This July 4th my fellow Americans will dust off their flags for display. Don tee shirts featuring a patriotic slogan. Gawk at dazzling fireworks of red-white-and-blue explosions. For too many Americans, that's where patriotism starts and ends. It's a once a year expression. Little more.
There is nothing wrong with a day of celebrations, even if some are clueless about why July 4th matters. On that date in 1776 the Continental Congress declared the American colonies were no longer under the oppressive thumb of Britain with the passage of the Declaration of Independence.
My sense is that if you polled average Americans on their concept of patriotism their answers might baffle you. Some believe it is a blind loyalty to country. Others think it is voting, saluting the flag, standing for the National Anthem or supporting the military. All laudable exercises of freedom.
A growing minority attach all sorts of political causes to patriotism. Robert Reich, former Secretary of Treasury, once opined that patriotism was paying "taxes in full rather than seeking tax loopholes and squirreling away money abroad." Wonder if the founding fathers would agree?
Schools and universities today are dishing out a lot of nonsense about patriotism. According to news reports, students are being taught tolerance of transgender individuals, refraining from hurtful speech, saving the climate and opening borders to illegal immigrants are patriotic causes.
That is not what patriotism means to me. I revere the idealism expressed in the Declaration of Independence, particularly the opening paragraphs. The 1,337 word document enumerates the sacred compact every person makes when they become an American either by birth or naturalization.
Our often imitated, but never surpassed, declaration includes the idea that all men (and women) are created equal. That was a novel concept in 1776 and remains so centuries later in some countries. For those worried about equality today, visit other nations before too harshly judging America.
Americans also are endowed NOT by their government, but by their Creator, with certain unalienable rights. Under the Declaration of Independence, these rights cannot be taken away. Among the rights we enjoy as Americans are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.
We are free to follow our own course in life without interference from the government. To insure there is no tampering, our hollowed document underscores that the government derives its powers only with the consent of the people, not from politicians, political parties or the courts.
Not many Americans know that our grand treatise includes the admonition that we the people have the right to alter or abolish our form of government if it becomes destructive to the fundamental truths spelled out by the framers. That may sound extreme, but that's exactly why we ditched Britain.
At its core, America stands for freedom. That may ring quaint to those of us born in a free country, but look around the world today. Brutal dictators, rogue governments, military juntas and tyrants still rule many nations with an iron fist. That's why we should never, ever take freedom for granted.
As a patriot, I vehemently oppose anyone who would abridge our freedoms, whether they are leaders, legislators, court judges, police, military or unelected do-gooders. Too many Americans have died to protect and defend those freedoms for us to surrender even one of our God-given rights.
Our nation has many symbols to represent freedom. The Liberty Bell. Statue of Liberty. The American Flag. Our National Anthem. Patriotic celebrations. But symbols are not what makes America singular. Our country was built on noble ideals that have withstood the test of centuries.
Those principles have defined our nation. America has at times failed to live up to those soaring ideals. However, our moral compass, the Declaration of Independence, has guided us to reverse course after we have strayed from the values rooted in the soul of our nation.
Every human on the planet yearns for independence, freedom and contentment. That's why so many immigrants have endured hardships to become U.S. citizens. They often appreciate the wisdom of the American democratic experiment more than those families who have spent generations here.
Remember that on July 4th and every day. Reacquaint yourself with our Declaration of Independence. Discover in its words the essence of what it means to be an American. Proudly identify as a patriot who treasures the towering idealism of America.
Showing posts with label Patriotism. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Patriotism. Show all posts
Monday, July 1, 2019
Monday, July 2, 2018
Patriotism: No Longer In Vogue?
As the nation celebrates Independence Day, surveys show Americans' patriotism is slowly, perhaps irreversibly, ebbing. Fewer people than ever are "extremely proud" to be an American, a low in a 16-year trend of declining patriotism. There are many theories on the downdraft but no consensus.
