Patriotism Defined

What a lot of people seem to define as "being a patriot" is pretty much the exact opposite of what I feel patriotism is. Patriotism has become defined by one's adherence to whatever the party in power decides the country is going to do. It's become defined by one's unwillingness to question those in power, and one's by-rote acceptance of the country's policies.

This isn't the definition of patriotism, that's the definition of stupidity.

Let's talk about the Dixie chicks for a second. Yes, I know, they're a country western band, and country isn't exactly my thing, but they found themselves in some pretty hot water on the eve of the Iraq offensive because they (gasp) dared suggest that the president is an idiot. For that, they got pilloried in the mass media and labeled as, among other things; traitors, sluts, and unpatriotic, to name a few. And not by a small number of people. Think about that for a second, the crime they committed, dire as it was, consisted of a twelve-word comment where they voiced their disappointment with the war and the Bush administration. And for that, they were labeled as bad patriots.

Now, let me be clear, and this cannot be emphasized enough, the people who slapped that label on them had every right to do so. That's not the issue I want to get into. What I do find somewhat disturbing about the whole affair is how dissenting from those in power got to be viewed as "unpatriotic." The attitude that, as my moron of a president so aptly put it, "you're either with us, or against us" is one of the stupidest, not to mention dangerous attitudes to have under any circumstances. I disagree with pretty much everything the current administration has done since they came into power, but I will personally beat someone senseless who suggests that I don't love and care about both of my countries dearly. I was born straddling the Canada-US border. I have roots placed in both countries. I pay taxes in both countries. I can vote in both countries. I can be drafted in one of them, and I'm willing to fight and die to defend either of them from enemies both foreign and domestic.

And here's what is important to remember: the fact that I don't feel that one of my countries hasn't earned the right to boast about the fact that they're the greatest country in the world doesn't mean that I love that country any less. That's like claiming that a parent who scolds a child suddenly hates them. Voicing dissent with one's country, when it exists, is not only the right of every single American citizen, it's their duty. Wanting the country to do better than it has been doing is the very definition of patriotism. One who wishes and hopes that their country can, someday, live up to the reputation of being the greatest country in the world is the very definition of a patriot.

Keeping your mouth shut when you disagree with something your country is doing, or with a policy that has been laid out, that is the single most unpatriotic position you can possibly take.