Some Thoughts on Patriotism

(June 2017)

** this was crafted in preparation for helping a young Ryan with a high school project ** 

Patriotism is a term we use for devotion to one's own country and concern for its defense.
Patriotism is sometimes simply defined as “love of country”.

Our country – this United States of America, is made up of Land and our People. Both add to its greatness.  I love my county and consider myself an American Patriot. After reading this you may or may not agree.

I love this Land – this vast section of North America between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans. I’ve seen much of it – from Florida to Seattle and from Maine to San Diego and from Montana to Texas. When I was 18, I set a life-goal of seeing all 50 states. To date, I have a decent storybook moment for 49 of the 50. We are truly blessed to have been born in such a place of wonder and bounty. The best of the best is perhaps our National Parks: Yellowstone, Glacier, Grand Canyon, Grand Teton, Yosemite, etc.… But, while that scenic beauty is magnificent, we should not overlook the more ordinary that serves to provide our bounty: the farms, rivers, ranches, mines, cities, towns, roadways, and factories. I am devoted to this great Land and concerned for its defense.  If someone tried to ruin the Grand Canyon or the Skykomish River, or the hallowed grounds of Gettysburg, I would feel it to be my moral duty to spring to their defense.

I love the People of the USA – we Americans. Well, at least most of us. Sometimes it’s hard to put up with the “bad apples” and “scoundrels”. But generally, we Americans have a spirit and resourcefulness and sense of self-reliance that I value. We are generally an honest and fair people, with a tendency to cheer for the underdog and desire to do what’s right.  It’s the People of the USA who create and make-up our Communities, our Government, our Military, our Business Enterprises, and all our institutions.  I am proud to be a part of all this and feel blessed to have been born into it. So, as with the Land, I would feel it my moral duty to spring to their defense. And, the closer danger comes to “my tribe” the stronger my feelings and the more fervent my defense – even to the degree of self-sacrifice, if needed.

So, from this initial explanation, I hope you can see that I am an American Patriot. I love my country, this great United States of America. I feel blessed to have been born here, rather than Poland, or Syria, or Spain, or Brazil. But, so far I’ve only touched on a small part of the overall story.

I love the Symbols of American Patriotism. I appreciate the beauty and meaning of the Red, White and Blue of our flag (the Stars & Stripes). I admire the glory of many flags flying, as on Fourth of July. And, I am proud to recite the Pledge of Allegiance, or stand straight and tall for the playing of the National Anthem. I enjoy patriotic songs like America the Beautiful and God Bless America, often happy to singing along. But, is flying the flag, pledging allegiance, or singing songs enough to make one truly Patriotic? Shouldn’t one understand and believe in the words and meanings… and try to live by them?

The official words for the Pledge of Allegiance have changed several times. I prefer the 1953 version.
       "I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,
        one nation, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all."
Powerful ideals: One Undivided nation, with Liberty and Justice for all.

Please notice it does NOT say:

•            a nation divided by social class, income, or color
•            a nation divided into gerrymandered political districts 
•            Liberty and Justice for some

How many of us really listen and appreciate the ideals expressed within the poetry of our patriotic songs?

America the Beautiful
O beautiful for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain,
For purple mountain majesty, above the fruited plain.
America! America! God shed his grace on thee.
And crown thy good with brotherhood, From sea to shining sea!

O beautiful for pilgrim feet, whose stern impassioned stress
A thoroughfare of freedom beat, across the wilderness!
America! America! God mend thine every flaw,
Confirm thy soul in self-control, Thy liberty in law!

O beautiful for heroes proved, in liberating strife.
Who more than self their country loved, and mercy more than life!
America! America! May God thy gold refine
Till all success be nobleness, and every gain divine!

Again, powerful ideals: Brotherhood, Freedom, Mend our Flaws, Liberty in Law, Love of Country More than Self, Success be Nobleness and Gains Divine.

