech or diatribe, listen not only to what they say, but how they say it.
    Do they promote civilized discussion and reasonable answers? Or work just to increase anger and frustration? Do they listen fairly to both sides of an issue? Do they maligned people who disagree with them, and thereby sidestep rational debate? Do they offer half-truths and distorted figures, and blame their "enemies" for exactly the actions that they are guilty for? These are all tricks of rhetoric designed to brainwash listeners. Repeated slogans, broad generalities, insults, outright lies and innuendo, hatred of fellow citizens. These are the tools of fascists disguising themselves as patriots. They have killed civilized ideals in their hearts, and want other to do the same. They thrill in the power of their influence, while hiding their own hypocrisy.
    The propagandist of nationalism will speak in broad, emotional terms purposely designed to dehumanize enemies, condemn constructive criticism, instill fear and paranoia, distrust of intelligence (of so-called "elites"). Oddly enough, their rhetoric is almost the same claptrap as that used by Islamic terrorists, who rail against their perception of evil and expect their "followers" to believe every false accusation they make.
    Nazi propagandist Hermann Goring explained this rhetorical dynamic this way; "all you have to do is tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for their lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in every country."
    Does it also work in the United States? Do we have such advocates of fascism disguised as "freedom fighters," or "cultural warriors"—all the while denouncing the freedoms of others?
    Yes we have. And each political extreme, in keeping with their own fascist agenda, will point to the other as having such persuasive propagandists. What they fail to do is look internally at their own wordy representatives and see the damage being done to their cause and to American ideals. Partisanship is the root cause, along with greed and the thirst for power. The results? A nation divided for the worst of reasons. Our ideals and values precariously on the chopping block.
    As an anti-partisan, I am not so much for the dissolution of our two party system, as I am for extreme partisan reform. For example, I believe that political parties should have the well-meaning integrity to always tell the truth. Is that really too much to ask? Recent presidential ads confirm that it is, despite promises of honorable campaigning. I believe parties need to be more critical of themselves, then critical of their opponents. When you purchase a high-end product, you want one that is well tested and has good quality control, not one that stands around bad-mouthing the competition. It's the same for political leadership. Winning an election is not an end-all, it's a beginning. We need leaders of quality more than popularity winners who will say anything for your vote. We also need parties that ditch their extremist supporters. The vast majority of citizens are not extremists, yet end up having to vote for politicians who have already sold their souls to near-insane fanatics.
    With just these reasonable, moral and common sense changes, the proper dynamics of democracy fall into place. We take partisanship out of party politics and replace it with civil maturity. To me, that is what American patriotism is all about. The rest is just bullshit.

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