16 Aug 2008 |
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| Richard Stengel and Peter Beinart did a review on the real meaning of American Patriotism in the Time Magazine (Europe) of July 14 2008. I was compelled to read it so that I could understand what Patriotism means to the Americans. In the essay the authors compared the views of both Conservatives and Liberals with McCain and Obama as the lead roles respectively. Patriotism has several meanings and Stengel described it as the most abstract of American virtues. Here are other definitions of patriotism:
Stengel stated that America’s patriotism which expresses itself most truly in actions shapes its people’s responsibilities as citizens, how they navigate in the world and ultimately, what it means to be an American. In a book (The true Patriot) written by Eric Liu and Nick Hanauer and cited by Stengel, patriotism was redefined as appreciating not only what is great about your country but also what it takes to create and sustain greatness. This line of thought represents a blend of the views of the Conservatives and the Liberals. McCain belongs to the school of thought that wants us to believe that patriotism is not a choice but an inheritance because being born into a nation is like being born into a religion or a family. But this also implies that you may have to reaffirm the commitment as you reached adulthood. The choice to remain patriotic or not in my own opinion therefore lies with an individual depending on his/her association with the nation. The Liberals are more focussed on the future than on the past. They see patriotism as the promise of the future that redeems the past. Rather than wearing a pin on his chest Obama promised Americans that he will make the country great and that sounded like the country was not great in the past or that it is not great now. But nowadays Obama wears a tiny American flag below his left shoulder. According to Beinart, “Obama’s no fool. He may not believe that things like flag pins should matter politically but he knows the difference between should and does”. In Obama’s words on patriotism, he acknowledged the impact of the past generations and summarised patriotism as “a faith in simple dreams”. McCain on the other hand emphasised patriotism as the habits and institutions that preserved democracy and summarised his words that patriotism “is a cause greater than self”. I would gladly recommend this particular edition of the Time Magazine to anyone who wants to read more about the conflicts between the Conservatives and the Liberals on the issue of American patriotism. However one interesting point is that at the end there is a convergence of purpose between these different lines of reasoning. According to Stengel, both Obama (representing the Liberals) and McCain (representing the Conservatives) maintain the belief that America has a greatness of purpose no other nation possesses and that of all its achievements, its greatest tasks remain before its people. Hence irrespective of what they understand as patriotism, the love of the country and the devotion to its ideals are paramount. If one tries to do an analysis of the Nigerian versions of patriotism against the America versions (even if these lack perfection knowing that Washington itself is not immune to corruption), one may invariably be writing an epistle. Yet it is worth mentioning that those who through their selfishness ruined Nigeria’s economy and national pride cannot be considered as patriots. Those who continue to practice extremely bitter politics that have submerged the larger percentage of the population to everlasting penury can never be considered as patriots. Those who destroyed the future of the unborn generations rather than prepare gloriously for it are definitely not patriots. It is very difficult to identify real patriots in Nigeria because of the damaging effects of corruption, looting, tribalism and a form of laughable democracy. Any country that is 48 years old and cannot stand on its feet should probably not be existing in the first place. There are no habits and institutions that preserve conventional democracy in Nigeria. In Nigeria justice is not for all. There are no heirs and caretakers of freedom in Nigeria. There is no love of fellow country men in Nigeria. In Nigeria those who are disappointed with the mistakes of government are not allowed to join its ranks and work to correct them. Those who succeeded in joining the government have failed to change it. It always seems that that patriotism outside of government is a taboo inside of it. Something is wrong! Nevertheless, those who continue to criticize the government of Nigeria, those who say that the politicians are crazy, those who hate the turn of events in Nigeria and openly protest or state their minds and those who have exhibited one action or the other in critical manners regarding the sad states of events in Nigeria are worthy patriots. They did so because they love Nigeria. If necessary, patriotism can be a lonely dissent. From the other angle, those who continue to exercise faith that Nigeria will work, those who hold on steadfastly to the flag, those who sing the national anthem with pride (but not blindly) and those who continue to work for Nigeria faithfully without seeking to glorify themselves are also patriots in their own worthy ways. Patriotism can be a symbolic or participatory devotion. This inclusivenes does not however imply that everyone is a patriot regardless of what they believe or do. In between these two categories of patriots are those who are mute. They express no form of patriotism because they did nothing. They are like the Americans who will neither fight in Iraq nor protest the war. According to Beinart, such people have no claim on their talents or consciences. Let me end this epistle. Obama had no anchor in any community but he rode through the essential American idea-that people are not constrained by the accident of birth but that they can make their lives what they will. The American ideals helped to define Obama’s life. Unfortunately there are no ideals holding Nigeria together. The country will continue to fail in her attempt to make progress until that time that true or real patriots would emerge to set and aim for the Nigerian ideals. Nothing in Nigeria today is indicative of this form of dedication. The other option is to set fundamental ideals that will allow separate nations that are within or associated with Nigeria to go their separate ways and define modes of existence for themselves and their unborn generations. References: The Time Magazine (Europe) July 14 2008. American’s New Patriotism by Richard Stengel Patriot Games by Peter Beinart A Faith in simple Dreams by Barack Obama A cause greater than self by John McCain aderounmu@gmail.com True patriotism has nothing to do with little flags on politician’s lapels. It’s not about symbols; it’s about action –Barack Obama The good citizen and patriot knows happiness is greater than comfort, more sublime than pleasure. The cynical and indifferent know what they miss. For their mistake is an impediment not only to our progress as a civilization but to their happiness as individuals –John McCain
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