Red, White and Blue

Several months ago, a fine jubilee drummer offered me and a few friends his opinion on patriotism. We sang America the Beautiful in his van and talked about what it would mean to "reclaim patriotism." Since moving to Seattle, I've noticed the stigma attached to patriotism. Also, I'm young. Young people like to be cool, and being patriotic is def not cool.
The aversion, in my opinion, is mostly justified. When I think of patriotic I think of a pick-up truck with bumper stickers like, "These colors don't run!" or "I will not forget! I will not forgive!" And if that's the only patriotism available count me out. It's dogmatic, ignorant, and exclusive. But it's not the only patriotism available, and people are too quick to abandon their support. Maybe it's just the word 'patriotic' that they want to abandon, lest they be associated with dogmatism, etc.
The United States has a rich and unique, albeit brief, history and it's such a shame to see people discard it on account of a few noisy, uneducated, extreme conservatives. What is more, I get the impression that people resent living in the US, as if national identity has already been given to the "extreme conservatives." But it hasn't! As Burke said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is for good [people] to do nothing." If you're annoyed by that sort of patriotism, as I am, then disagree with it, but don't run away. The more we disown America, the more it becomes exactly what we hope it won't. There is so much good that can be found and we should affirm it. We've been allowed (perhaps even encouraged) to express our dissent, is that in itself not worth celebrating?

Patriots needn't be dogmatic and ignorant.