False patriotism undermines nation’s founding principles
Janae Hatcher, The Reflector
In times of war, feelings of patriotism always are on the rise. People buy flags and put out yellow ribbons on trees. They send letters to troops and gather in support of them. However, along with these symbols of true patriotism, the present conflict has brought about a sort of pseudo-patriotism that could be dangerous.
We are free to assemble, to speak, to print and read what we want, to practice whatever religion we choose and so on. The supporters of this war say we are pursuing a regime change in Iraq because these very freedoms were going to be threatened soon.
I say that during the course of the preparations and debates about the war, and now during the war itself, that Iraq is not the greatest threat to our freedoms. We are.
In a war that is supposedly to rid Iraq of its dictator and free the Iraqi people, Americans all over the country are questioning their freedoms. People who participate in anti-war rallies have been spat on and threatened. People who have vocally supported the war have had their property damaged. In America, we are supposed to be respectful of each other, whether we agree or not. Citizens expressing their viewpoint in a peaceful manner should not have to fear for their safety.
A few weeks ago, at a mall in New York, a man was wearing peace slogans on his shirt. They read “Peace on Earth” on the front and “Give peace a chance” on the back. Security guards at the mall asked him to remove his shirt or leave. He refused, and he was arrested for trespassing.
We seem to have forgotten that freedom of speech and expression are the first of the guaranteed liberties in the Constitution. While the above do not technically violate the Constitution, they do tarnish our tradition of respecting dissent.
With these things going on all over America, we need to re-examine our values, respect one another and uphold the freedoms this country was founded upon. In October 2001, satirist Bill Maher said the Sept. 11 terrorists were not “cowards.” White House press secretary Ari Fleischer responded, “All Americans need to watch what they do, and this is not a time for remarks like that.” It scares me that Fleischer would suggest that the right to express a political opinion should ever be curbed.
Ironically, throughout this surge of “patriotism” that has existed since Sept.11, there has not been a true surge of the typical signs of patriotism, signs of the unifying urge of self-sacrifice in order to defend what we hold dear in this country.
Rep. Charles Rangel’s (D-New York) call for the draft, though meant only to call attention to the importance of a possible unilateral strike against Iraq, “and to make it clear that if there were a war, there would be more equitable representation of people making sacrifices,” still met with heavy resistance in Congress.
“Those who love this country have a patriotic obligation to defend this country. For those who say the poor fight better, I say give the rich a chance,” said Rangel. However, the rich don’t seem to be signing up themselves. In fact, no one is. Military recruiters report no increase in enlistment.
Patriotism is more than just slapping an American flag on the back of a minivan and refusing to buy French-made bottled water. Few of us ever make any true sacrifices in the service of our country. So in participating in the pseudo-patriotism of pulling up a neighbor’s yard signs and refusing to air certain broadcasts, what we are fighting to uphold by removing Saddam Hussein?
Janae Hatcher is a junior political science and psychology major.