National polling organization Gallup published research two years ago that documented the precipitous drop. In 2003 in the aftermath of 9/11, seven in 10 Americans professed to be "extremely" proud of their country. By 2016, that number had nosedived to 52 percent.
The dip was most noticeable among young adults. This group, aged 18 to 29, are the least patriotic with only 34 percent claiming to be "extremely proud" to be Americans, according to Gallup. Young people experienced the largest decline since 2003: a slide of nearly 30 percentage points.
A 2017 national survey by Pew Research produced similar findings. Among respondents younger than 30, only 12 percent believe America "stands above all other countries." That compares to 85 percent of the general public, the research discovered.
There are also sharp divisions between respondents with self-identified political affiliations. For example, Pew's study uncovered that one in three "liberal" Democrats said there were other nations better than the United States. Only 13 percent of liberals rate America the best above all others.
Gallup's poll underscored the same difference between liberals and conservatives. Conservatives were among the most likely groups to claim to be "extremely proud" to be Americans. More than 60 percent of conservatives viewed themselves as patriotic.
If there is a silver lining, a clear majority of Americans agree on one thing. An Associated Press/NORC poll taken last year said 77 per cent of Americans are extremely or very proud of the country's armed forces. But support for the military is not the same as patriotism.
Definitions of patriotism vary by source and personal beliefs, so there is no one, all encompassing description. But for purposes of this treatise, in my opinion the words below appear more in line with most Americans perception of patriotism:
"Patriotism or national pride is the ideology of love and devotion to a homeland, and a sense of alliance with other citizens who share the same values." Nothing in this definition suggests blind loyalty, uninformed fealty or star-spangled jingoism. There is nothing nefarious about patriotism.
Yet a few public figures and politicians are calling patriotism a dog whistle for racism, anti-immigrant rhetoric, misogamy and injustice. They blame unflinching patriotism for wars, hunger, discrimination and every imaginable offense. No wonder many Americans question their own patriotism.
The problem is the words some voices use to define patriotism. These detractors claim patriotism muffles legitimate faultfinding, stifles public disagreement and insist the patriotic American flag is a symbol of hypocrisy. Those who hold such views have twisted patriotism into something perverse.
Patriots throughout the nation's history have dissented, criticized and protested about a plethora of issues from English rule to the current president. Americans have always been a raucous tribe, but its citizens cling to the notion the country will act in keeping with its highest ideals.
Today in the name of dissent Americans have witnessed a Congresswoman advocate public harassment of members of the current administration. In light of the threat, it's no surprise that a recent poll reports growing numbers of Americans fear an open revolt or armed resistance.
There is nothing red-white-and blue about clamoring for mob tactics. Our rights do not include the abuse of the public forum to incite uncivil behavior. Patriotism should be a clarion call for all Americans to unite behind their country, no matter who occupies the Oval Office.
An Englishmen Winston Churchill had an sober description of the country we love. "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing--after they've tried everything else." As Mr. Churchill suggests, our nation has its flaws, but no country has pursued virtue with as much zeal.
Patriotic Americans want what is best for their country, their fellow citizens and their world. That is not something to be ridiculed and scoffed. Patriotism is the glue that holds a country together. If the bond is torn asunder, America will surrender not only its past but its future.
National polling organization Gallup published research two years ago that documented the precipitous drop. In 2003 in the aftermath of 9/11, seven in 10 Americans professed to be "extremely" proud of their country. By 2016, that number had nosedived to 52 percent.
The dip was most noticeable among young adults. This group, aged 18 to 29, are the least patriotic with only 34 percent claiming to be "extremely proud" to be Americans, according to Gallup. Young people experienced the largest decline since 2003: a slide of nearly 30 percentage points.
A 2017 national survey by Pew Research produced similar findings. Among respondents younger than 30, only 12 percent believe America "stands above all other countries." That compares to 85 percent of the general public, the research discovered.
There are also sharp divisions between respondents with self-identified political affiliations. For example, Pew's study uncovered that one in three "liberal" Democrats said there were other nations better than the United States. Only 13 percent of liberals rate America the best above all others.
