Blogger face-off: What is patriotism?

Written By : John Hawkins

“I shall know but one country. The ends I aim at shall be my country’s, my God’s and Truth’s. I was born an American; I live an American; I shall die an American.” — Daniel Webster

In a nation like the United States, which is the greatest nation that’s ever existed since God breathed life into the dust and made man, few things should be more common than patriotism. After all, when one of the greatest gifts a human being can be given is to be an American citizen, it should be easy to love your country and even easier to define it. Still, nothing is ever quite that simple, is it? So, let’s talk about what American patriotism is and what it is not.

* No political party or ideology has a monopoly on patriotism. There are patriotic conservatives, liberals, Republicans, and Democrats. That being said, it would be a mistake to assume that since there are patriots of all stripes and ideologies, that each group is equally patriotic.

* Patriotism is not merely waving the American flag or putting a flag pin on your coat, although patriots often do those things. It’s also worth noting that patriots don’t sneer at displays of patriotism either.

* While an American patriot can certainly have a high regard for people of other countries and a genuine concern for mankind, there’s no question that America should come first. Just as you can’t effectively serve two masters, you can’t be a “citizen of the world” who wants to see the United States shackled to the whims of the “international community” and also be an American whose first concern is for his own nation.

* A real patriot’s love of country does not go in and out like the tide based on which political party is in power. So, if you’re only proud of your country because a politician you like is in charge, then your “pride” does not rise to the level of patriotism.

* A real patriot has great respect for the Founding Fathers, the Constitution, and the military. Take any of them out of the equation and not only would this cease to be a great nation, it’s quite possible we wouldn’t be a free nation at all today.

* Patriotism is not the same thing as being blind to the faults of your country. All nations, America included, fall far short of perfection. Acknowledging this does not diminish anyone’s patriotism. On the other hand, a true patriot also won’t blow America’s flaws up until they’re larger than life while minimizing our nation’s voluminous accomplishments, the goodness and decency of America’s people, and the unrivaled positive impact our nation has made on the world.

America, along with capitalism and Christianity has been one of the greatest forces for good in world history. When you understand that, take pride in it, see how it benefits you and your family, and want to see it continue to be the case, it’s very easy to love your country.

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Mazen

“Patriotism is not merely waving the American flag or putting a flag pin on your coat”

Actually, yeah, it kind of is
Patriotism is saying your country is better than someone else's cause that's where your parents had sex. There is no objective definition of what makes a country 'great', so there's no sense in glorifying yours, additionally you just had the better luck of not being invaded/occupied. Your country is where you were born. Most of the time it offers you no real service or acknowledgement so it's illogical to stand by it; you don't acheive anything or advance a cause. Also, patriotism obscures a far more important value, morality. If you're a patriot you're much less likely to remark on any significant evil your country contributes to the world because of the irrational notion that since it is a great land, it must also be infallible. An Iranian patriot thinks Ahmedinajad is a good man, an Israeli thinks settlements are a right, Chines believes in Communism, etc.

Patriotism is really just a nicer word for nationalism, one of the greatest weaknesses of the human brain

mightysamurai

Patriotism is saying your country is better than someone else's cause that's where your parents had sex.

No, child, it isn't. I hope one day you manage to grow beyond such simplistic and ninny-headed ideas as this.

Mazen Abdallah

If you're not actually going to respond someone, why bother saying anything at all?

The irony of your statement is that usually people are patriotic when they're younger. Because they're less cynical. As you grow older, logically, so does your cynicism. So the only two ways you can stay a patriot when you're older are a) Longstanding ignorance or b) Selective understanding of the world.

Also sometimes c) Moral bankruptcy justified by Machiavellian world outlook

Also, real mature calling me an ignorant kid. Where'd you learn that, 5th grade?

mightysamurai

If you're not actually going to respond someone, why bother saying anything at all?

Why should I respond to such an immature and idiotic post as yours?

If you hate your country and think it's never done anything good, just admit it and move on. Don't complain because other people don't agree with you.

mightysamurai

Seems pretty simple to me.

patriotism, n.
devoted love, support, and defense of one's country; national loyalty.

Ergo, in order to be a patriot you must love, support, defend, and show loyalty to your country (it's worth noting that “your country” need not be your country of birth; it's quite possible for an immigrant to be an American patriot).

So simple, even a liberal can understand it. Or so one would think.
huckupchuck

Hawkins – You clearly, far and away, won this “face-off.” I don't quite know what that other dude was saying. What the heck does the Political Compass Theory have to do with patriotism, really? And if I read The Gun Toting Liberal correctly, he seems to be saying that basically anyone born in the USA who thinks he is acting in the country's best interests is a “de facto” patriot, regardless of what he ends up doing — even if that person is Timothy McVeigh or Aldrich Ames. And what's with the equating of our Founding Fathers and Independence leaders as terrorists? On the other hand, I think your piece was articulate, clear, unambiguous, and embraceable by all. Well said.

Ed Klein on ‘The Amateur: Barack Obama in the White House’

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