posted
Many people these days think that patriotism is at the core of the world's problems and conflicts. This message was brought home once again in a conversation I had over an iced tea with a friend. When talking of bans on fireworks which some counties in Washington have instigated, I quipped "They'd outlaw patriotism if they had the chance." The response from my friend was that this might not be such a bad idea. My fellow citizens of democracy and freedom, do not be so tempted.
We've been cowed and molded into thinking by the leftist elite (who show absolutely no sign of loosing their patriotic fervor for their own ideas) into believing that patriotism is synonymous with war, destruction and nationalism. The truth is that the leftist elite would have no problem if we showed a great deal of patriotism toward a world government or whatever ideas they thought were best for us. They believe, as many people do, that our natural yearning toward war and bloodshed will be quelled only if we are suppressed and sequestered under the tight and forced bonds of global socialism; that we will control our aggressive instincts only when we let go of such outdated and dangerous notions as pride, and most of all, patriotism. But surely wars have been fought have particularly been fought when governments have had the most power and control over its people. By and large, the modern democracies of the world do not fight wars of territorial conquest (testified to by that fact that some are so skittish about this that even wars of self-protection are defined as wars of aggression a perilous over-reaction for a free people to make).
As with just about anything, an educated people who are free to think, live, and work as they please, without undue interference from government (local or global), will wish little or no ill will toward anyone other than those who mean him harm. Live and let live is the banner cry of modern forms of self-government. And I think this is particular so for those forms of self-government that are firmly based on capitalism, which is the one and true means for controlling, if it ever can be controlled, our natural tendencies toward destructive aggression. It is the one system where our competitive instincts are channeled, by and large, so that they become beneficial not only to the individual but to society at large. Active competition among democratic states, where prosperity, not territory, is the prize, is a very good thing. If diversity has any true meaning as a word then its the diversity of the various systems of freedom that keep us alive and vital. Democracy is an on-going experiment and any experiment works best by having many different test cases.
When I say the pledge of alliance, when I salute the flag of the United States of America, I'm saluting an idea, not a territory. Of surely, in those times when our territory, and thus our lives, is threatened from abroad it is time to remember boundaries. It is not wrong to draw that proverbial line in the sand between us and those who would destroy freedom, and we should never shy from making such clear distinctions when they are necessary. But do not believe those who say you should not be proud of the country in which you live for they wish to undermine the concept of federalism itself, which is what we now have of sorts in much of the world on a global scale. They wish to undermine the little pieces that exist now so that the boundaries disappear. Sounds like a great idea until you consider that what they're talking about is still boundaries just larger ones. And this is the opposite of the idea of a healthy diversity, of healthy competition. Self-government, by its very nature, is mostly a local affair. Tyranny breeds easily when the distance between the people and their government is large and far.
This Independence Day I will gladly and proudly say the pledge of allegiance. I will remember those ideas of our Founding Fathers that shaped not only my own country but much of the world; that all men are created equal; that government exists only by the consent of the people; and that the rights of the people are not rights granted by government but are rights that are ours because of our very nature. This latter idea is no small distinction. If one wishes to be so self-absorbed that they will throw the baby out with the bathwater and equate their own love of country with, say, some nut in the Middle East who would blow up a school bus full of children, and thus shy away from the pride they not only should have but ought to have for the idea of self-government, then that is their right. But me, I will look at the flag and see fairness, freedom and justice for all -- and I'll be proud of that revolutionary idea.
Posts: 5365 | From: Washington State | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
Thanks, WC. All my best to you on this Independence Day weekend. Certainly this isn't a day to revel in postmodernism. A little James Cagney "Yankee Doodle Dandee" is always in order.
Don't eat too much. Don't drink too much. Don't blow any fingers off and be sure to rent a real patriotic movie if you're in the mood.
Posts: 5365 | From: Washington State | Registered: Sep 2001
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posted
Yes, very well done, Brad! I don't think there's anything wrong at all with loving one's country and what we stand for. There's no other country I'd rather live in, that's for sure.
A traditional approach (and one which Bush taps into) in Christianity is to view countries as having a particular angel/spirit, destiny and mission. I think it has been America's particular mission to help promote and support the spread of democracy throughout the world, and I think that's a good thing. I read criticisms which try to make the point that it's unethical that we do this -- sort of like it's our "trip" or even a domination issue, but that's such an oxymoron that I don't know how to reply. People choosing their leadership a bad thing? A way of dominating them? I don't get it! As Brad has noted, Democratic nations generally live in peace with one another, so the spread of democracy is way of advancing peace on earth. That seems to me a good thing, and something worth remembering this Independence Day.
[ July 03, 2004, 09:50 PM: Message edited by: Phil ]
-------------------- "The Light shines on in darkness . . ." - John 1: 3 - Posts: 7539 | From: Wichita, KS | Registered: Aug 2001
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A little James Cagney "Yankee Doodle Dandee" is always in order.