Gallup's poll underscored the same difference between liberals and conservatives. Conservatives were among the most likely groups to claim to be "extremely proud" to be Americans. More than 60 percent of conservatives viewed themselves as patriotic.
If there is a silver lining, a clear majority of Americans agree on one thing. An Associated Press/NORC poll taken last year said 77 per cent of Americans are extremely or very proud of the country's armed forces. But support for the military is not the same as patriotism.
Definitions of patriotism vary by source and personal beliefs, so there is no one, all encompassing description. But for purposes of this treatise, in my opinion the words below appear more in line with most Americans perception of patriotism:
"Patriotism or national pride is the ideology of love and devotion to a homeland, and a sense of alliance with other citizens who share the same values." Nothing in this definition suggests blind loyalty, uninformed fealty or star-spangled jingoism. There is nothing nefarious about patriotism.
Yet a few public figures and politicians are calling patriotism a dog whistle for racism, anti-immigrant rhetoric, misogamy and injustice. They blame unflinching patriotism for wars, hunger, discrimination and every imaginable offense. No wonder many Americans question their own patriotism.
The problem is the words some voices use to define patriotism. These detractors claim patriotism muffles legitimate faultfinding, stifles public disagreement and insist the patriotic American flag is a symbol of hypocrisy. Those who hold such views have twisted patriotism into something perverse.
Patriots throughout the nation's history have dissented, criticized and protested about a plethora of issues from English rule to the current president. Americans have always been a raucous tribe, but its citizens cling to the notion the country will act in keeping with its highest ideals.
Today in the name of dissent Americans have witnessed a Congresswoman advocate public harassment of members of the current administration. In light of the threat, it's no surprise that a recent poll reports growing numbers of Americans fear an open revolt or armed resistance.
There is nothing red-white-and blue about clamoring for mob tactics. Our rights do not include the abuse of the public forum to incite uncivil behavior. Patriotism should be a clarion call for all Americans to unite behind their country, no matter who occupies the Oval Office.
An Englishmen Winston Churchill had an sober description of the country we love. "You can always count on Americans to do the right thing--after they've tried everything else." As Mr. Churchill suggests, our nation has its flaws, but no country has pursued virtue with as much zeal.
Patriotic Americans want what is best for their country, their fellow citizens and their world. That is not something to be ridiculed and scoffed. Patriotism is the glue that holds a country together. If the bond is torn asunder, America will surrender not only its past but its future.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Should Schools Teach Patriotism?
A brouhaha erupted in Colorado recently over a school board proposal to promote patriotism, citizenship and respect for authority in the school curriculum. Students and teachers were so appalled by the notion that they walked out of class. They speciously claimed their actions were patriotic.
The Colorado skirmish was only the most recent rebellion. There have been battles in Texas and South Carolina over similar moves by so-called "conservatives" to tinker with high school education. In these clashes, it is clear that parents and school boards are expected to butt out of school business.
The education establishment treats schools as their own personal property. Never mind that tax paying citizens foot the bill for the schooling of the next generation. They are expected to pony up the money without having any say in education. This is truly taxation without representation.
School boards are supposed to be the duly elected representatives of taxpayers, parents and the public at large. But if board members dare to buck the education establishment, they are drawn and quartered in the media and mugged by teacher unions. That's what makes the Colorado case instructive.
The school board in a suburban Denver district thought students would benefit by focusing on American values, like patriotism. It seemed like a modest proposal to include such topics in history education. Some students and teachers compared the idea to censorship.
Censorship is exercised every day in American schools by principals, teachers and unions. Schools dictate dress, decorum, speech, textbooks, teaching methods, food services and every aspect of education. The sharp stick of censorship is wielded by the education apparatus.
No one has yet explained how teaching patriotism would harm students. The whiners in Colorado think promoting patriotism would downplay America's troubled past. That seems far fetched considering research about students' views of their country.
