I read an article recently that got me thinking about what patriotism means. In recent years, it has become a bone of contention between those on opposite ends of the political spectrum. Love of our country and the American flag have been claimed by conservatives. I would like to suggest that liberals love our country no less than conservatives though we may have different thoughts on what patriotism means.
Typically, these days I google everything. So I googled, “how do you define American patriotism?” I got a lot of food for thought. Here is some of what I found.
“Patriotism is what bonds citizens of a country together regardless of other distinctions. American Patriotism is a loyalty not to a party or president, but to the American Constitution and founding values.”
I also came upon a list of ideas related to patriotism that parents should teach their children. This list included such things as our basic freedoms, our core democratic values, our responsibilities as citizens, honoring our military, appreciating our diversity, knowing we’re not perfect.
I myself have run the gamut in my political leanings. I was a history major at the University of Wisconsin during the upheaval of the 60’s. I was no radical but I did come away with a revisionist view of history. That is, I rejected traditionally held beliefs about particular historical events. I brought these ideas to the high school level when I taught in upstate New York during the 70’s.
Of the four areas of study required by the state of New York, I focused my teaching on two areas of our curriculum, the “Constitution and Bill of Rights” and the “American People.” I felt strongly that my students needed to understand the underlying principles and structure of our form of government as well as the rights of all citizens. I emphasized the importance of voting.
Instead of just teaching about our colonial roots and about European immigration which is all that was required then, I thought it important to cover the history and accomplishments of African Americans, Native Americans and women. Back then covering other groups such as Asian or Hispanic Americans wasn’t even on the radar. These were fun topics to cover because it was easy to make them relevant.
In the 80s I worked in New York City in environments which were quite liberal. Then in the 90’s I married my husband, Floyd, who was very conservative. I started watching Fox News with him. Then we began listening to talk radio. To learn more I read a great many books by conservative authors, many of whom are considered right-wing. By limiting my sources of information I found my point of view changing.
After Floyd died, I started reading and watching a much broader range of news sources and non-fiction. I realized at heart I’m a liberal. While I think of myself as a centrist Democrat now, I must admit I am leaning more to the progressive point of view as the pandemic, economic failures, and social justice issues have laid bare the inequities in our country.
While my views on policies and politicians have run the gamut I think that I have always loved my country no less than any others. To the Republicans in this community, I want to say that Democrats are patriots too.
I have thought about putting out an American flag by my house but wonder if that will be interpreted to mean that I support President Trump. Where we should all be able to agree to disagree, we need not assign motives for displaying our nation’s flag.
So I am a proud Democrat and I will put my flag out. I welcome other Democrats to do the same. And I hope that in so doing those who disagree with me on many issues will agree that we all love our country.
Barbara Vann
Chestertown
Jim Richardon says
Your comments about patriotism echo my own. I,too, went to the University of Wisconsin in the late 60’s as a graduate student. I was drafted into the Army at the end of my first year and sent to Vietnam as am infantryman. On my return, I was a different person. I questioned my government and became heavily involved in politics, especially in peaceful protest against the Iraq wars. In the early 80’s, when there was an effort by some of our conservative politicians to protect the American flag from being burned, I strongly protested, arguing burning the flag was a legitimate form of protest protected by our Constitution under the First Amendment and freedom of speech. The Supreme Court agreed. I believed then, and I do now, that the flag is not a sacred symbol and needs no such protection. What really needs protected are our newspapers and news organizations, especially today.
I consider myself a patriot and I agree the Republicans have been successful at convincing people that the flag somehow belongs only to them and not to anyone else. Progressives made the mistake to let them claim it for their own and that needs to change. As a person in his seventies, I believe, like you, to be a patriot does not have anything to do with political affiliation. I love my country, but I still believe we have a long way to go. To me, that is the sign of a true patriot.
Barbara Perry says
You are right in that conservatives often perceive liberals as not being patriotic. While attending a meeting of a group, most if not all of whom I think were conservative, the question was asked as to who flew the American flag and did you do so 24 hours a day. I raised my hand. Most were very surprised that I did fly the flag 24 hours a day. We fly both the American flag and the Maryland flag and have a solar light that allows us to fly it after dark. Our flag is on a short pole that will not allow us to fly it at half staff. We have a black ribbon that is attached to it when half staff is called for (like the upcoming remembrance of the Pearl Harbor attack). So I too am a proud and patriotic Democrat and a retired Army officer (again, that surprises many since the military is perceived as being only conservative) who would like to see everyone become patriotic and be loyal to the Constitution and our American values and not to a single person or political party.
James Schule says
“Patriotism is supporting your country all of the time, and your government when it deserves it.” Mark Twain
Mary Hunt-Miller says
Barbara,
As a fellow moderate to progressive Democrat, I too love our country and fly our flag. Being very patriotic makes what is happening in our country, regarding the refusal of some to accept the results of a free and fair election, truly upsetting. I feel that it so undermines what we have long held so dearly in this country, the acceptance of the will of the majority, the Electoral College and the sanctity of our vote. I believe it is very damaging to the democracy which we, as Americans, have been so proud of.
Thank you for your letter.
Charles Barranco says
Ms Vann,
Agree with your well written article about Patriotism.
Party affiliation, in my opinion is irrelevant, it should be merely a tag for financial support. Just because a person may be a conservative thinker should not make them a Republican. I am life long registered Republican and a conservative thinker, but voted twice for President Obama, once for Biden. Does this make me a Democrat or liberal? Not in my mind. I vote for the best candidate and whether their platform agrees with my mine. The US Constitution and it’s inherent principles guide my thinking, not a political party or a self serving political hack.
The idea of Only Republicans flying The Flag is poppycock and obliviously a way to further divide our Country. I think that is easy to see.
The American Flag has always stood for All Americans because it was defended by All who marched under it!
DANNA MURPHY MURDEN says
We have been flying the American Flag and a POW flag in our front yard for over thirty years. ( a Vietnam Veteran lives here) We have gone through many Presidents in all that time and have never associated it with our President or with any political parties. It is our Flag that represents all of us and we fly it PROUDLY!