Patriotism is about living the ideals of the country

Written by Byron Williams

Sunday, 05 July 2009

This weekend marks the annual commemoration of this country's independence. The balloons, parades, fireworks, barbecues and flags can hide the fact that 233 years ago when the Founders placed their name on the Declaration of Independence they were knowingly signing a death warrant if their revolutionary efforts failed.

This fact alone makes it a worthy enterprise to periodically revive the question: what is patriotism, and what should it look like in the 21st century?

Can we simply conclude that patriotism is love a country? Is it overtly demonstrating ritualistic acts such as standing when the national anthem is played at sporting events, placing one's hand over one's heart while reciting the Pledge of Allegiance? We've seen examples that the failure to do these things might invoke calls of one being unpatriotic.

If we don't examine what patriotism means for each of us, it may become easy to conclude outwardly ritualistic expressions are clear signs of patriotism, while one who decides to exercise constitutionally protected free speech in dissent of the government is guilty of an unpatriotic act.

Hard to believe, but it was not that long ago when a seductive argument was put forth suggesting that acts of war demand uniformity of thought and unquestioned support of the government's plan lest one be considered unpatriotic.

Overt rituals, because they require little of us, can blind us to authentic forms of patriotism. Though I am not aware of any flag lapel pin that he may have adorned, but is there a greater example of patriotism in the last half of the 20th century than Martin Luther King Jr.?

We forget the civil rights movement based its justification on the ideals of the Declaration of Independence and Constitution. They were willing to die for those beliefs, and some did.

If we can agree on the shared definition that patriotism is love and devotion to one's country, how does that love and devotion differ from nationalism?

Patriotism and nationalism share a common definition of devotion or love to the country. Nationalism is also defined as the ability of a nation to act independently. There is more than enough historical data to suggest America has mastered that portion of the definition.

Love and concern for the country, including its people, is the patriotic responsibility of every American. It is not enough to define patriotism simply by consistent voter participation or staying abreast of current issues. The individual must place his or her patriotism beyond the ultimate sphere of political affiliation.

Nor does decibel level or repetition suggest some monopoly on patriotism. One's ability to tout their patriotism loudly and with frequency means only that — nothing more.

In thinking about patriotism, I would suggest one barometer might be just how deep that patriotism runs. Is it an authentic love of country as it is, including it's high and low historical moments, or is it based on what one wishes it to be — something that conforms to our preconceived folklore?

It is probably easier to define what patriotism is not than it is to apply a comprehensive definition. We are not the replicas of the patriotism exhibited by the Founders, nor should we be. However patriotism is defined. it is incumbent upon us to also allow for the different ways it may be manifested in society.

Patriotism is not exclusively acknowledging the heroics of our armed forces and failing to recognize the millions whose unemployment benefits did not last as long as their ongoing job search.

King was right; we are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality that's tied to a single garment of destiny. In these challenging economic times it becomes clearer that our lives are unavoidably connected with each other.

As much as we may want to believe in the myth of rugged individualism, our fates are far more intertwined than we often take the time to recognize.

Somehow patriotism must be more than annual commemorations and rituals. It must be more than something conjured up when the government wishes to engage in war. It must be part of our lived commitment to the ideals that the country was founded upon, struggling with the evolution of that definition 233 years after it was first declared publicly.