I believe Patriotism is not only the devotion to our Land and our People, and not only respect and appreciation for our Symbols, but also (and perhaps more importantly) our devotion to the great Ideals of the Unites States of America. In my opinion, these are best expressed in the 3 greatest American documents:

     –       The Declaration of Independence

     –       The Bill of Rights within our Constitution

     –       The Gettysburg Address by President Lincoln

How many Americans, who claim to be patriotic, have even read these important documents, much less studied their historic meaning? In my opinion, simply waving a flag or singing a song is weak in comparison to understanding the American Ideals expressed within these documents. And, of course beyond understanding these ideals, there is the most important task – living them.  

My life experiences have taught me this simple truth: “Actions Speak Louder than Words”.
Regarding Patriotism, I have known many folks who “Talk the Talk, but Do Not Walk the Walk”.

There’s a common quote: "of all the isms, fascism is the most repressive".

“Isms” are defined as a distinctive practice, system, or philosophy, typically a political ideology or an artistic movement. We use the terms all the time, often without even thinking – Capital-ism, Commun-ism, Impression-ism, Terror-ism, Ideal-ism, Commercial-ism, Vandal-ism, Elite-ism. They are easy to say, but often hard to define as they take on the different characteristics of the people who promote them. And, so it is with Patriotism.

   

Over my near 60 years of life, I’ve become weary and suspicious of “Isms”. They often sound good at first, but tend be corrupted over time. The core ideals tend to be twisted by self-serving people of power, or by the raw emotions of a mob. Over time, the words lose all common meaning. Ask 5 people the question “What is Capitalism?” and note how different the answers will be. The same for Patriotism – ask 25 Americans and you’ll likely get 25 different answers.

I am familiar with a few schools of thought regarding Patriotism. One is simple, often expressed as “My Country Right or Wrong”. For some, this blind obedience to country has no moral boundaries. Anything done under the blanket of the American Flag is to be supported, whether Right or Wrong. This may work for some folks, but I cannot agree. I am a thinking person, with a reasonable moral compass for what is Right and what is Wrong. I appreciate doing Right and I dislike doing Wrong. I have a civic duty to try to do Right rather than Wrong. I wish the same for my countrymen, especially those acting under our flag - our government, our military, our schools, our courts, our communities.

 

John Adams, a great American patriot, famously said: “We are a nation of Laws, not Men.”
This recognizes that people in power are fallible and prone to errors. It reminds us that our Laws are intended to encapsulate and articulate our national ideals, far better than the whims and orders of any single person. It informs us not to blindly follow a President or Senator or Governor, just because they hold a powerful position and issue a personal decree. Rather, we must all follow the Laws – whether common citizen or powerful government official. And, taken one step further, it suggests that as responsible citizens, it is our patriotic duty to hold others accountable for following the Laws – especially if they are in positions of government power and try to misuse that power.   

Military discipline and effectiveness are built on the foundation of obedience to orders. Recruits are taught to obey, immediately and without question, orders from their superiors. 
But, does that mean ALL Orders?
Does that mean “My Country Right or Wrong”?

When one enlists in the United States Military, they take the following oath:

I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice.

United States Military courts have ruled that a soldier cannot commit an illegal act then try to use the defense of "I was only following orders". Many court decisions (the rule of Law) reaffirm that following manifestly illegal orders is not a viable defense from criminal prosecution. In United States v. Keenan, the accused (Keenan) was found guilty of murder after he obeyed an order to shoot and kill an elderly Vietnamese citizen. The Court of Military Appeals held that "the justification for acts done pursuant to orders does not exist if the order was of such a nature that a man of ordinary sense and understanding would know it to be illegal.”

This soldier (Keenan) was doing his duty and blindly following an order. On the surface, that sounds very Patriotic. Yet, the US Military Court essentially said that just blindly following orders was not enough. You must also consider if the act is legal or illegal. You must do what is Right and you must avoid doing what is Wrong. Of course, this further demands that you must know what is Right and Legal, and what is Wrong and Illegal. Doing Wrong is NOT Patriotic. Not knowing what is Right or Wrong is also NOT Patriotic. Given my understanding of this, I must reject “My Country Right or Wrong” as far too simplistic for the complex issue of Patriotism in our complex world.

