Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Patriotism
I've had weird thoughts about patriotism lately. I've never considered myself a patriotic person. I've shared the mindset that Chris Rock used in his stand up routine. He equated the relationship between a black man & America to the relationship between a person who has an uncle who molested them; but also paid their way through college. I feel the same way. The form of patriotism that makes the hair on my neck stand up, is the kind that makes a person say, "My country, right or wrong." That phrase makes me nervous. One quote that I like is, " My country, when right, to be kept right; when wrong, to be set right!" but I would have to say that my favorite expression of patriotism; one that we all as Americans should adopt, is "Not in my name." This negates "My country, right or wrong." It ties, "We The People..." to an active investment in your governments actions. When you read the paper, and you hear about actions and policies that your government is involved in and you don't agree with; you can say to yourself, " Not in my name". Hopefully, that phrase will be a catalyst for change; and change is always a good thing. But that's just my opinion though, and who the hell am I?
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
1 comment:
What you're saying is so true and it troubles me that some citizens consider this attitude "unpatriotic." I find it so troubling when someone responds to a civil and moral injustice with the phrase "But that's how it's always been done," or "we can't do anything about it." It is sad to think that the American public participates in reality television voting more than the civil process that shape our nation. What is more patriotic than helping to shape the nation and right injustice?
Post a Comment