Are you upset, or even angry, that “patriot” has become an accusation of sorts? Does it bother you that some view “patriotism” or being a “patriot” in a negative way? Do you feel people use the word wrongly all the time? Do you find yourself asking, how can this be? How is being a patriot a bad thing? When did this happen?
Or maybe you ask yourself if it even really matters any more. Do you feel Americans should not be patriotic? Is it your opinion that Americans should be ashamed to be American?
In this installment of Healthy Discussions, we are going to start our dive into these questions. So, let’s jump in the fire … At Only America we do believe that how Americans view patriotism matters, very much so. We also consider ourselves to be American patriots. And we believe that is a good thing, and a good thing to be. It’s a good thing for all of us, for the whole United States of America, and for the world. Agree or disagree, keep reading and we’ll try to explain why. Ultimately, you may disagree – that happens at Healthy Discussions, and that’s okay.
To address these issues and attempt to answer these questions, we need to be certain we are all talking about the same thing. We need working definitions of patriot and patriotism. If you define “patriotism” by aligning the term with a particular group or political position, you will obviously alter people’s perception of the word. But at Only America we are determined -- we will not let any one person or group of persons co-opt a word, redefine it and take it from us.
Now, let’s back up and start at the beginning. What is a patriot? The online Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines “patriot” as “one who loves and supports his or her country.”[1] We are talking about the United States of America, and American patriotism, so to be more accurate, the dictionary definition is “one who loves and supports the United States of America.” This seems like something we should all be able to agree on – this definition alone. A “patriot” is “one who loves and supports the United States of America.” We are going to start there – at Only America, that is what the word “patriot” means.
So, how can that be a bad thing? Or, depending on your perspective, how could you be proud to be one?
Well, that gets us to what it means to “love and support” and how you define “the United States of America.” These questions are not nearly as simple and trivial as they first sound. These can be loaded words. And this debate is not new.[2] Plenty of people have mis-used and attempted to re-brand or qualify patriotism from every angle and in every direction since long before any extremist-du-jour declared their undying “patriotism” to the offense of others.
So, what do we mean by “love and support the United States of America?” Let’s take the “easier” topic first – “the United States of America.” To start, quite simply, the United States of America is not its government. The United States of America is not the five hundred plus legislators, executive branch employees and judiciary staff and judges that run the machine of Washington, D.C. The United States of America is not selected parts of its geography or population or history. The United States of America is not a discrete event, era, topic, or movement. It would be intellectually bankrupt to argue about patriotism through a lens that isolates a singular instance or period of time. Reducing the United States of America, as others have, to one facet or period or struggle is disingenuous at best.[3] For example, no honest American of good heart, mind and soul can glibly claim patriotism if the United States of America is distilled down to nothing more than a nation that engaged in slavery at its foundation and for nearly a hundred years thereafter. However, when the United States of America is also understood as a country that persevered while ending slavery on its shores, and as a country that has since seen men and women of color reach the highest levels of their chosen path, and as a country that has since elected and appointed persons of color to the highest positions of our government – it can at least then be understood how Americans see their country as a force for good. Let us be clear – the United States of America is not perfect. It is not close to perfect. And no nation is or ever will be. But the ideals upon which this nation was founded -- that life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness are inalienable to all of us -- those ideals are the basis of what allows for the righting of wrongs and lets us pursue change for the better. And that is something to love and support.
In terms of “patriotism,” the United States of America is less a thing, than it is a force, almost in the way gravity is a force. The United States of America is the embodiment of the movement that created the country. It is the land of the free and the home of the brave. It is the people that stood up to British imperialism, that said no to monarchy. It is the men and women that stood up to the Nazis on behalf of themselves and the world. It is the efforts and ingenuity of the people that revolutionized production, travel, and energy, and that put a man on the moon. It is also the country that chose to use nuclear weapons to subdue an enemy. It is also the country that has been too often too slow to change. It is also a country that has exuded the worst of excess at times. It is good, it is bad, it is beautiful, and it is ugly. And it will always -- for as long as American patriots exist -- be seeking a more perfect Union. And that, is good. Good for all.
So, we ask again, is the United States of America perfect? No. Not by any measure, and not even close to it. Is any country? Of course not. Is there any other country of which you would rather be a citizen? Is there any other country that beckons all from around the world?
“Love and support” … do you hold America’s aspirational goals in high esteem? Even if you don’t believe that the United States of America has succeeded in attaining those goals, pursuing those goals is good, isn’t it? Do you support pursuing those goals? Of course, we all do.
“Patriot” should not be a bad word. And as we said earlier, we here at Only America are not going to let any one person, or group of people, from any extreme, claim ownership of a word. It has a meaning, and no American should be ashamed of “loving and supporting the United States of America.” The dictionary definition of “American patriot.” That is, loving and supporting the ideals and aspirational goals of our country, not its government or any specific party or candidate. American patriotism in not American nationalism.
So, when you’re debating whether to fly Old Glory or wear Only America™ Patriot Gear … and wondering whether your neighbor might be triggered because of a dark period of U.S. history, or question whether your patriotism is “true” because of who you choose to vote for … think about what it really means to be an American patriot.
And wave that flag, … wave it wide and high!
[1] Definition of “patriot.” Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/patriot (Accessed April 9, 2024).
[2] Avlon, J., “How did ‘patriot’ become a dirty word?” CNN News. May 28, 2013. https://www.cnn.com/2013/05/27/opinion/avlon-patriot (Accessed April 10, 2024)
[3] Marshall, Yannick G., “Patriotism is racist.” Al-Jazeera. February 6, 2020. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2020/2/6/patriotism-is-racist/ (Accessed April 10, 2024)