There is a deep and obvious connection between Military service and Patriotism. Every community in America is impacted by every American war. Sons and Daughters serve and some are killed. And, perhaps nothing calls Patriotism into question more than an American military action that results in our countrymen paying the ultimate price. Did they fight and die for a “good cause” or did the purpose of the mission dishonor their ultimate sacrifice?

Before I was born, my great uncle Michael Wilk served in the US Navy during WWII. He was a Fireman on the USS Destroyer Meredith (DD-726). His ship served during the D-Day Invasion of Utah Beach. He was killed when his ship was blown-up and sunk 3 days after the initial invasion.

 

When I was in Middle School and High School, I was reminded daily of a different war, the ongoing Vietnam War. The American military was engaged in fierce battles for nearly 20 years (1955-1975). Over 58,000 young Americans were killed in Vietnam. Over 300,000 were wounded – many badly scared or crippled for life. Over 1,500 were just gone, MIA, with no trail or trace – just vanished forever. I knew guys who died while serving in Vietnam. There were some kids from my school and town – older than me by a few years, but still part of my community.

Today, I look back with pride on the service of my great uncle. He served, fought and died for a great cause – the defeat of Nazi Germany. He was surely a brave American patriot. He gave his life for a great cause – a better world.

But, I have a different feeling for the young man named “Thomas Wilk” who was born Jan 14, 1950 and died June 13, 1969 in the Long Khanh province of Vietnam. Surely he was brave and courageous. But, his death does not spark Patriotism within me. Rather, it sparks shame, anger, and grave disappointment in my country. More important it sparks serious questions:

·         Why did “Tommy” die?

·         How did his death help make our world or our great USA any better?

·         Was America Right or Wrong to send its young to the jungles of Vietnam to fight and die?

Some may suggest that my asking these questions makes me Un-Patriotic. They may offer the “My Country Right or Wrong” reply. But, I believe asking such questions to be my duty as a Patriotic American who loves my country and its people, especially those serving in the military. How can you love America yet want to see its young people die for no good reason?

When I was about 15, my Mom and Dad had a big argument in our kitchen. It’s one of the only times I can remember them having a really heated argument. It was about Vietnam and Patriotism. I told my folks that if I were drafted to go to Vietnam (to fight in that stupid war), I might run away to Canada. At the time, this was a very common idea and as many as 20,000 to 40,000 young Americans “dodged the draft”. Upon hearing this, my Dad was very upset. He called me: an ungrateful coward, unpatriotic, a deserter and a traitor. He said I would be a disgrace to him and my family if I ran away. He said it was my duty to serve my country, if asked (drafted).

Then, my momma (all 4-foot 8-inches of her) spoke the following with tears in her eyes and fire in her voice:
“NO! I don’t care what bad names you call him. I will not have my Son, who we have loved and cared for since we brought him into this world, DIE in some rice patty or jungle, in some faraway place called Vietnam, for No Good Reason!”

She then asked:
“Why is it so Patriotic and Heroic to simply get yourself killed because some idiot orders you to? If that same idiot asked our Son to commit suicide by jumping off a bridge, would we say that was Patriotic and Heroic, or just stupid?

This was an early example (for me) of how Patriotism gets connected with “Right vs Wrong” and “Good Reasons” and “Purpose”. It underscored the idea that sometimes “blind obedience” is simply stupidity.

By the way, when speaking about Vietnam-era “Draft Dodgers”, it seems important and appropriate to make sure these so-called “patriots” are properly called-out. They each avoided service, using their wealth and social standing to force others to serve and (in some cases) die in their stead:

·                   George W. Bush - 43^nd President of the USA

·                   Richard (Dick) Cheney – Vice President of the USA, under GW Bush

·                   William J. Clinton – 42^nd President of the USA

·                   Donald J. Trump – 45^th President of the USA

These folks are real good at “Talking the Talk”, but they NEVER “Walked the Walk”.
By the way should you ask: Where’s President #44 Barack Obama?  He was too young to be drafted for Vietnam.

