Ranting Poetically: Why is America so touchy about patriotism?

How would you define patriotism? Mirriam-Webster’s dictionary defines patriotism as love for or devotion to one’s country. Within reason, it seems that just by virtue of not hating one’s life in a particular country, a person finds a small sense of love for where he or she lives or has lived in the past. But does that appreciation have a distinct code of conduct, values and rules that one must follow, or is it flexible, fluid and dynamic… able to change with the course of events that might occur within a pesky little thing Albert Einstein liked to call, “time” or does it evolve with another little idea, “experience?”

Reuters

I’ve observed throughout my 27 years that Americans in particular have a very rigid idea of what it means to be patriotic. People drive around their towns with bumper stickers that read, “Support the troops!” or “God bless America!” Some cry bloody murder if a person criticizes any government policy, action or official in any way. They say to blame the U.S in any way for a failing Iraqi government is somehow un-American, that to question its anti-terror program somehow undermines operations. Today Reuters and The Wall Street Journal noted that Barack Obama had recently decided to wear a flag pin on his lapel due to the criticism he endured for not wearing one! Did I miss something? Did a flag pin become the Holy Grail? It could be possible. Then there are those I’ve met who, having never left the country, will repeatedly tell you how great it is! Sean Hannity recently devoted an entire Fox News show to telling his viewers why he thought America, was, “the single greatest, best nation ever created on the face of the earth!” Now with the utmost respect for Hannity’s right to feel this way, let me make this analogy: If you spent an hour or more with someone who told you every five minutes how he or she is the single greatest, best person ever created on the face of the earth you would very likely say that person is an arrogant megalomaniac of an a-hole! So why is America so surprised, vexed and perplexed that it has been received as atrociously as it has in other parts of the world? It’s common sense! For the record and for all I know Hannity may be right, but what ever happened to that whole concept of humility?

Patriotism is not wearing a pin of a teeny flag so that everyone knows how great you are or saying so with your words. (Pride used to be a sin for all you Judeo-Christians out in cyberspace…. What happened)? True patriotism is loving one’s nation for its virtues such as a guarantee to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness, the right to free speech (in blogs or otherwise), the right to vote, the right to choose one’s career, and the right to criticize any and all persons places or things barring that no harm is threatened. If anything, being able to speak for or against anything is why I most love democracy and is without a doubt the antithesis of un-American! Barack Obama has a truly American and democratic right to not wear something as trivial as a lapel pin and his wife as well is free to be honest about her past feelings about the country for that matter! Only a dictatorship should care so much about unpatriotic things! The First Amendment is first for a reason! It is the cornerstone for democracy! Until next time… keep waxin’!