One of the unforeseen consequences of an all volunteer army is that patriotism has become a rather easy and comfortable value to display. Often it involves no more than a flag pin on one's lapel and a bumper sticker proclaiming that one "supports the troops." Of course, for those with loved ones in the military patriotism remains a difficult and often conflicting emotion. They suffer separation and doubt about their loved one's fate. They sometimes doubt the cause for which their sons, daughters and spouses are in harm's way. They worry endlessly but love their country and the community which surrounds them and nourishes them in their moments of fear and tragedy.
For the rest of us, the wars which set the context for our patriotism are often viewed as a spectator sport which illicit less emotional engagement than Dancing With the Stars and American Idol. It helps that the wars are financed on a credit card and allows us to insist upon tax relief while lamenting a growing deficit. There is a problem with these conflicting objectives but there is a patriotic response to this conundrum. But more about this later...In the meantime it will suffice to begin a discussion of the various meanings of patriotism available to citizens in a country engaged in two wars.
If the wars had better choreography and perhaps a host with a british accent I think they would be much more interesting. That said there is a lot more to patriotism than a silly pin or bumper sticker. There is also more to patriotism than a talking head on TV telling us we are not patriotic because we disagree with a certain president, then that same head endlessly berates the new president with no effect to his own patriotism.
ReplyDeleteThis is exhilarating. Your writing is superb and the blogosphere is a good vehicle for broad discussions and differing opinions.
ReplyDeleteI find no quarrel with this piece, Patriotism Revisited. Historians have written for years on the nature of patriotism and patriots.
Hitler, Hirohito, and Stalin enjoyed their patriots, as did FDR, Truman, and Churchill. Simplistically, it is the cause that patriots of any country find themselves fighting and dieing for that makes the difference. At some level, in one way or another, those at home that don't fight and die, choose their allegience.
Historians have examined causes as well. Room for discussion there.