More on Patriotism

Bob Peterson, in a comment on my previous post, wonders what real patriotism looks like, as opposed to what I called patriotism on the cheap.

Merriam Webster defines patriotism as simply “love for or devotion to one's country.” It is not love for or devotion to the military system of one's country. But that is what it seems to have become in the U.S. For most people nowadays, patriotism means support for the military and, conversely, any form of opposition to the country's militaristic stance in the world is deemed unpatriotic. Admit it: you hear the word patriot or patriotism and you think about the military.

It is good to remember that people in nation states all around the world are patriotic, which is to say they love and are devoted to their respective countries. Brazilians, for example, seem to me frequently to be annoyingly patriotic, excessive in their national pride. But that pride and the way it manifests itself has nothing at all to do with the strength of their military.

Soccer is every bit as much the national sport in countries all over the world as baseball is in the U.S. But I don't recall ever seeing ostentatious displays of military personnel or equipment as part of the ceremonies surrounding big games...certainly no fly overs, and not even military personnel marching on field with flags. And we watch a lot of soccer in our house, including championship games from all over the world.

So back to the question of what real patriotism might look like. It might look like a Peace Corp or Vista volunteer. It might look like a college grad devoting the first year or two out of school teaching in the inner city. It might take the form of working to realize the potential of diversity in the U.S. by celebrating the building of community as much as rugged individuality. It might mean agitating to end the nightmarish situation faced my tens of thousands of veterans who are waiting for over a year just to have their benefit claims processed.

In the past, patriotic feelings of pride might have been inspired by the promise of social mobility in the U.S.,

by the unequaled system of public education, or by the economic strength of the middle class. None of these are legitimate sources of pride anymore except when we lower our standards and compare ourselves to...say... Albania.

As we become ever smaller, meaner, more petty and selfish maybe all that's left is the military.