One question that consistently comes-up when Military Service and American Patriotism are the topic: Why is it that throughout most of the history of the USA, the Poor and Ordinary citizens are forced to serve while the Rich and Powerful always seem to find ways to avoid service?
Is Patriotism only for the less fortunate or common working folks, while the wealthy and more fortunate get a pass on service and sacrifice?  That big question is worthwhile, but beyond the scope of this essay.   

In 1961, President John F Kennedy took office. I was only 4 when he spoke these famous words:

My fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country."

Kennedy was connecting Patriotism with Service - to our county, to our communities, to our families.  Consider the Patriotism of being a great Mom or Dad. Great parents lead to fine, responsible kids. Such fine kids become good citizens and contribute to the greatness of their communities. And, all across the USA, strong, ethical communities contribute to the greatness of this nation.

It’s simple and easy to chant the hollow words “America, Love It or Leave It”. It’s much more difficult, and much more an act of love, to serve America by being the best Person, Student, Parent, Taxpayer, Scholar, Athlete, and citizen-contributor you can be.

If you truly Love someone, you want to help them be their best. Sometimes that means you must inform them of their mistakes or misdeeds, and help them correct. So, if you truly Love the United States of America, you should also want to see her at her best. And, you must at times call out her mistakes and ask that she do better. You cannot always be blind. You cannot always be silent.

Today, in the USA of 2017, Patriotism is again a major issue and controversial topic. We seem to have a federal government led by a “Draft-Dodger” President (Trump) who seems to disagree with the Founding Fathers. He seems to disagree with the core Ideals of America. He seems to prefer the opposite of John Adams, wanting instead “a nation of Men, not Laws.” He seems to want to re-define Patriotism to be: blind obedience to his orders and his opinions, no matter how wrong, crazy, or illegal. He seems to want to re-define the Ideals of America to be: Do whatever you have to do, including Lying, Cheating, and Stealing, to get as much power and wealth as your greedy soul can grab. He seems to want to sell-out America to the wealthy elite of Russia, China, and Saudi Arabia.

So, I ask you:
How can I, as an American Patriot,
  someone who loves my country and my fellow countrymen, and the Ideals for which this great

  nation was founded…  Someone who takes Duty and Patriotism seriously….
How can I simply stand silent while I see my beloved country being destroyed from within, by a powerful man who seems to have little respect to our laws?

In his autobiography, Rev. Martin Luther King wrote:
“I became convinced that noncooperation with evil was as much a moral obligation as is cooperation with good.”  This idea was informed by many prior works, including one of my favorites, Civil Disobedience by Henry David Thoreau.

Perhaps ultimately, Patriotism serves us best when it is a Question, rather than a feeling or an “Ism”. Maybe our constant questioning is required to help us find Right and avoid Wrong – just as our consistent reference to a compass and map helps us successfully navigate through the wilderness towards a desired location.

So for me, Patriotism means that I love my country, this United States of America, enough to strive towards being a good citizen and serving its ideals. It means I must strive daily to “Walk the Walk”, rather than just flying flags, singing songs, or “Talking the Talk”. It means I must continue to study our Founding Fathers and the foundations of our nation – a nation of Laws not Men.  It means I must courageously stand-up, no matter how difficult, and respectfully speak Truth to Power, especially when a powerful government official wishes to do Wrong under the blanket of our flag.    

 

In this time of political turmoil and deep divisions between my countrymen, I must remember the worlds of President Lincoln, and try to put them into action.

From his Inaugural Address:

“We are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will swell when again touched, as surely they will be, by the better angels of our nature.”   

From his Gettysburg Address:

“It is rather for us to be here dedicated to the great task remaining before us -- that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion -- that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain -- that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom -- and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”