A Pew Research Poll this summer found that just 15 percent of young people ( ages 18-29) hold the view that America is the greatest country in the world. And the numbers are plummeting. Just three years ago, 27 percent of youngsters agreed the U.S. stood above all other countries.
The polling firm did not offer any reason for the sharp drop in attitudes. Perhaps, the Colorado school board read the same survey and decided to do something about it. Good for them. A nation without patriots is a country in irreparable decay.
Patriotism is more than just waving an American flag. It is more than the rote recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. It is not blind obedience nor mindless homage to the country or its leaders. Patriotism is about fealty to the uniquely American ideal of liberty, the bedrock on which the nation was chiseled.
America was the first country to declare that all men were free. Today that idea may seem old-fashioned, but in the 18th century democracy was a novel concept, too. No nation had ever been birthed on such a bold theory. Many predicted America would become a failed experiment.
The United States of America has survived nearly 240 years, outliving many countries that have fallen into the abyss of tyranny and oppression. That's why patriotism is worth teaching every citizen, including the youngest and brightest among us. Those who object should be heard but not followed.
If the education establishment finds patriotism so abhorrent, perhaps it is because they consider it an unnatural sentiment. However, there are no greater beneficiaries of unfettered freedom than teachers, principals and students. Perhaps, they need reminding of that fact every day in the classroom.
The Colorado skirmish was only the most recent rebellion. There have been battles in Texas and South Carolina over similar moves by so-called "conservatives" to tinker with high school education. In these clashes, it is clear that parents and school boards are expected to butt out of school business.
The education establishment treats schools as their own personal property. Never mind that tax paying citizens foot the bill for the schooling of the next generation. They are expected to pony up the money without having any say in education. This is truly taxation without representation.
School boards are supposed to be the duly elected representatives of taxpayers, parents and the public at large. But if board members dare to buck the education establishment, they are drawn and quartered in the media and mugged by teacher unions. That's what makes the Colorado case instructive.
The school board in a suburban Denver district thought students would benefit by focusing on American values, like patriotism. It seemed like a modest proposal to include such topics in history education. Some students and teachers compared the idea to censorship.
Censorship is exercised every day in American schools by principals, teachers and unions. Schools dictate dress, decorum, speech, textbooks, teaching methods, food services and every aspect of education. The sharp stick of censorship is wielded by the education apparatus.
No one has yet explained how teaching patriotism would harm students. The whiners in Colorado think promoting patriotism would downplay America's troubled past. That seems far fetched considering research about students' views of their country.
A Pew Research Poll this summer found that just 15 percent of young people ( ages 18-29) hold the view that America is the greatest country in the world. And the numbers are plummeting. Just three years ago, 27 percent of youngsters agreed the U.S. stood above all other countries.
The polling firm did not offer any reason for the sharp drop in attitudes. Perhaps, the Colorado school board read the same survey and decided to do something about it. Good for them. A nation without patriots is a country in irreparable decay.
Patriotism is more than just waving an American flag. It is more than the rote recital of the Pledge of Allegiance. It is not blind obedience nor mindless homage to the country or its leaders. Patriotism is about fealty to the uniquely American ideal of liberty, the bedrock on which the nation was chiseled.
America was the first country to declare that all men were free. Today that idea may seem old-fashioned, but in the 18th century democracy was a novel concept, too. No nation had ever been birthed on such a bold theory. Many predicted America would become a failed experiment.
The United States of America has survived nearly 240 years, outliving many countries that have fallen into the abyss of tyranny and oppression. That's why patriotism is worth teaching every citizen, including the youngest and brightest among us. Those who object should be heard but not followed.
If the education establishment finds patriotism so abhorrent, perhaps it is because they consider it an unnatural sentiment. However, there are no greater beneficiaries of unfettered freedom than teachers, principals and students. Perhaps, they need reminding of that fact every day in the classroom.
Sunday, November 11, 2012
Thank Raymond Weeks For Veterans Day
Americans owe a debt of gratitude to Raymond Weeks, a little known World War II veteran. Weeks launched a one-man crusade 65-years ago to honor military personnel who served their country. His tireless campaign prompted Congress to officially recognize Veterans Day in 1954.
