Monday, May 5, 2014

Why American Patriotism is important

Abraham Lincoln by Mathew Brady
   In the modern era, American patriotism appears to be on the decline. It is increasingly being replaced by a belief that critical thinking is needed to truly evaluate the impact that we have on the world and whether or not we are morally-led.  But is this true? Has American patriotism expired as an acceptable ideology in our politically-correct world? Does it promote a sense of unhealthy pride which inflates America's ego? Is it still important for Americans to be patriotic?

   What many of us have forgotten is that patriotism was essential for the creation of the United States today as we know it. The liberties, security, and rights which we possess today would not be possible were it not for such a force. In the early years of America's existence, patriotism played a key role in both the Declaration of Independence and the creation of the United States Constitution. During our Civil War, patriotism was, more than anything else, the essential motivation that led to the northern victory. Northern soldiers did not go to war to free the slaves. The reason that northern soldiers fought was to save the Union. The cause of the Union supported a common and popular interest in defending one's home, preserving freedoms, and promoting unity and the public welfare. These aspirations, regardless of who they belonged to or their specifics, all had one thing in common, and that was their common parent: patriotism.

   In fact, the North could not have won the Civil War without patriotism. No other ideological force of the time had a basis on common ground sufficient to unite a large section of the American populace, from merchants in the Northeast to settlers in California and pro-Union citizens of West Virginia. During the war, Abraham Lincoln headed a powerful but fragile coalition, consisting of people belonging to the Republican and Democratic parties, border and free states. All these people had different beliefs and agendas, but they all supported Lincoln and the Northern war effort. They all wanted the Union to succeed, and many of these people were willing to work together and cast aside conflicting issues to make sure this happened. Had it not been for the unifying force of patriotism, there would've been little to hold these people together. Lincoln would not have a coalition on his side, and he surely would've been bogged down and held back by strong political opposition.

   Though patriotism has allowed for the creation and preservation of this country, couldn't the same be said for everyone? Didn't nationalism and faith in one's nation help the United States to survive the Revolution, the Civil War, and the Second World War in the same way that it motivated communist partisans to liberate Yugoslavia from the Germans, or Vietnam from Western influence? After all, the fact that patriotism can win wars doesn't guarantee that it passes the moral test. For all we know, American patriotism could be a force which misleads us to fight for wrong causes.

   In order to answer such questions, we can look back to the time in which the United States gained independence from the British Empire. During the 18th century, the world was dominated by conflict, rivalry, turmoil, and social strife. Interests in military and economic dominance drove world powers during that time. Monarchs and despots controlled nearly all available power and wealth of the time, and the possibility of a true, functioning democracy had been dead for centuries. It was certainly a dark and unforgiving time.

   Yet, the American Revolution would eventually come to change much of this. Starting as loyal British subjects, the rebelling colonists soon changed their demands from simple autonomy to full independence. The Declaration of Independence challenged the traditional social and political order of the time in a way that dwarfed the impact of the Reformation and any other previous upheavals. The Americans' cause for freedom so inspired the world that it led wealthy statesmen and military masterminds alike to travel thousands of miles across the Atlantic to join in their cause. Just a few decades later, a similar wave of inspired revolutions swept Latin America and Europe, resulting in independence and freedom for many nations that are part of our modern world. American patriotism became part of a new kind of global patriotism which emphasizes self-determination, equal rights and opportunities instead of competition and rivalry.

   Like everyone, Americans have erred on numerous occasions, often with a patriotic fervor. Critics point out that we have often intervened abroad in the name of exporting democracy, while keeping out immigrants who have been seen as being "un-American". Such wrongs, and others like them, are not excusable; we should certainly strive not to repeat similar mistakes in the future. However, the answer is not to abandon the ideology of patriotism. In fact, being patriotic can help create a brighter future. Because American patriotism emphasizes a commitment to protecting the rights and liberties of all, along with the recognition and respect of the fact that we get to live in this country, we can teach our children to honor such blessings. By doing so, our descendants will be more likely to preserve the free world which we have inherited, and they may also strive to extend such freedoms and rights to those who do not yet enjoy them.

   Right now, America is facing a moral crisis not seen since the Civil War. We have heard cases that support American success and potential, along with our demonstrated fallibility. Yet, our imperfection should not cause us to lose hope and destroy ourselves in order to do the world a service. If we drop our commitment to maintaining our own freedoms and extending them to others, we will be eliminating our own country as a source of light and hope for billions of people around the world who are trapped behind walls of darkness. Rather than limiting our potential, we should focus on expanding it in order to make a better future possible.

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