As we close on another American Independence day, I’ve been thinking about the nature of patriotism. It seems to me we Americans have lost the concept of the word. People talk about “love of country” and “American exceptionalism” leading to arguments that miss the point. Patriotism is not uncritical support; it is also not unsupported criticism. It is not the extremism of the fan who thinks only his team should ever win, and every referee’s decision or sport ruling to the contrary is unfair and biased. Yet it is also not detached neutrality, a keeping-your-distance and not-being-emotionally-committed attitude common in academia.
When I worked for the government, I used to remind my employees they were not neutral observers of American foreign policy: they wanted that policy to succeed, whether they personally supported it or not. (Note: we weren’t talking about policies they morally opposed; of course one is required to quit if asked to support a policy you could not in good conscience support). You didn’t need to chant “U…S…A, U…S…A!” all the time, but neither should you act like it made no difference to you.
Enough about what patriotism isn’t; what is it? Try this concept on for size: patriotism is an appreciation for the unique advantages your nationality bestows on you, unmerited on your part. Thus it does not mean your country is better than any other, nor does it mean everything your country does it right or best. This appreciative version of patriotism requires an objective view of your nation’s history, other nation’s histories, and the state of the world today. But it avoids silly chest-thumping on one hand, or ridiculous a-historical criticism on the other.
There is nothing particularly patriotic about believing your country is the greatest ever, nor in thinking solely about its many shortcomings. Both approaches lead to dead ends. There can be little doubt nations and nationalities demonstrate differing areas of excellence, and acknowledging this fact is not unpatriotic, just realistic. Brazil plays beautiful football. Nobody does cheese like France. Taiwan and computer chips. Sometimes patriotic fervor isn’t about absolute excellence, but simply relative excellence or good fit. I wouldn’t prefer the United Kingdom’s National Health Service, but the British cherish it as a national accomplishment nonetheless. It just works for them.
Heaven is where
the police are English,
the chefs are French,
the mechanics are German,
the lovers are Italian,
and the Swiss organize everything.
Hell is where
the Germans are the police,
the English are the cooks,
the French are the mechanics,
the Swiss are the lovers
and the Italians organize everything.
An old joke about Heaven, Hell and Europe
I didn’t storm the beaches at Normandy, but I benefited from the those who put an end to the Nazis. I never enslaved anyone, nor did my Irish forebears, but I was born into a society that had far more opportunity in South Bend than Sligo, just as an African American descended from slaves but born beside me in South Bend had so much more opportunity than a distant cousin still in Soweto. That we both had different (and unequal) opportunities is both a global statement of fact and a call for continued hard work. It is simply amazing to me that some people today think it is a remarkably American failing that inequality exists; if this surprises you, you either haven’t traveled much or weren’t paying attention when you did.
All nations have strengths and weaknesses. As do all forms of government, all ethnic groups, and all individuals. Being honest about these strengths and weaknesses is not disloyal, while only considering one or the other might be. I have little patience for those who say “America: love it or leave it.” I have no patience whatsoever for those who claim unrelenting criticism is some higher form of patriotic fervor.
America is, was, and ever will be far short of perfect. Yet it remains a blessing to be born an American, regardless of race, creed, or color. In praise or criticism, this remains true, and only an ingrate would challenge it.
Happy Independence Day!
Well said and having been fortunate enough to have traveled most of the planet I see incredible similarities between the desire of all people just live their lives in peace with their families. These desires are only made difficult by governments and religious leaders.
The most outstanding thing about my own country and the history I was taught is that the country was started with the idea of freedom. The Bill of Rights is unique and I think is a great elevator of this culture over may others. I like the Frederick Douglas speech of 1875 that spoke of the excellence of freedom after spending the first 20 years of his life as a slave. If anything that makes the US exceptional it is the concept and exercise of freedom. The process of political correctness and self serving liberalism has put us on the road to Orwellian lack of freedom and patriotism of a positive note is sinking only a little slower than the Titanic.
Today we celebrate the civil liberties that our nation provides! Pat, thanks for stimulating my mind. I’d say an American patriot is one who fights for freedom, that is, strives to achieve and protect the civil liberties expressed in the Declaration of Independence and set forth in the U.S. Constitution. Sometimes different perspectives of our civil liberties creates tension, that is why we should be quick to listen to others and slow to yell at others.
Nice post. Well said.