Thinking Patriotism

I live in a small town that is fortunate to have a lively schedule of civic events. Of all these I most enjoy the several parades we have each year; their homey scale are a perfect fit for our little town.

Every parade has it’s usual compliment of fire trucks, scouts, antique cars and civic groups but all follow a color guard of some description at the head of the parade. Most of the time I am alone when I remove my hat and place it over my heart as the flag passes. Most people don’t even stand up. At this point I could launch into a tirade over what a sorry state of affairs it is when I am alone in saluting the flag and rail against something, but I am not enraged or disappointed in my fellow citizens. My lonely demonstration of patriotism is not so much a public as a private expression. In saluting the flag I am thinking of my father Charlie and his brothers Malcolm and Clark, all who served in the military during World War II, my grandfather Herbert Ford who served in World War I, Matt Emerson, one of my Eagle Scouts, currently serving in Iraq; and by extension all who gave of themselves to defend or build our nation. Most importantly I am expressing my dedication to the ideals and propositions that we share as a nation: life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

I don’t see the flag as some magical transubstantiation of a holy American ideal.

Occasionally it is burned in extreme protest but I would not vilify the protesters. My right of free expression is no more important or vulnerable than theirs.

Symbols are powerful, but they are just symbols. If every flag disappeared tomorrow it would not affect the ideals they represent. Just what constitutes patriotism?

Differing conclusions are jealously held and political parties are always ham-handedly angling to win the patriotism beauty contest. But patriotism is beyond undying, unquestioning fealty to an ideal expressed with religious zealotry. In my mind patriotism is a duty to the principles in the constitution.

These principles are open to interpretation and this open design is the real American miracle: mostly peaceful, if sometimes strident, dissent has marked every era of our national history.

Dissent leads to discussion, discussion leads to resolution and so we set the standards for our society.

Civility can be a real challenge as we deal with complicated questions; how to support the troops and oppose the war, how to respect the office of the president while disagreeing with the occupant of that office, how to respect those with whom we disagree.

Thinking patriotism transcends flag worship and pledge-making.

Thinking patriots express their patriotism based on a heartfelt desire to bring people together, not compulsion to obey rules of etiquette and ceremony.

Thinking patriotism demands civility and tolerance for contradictory approaches.