The bill signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower capped a seven-year effort by Weeks. November 11th was designated as the official observance. At exactly 11 a.m. on that day, a wreath is laid at the tomb of the unknown soldiers buried on a Virginia hillside overlooking the Potomac River.
Understanding the significance of the time and date requires a bit of background. Major hostilities in World War I ended at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 with Germany's signing of the armistice.
The day was officially crowned Armistice Day in 1926 by Congressional action. Although it is still celebrated, especially in Europe, Armistice Day has given way to Veterans Day as an official holiday for U.S. federal workers.
Armistice Day had already begun to fade from the scene when Weeks opened his campaign in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1947, he organized the very first parade to recognize war veterans in his hometown. Even then he dreamed of expanding the idea beyond his city.
His plan was not only to honor America's war dead, as Memorial Day does, but to recognize all veterans who served in the country's armed forces.
The patriotic Weeks bent the ear of every politician and military general who would listen. He struck pay dirt when he presented his proposal to Eisenhower while the general was serving as the Army's Chief of Staff. Eisenhower remembered the Alabama veteran's idea after he was elected president.
Congress passed legislation on June 1 of 1954 renaming Armistice Day as Veterans Day. The historic act included this language: "...let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly" to "preserve our heritage of freedom."
The man who conceived the idea served as director of the Birmingham National Veterans Day celebration for 38 years until his death in 1985. For his noble efforts, Weeks was recognized by President Ronald Reagan, who presented him the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982.
Each Veterans Day should remind every American of the nation's heroes who sacrificed to serve their country, including those who gave up their lives. If you are too busy to attend a parade, tribute or a memorial service, at least take a moment to silently thank these selfless women and men.
Don't forget to also pay tribute to Raymond Weeks. He proved that an ordinary person can make a difference in the greatest country on this blessed earth.
The bill signed by President Dwight D. Eisenhower capped a seven-year effort by Weeks. November 11th was designated as the official observance. At exactly 11 a.m. on that day, a wreath is laid at the tomb of the unknown soldiers buried on a Virginia hillside overlooking the Potomac River.
Understanding the significance of the time and date requires a bit of background. Major hostilities in World War I ended at the eleventh hour on the eleventh day of the eleventh month in 1918 with Germany's signing of the armistice.
The day was officially crowned Armistice Day in 1926 by Congressional action. Although it is still celebrated, especially in Europe, Armistice Day has given way to Veterans Day as an official holiday for U.S. federal workers.
Armistice Day had already begun to fade from the scene when Weeks opened his campaign in Birmingham, Alabama. In 1947, he organized the very first parade to recognize war veterans in his hometown. Even then he dreamed of expanding the idea beyond his city.
His plan was not only to honor America's war dead, as Memorial Day does, but to recognize all veterans who served in the country's armed forces.
The patriotic Weeks bent the ear of every politician and military general who would listen. He struck pay dirt when he presented his proposal to Eisenhower while the general was serving as the Army's Chief of Staff. Eisenhower remembered the Alabama veteran's idea after he was elected president.
Congress passed legislation on June 1 of 1954 renaming Armistice Day as Veterans Day. The historic act included this language: "...let us solemnly remember the sacrifices of all those who fought so valiantly" to "preserve our heritage of freedom."
The man who conceived the idea served as director of the Birmingham National Veterans Day celebration for 38 years until his death in 1985. For his noble efforts, Weeks was recognized by President Ronald Reagan, who presented him the Presidential Citizenship Medal in 1982.
Each Veterans Day should remind every American of the nation's heroes who sacrificed to serve their country, including those who gave up their lives. If you are too busy to attend a parade, tribute or a memorial service, at least take a moment to silently thank these selfless women and men.
Don't forget to also pay tribute to Raymond Weeks. He proved that an ordinary person can make a difference in the greatest country on this blessed earth.
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