Patriotism and Principle Revisited
By Victor E. Dike 

The sycophants are again on the prowl as they are beating their false drum of patriotism and accusing any person who is objectively criticizing the inhumane policies of Nigeria ’s leaders as being unpatriotic. One had thought that the failure of the third-term plot, which they supported, served a good lesson to them. Presently, Nigeria is in a different mood and their past sordid ways may not work this time around. They should not add ‘insult to injury’ by creating social confusion and divert energies away from efforts to create positive political and social improvement.

However, what guides your behavior -actions and reactions- as a human being? Are your actions directed by your core principle or lip-service patriotism? Those guided by ethics fulfill their professional and private obligations with their principle as a compass, while those lacking good guiding principle would fickle and do anything with the pretext of being patriotic and loyal. As Henry David Thoreau noted “An individual’s first duty is to live his [her] life as his [her] principles demand.”

This brief article centers on ethical philosophy and virtues ethics as relates to the issue in discourse. While this writer would confess he is not an expert in this field he submits that we are all “philosophers or their followers.” Ethical philosophy focuses on actions and provides guiding principles for actions, while ‘virtue ethics focuses on what makes a good person, rather than what makes a good action.’ How are they related to principle and patriotism?

As noted earlier, recently, some ‘self-acclaimed patriots’ are branding patriotic Nigerians who are objectively critical of the unpatriotic actions of Nigeria ’s political leaders unpatriotic. But what is patriotism? Patriotism ‘is a feeling of love and devotion to one's own homeland’ and willingness to ‘…sacrifice for one's country.’ Being patriotic implies that an individual would place the interests of the nation, and common good of its political community above his or her ‘personal and group interests.’  

How far would your spirit of patriotism take you? Are there no limits to being patriotic? Would you support or love a country that does not provide for welfare of the citizens? What has the political leaders of Nigeria done for the ordinary Nigerians to spur their spirit of patriotism? Is it unpatriotic for the people to demand that their country should protect their interest? Is criticizing a corrupt government unpatriotic? And is it unpatriotic to criticize wrong government policy? This writer has been attacked many times by the political jobbers for criticizing the anti-people’s policies of the past Chief Obasanjo administration.

According to Mark Twain “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.” However, it is unpatriotic to support a corrupt administration. As Theodore Roosevelt noted “Patriotism…does not mean to stand by the president …, save …to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. [And] It is unpatriotic not to oppose him...[when]…he fails in his duty to stand by the country.”  

Quite often John F. Kennedy’s admonition, “Ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country,” has been widely used to drive home the spirit of patriotism. Again, should one support a government that is corrupt and works against the welfare of the citizens?

Is it patriotic to kill a political opponent to win an election? Would you commit a crime to enable your party win the presidency?

Are you guided by a good principle? “Principle is a basic rule that guides or influences thought or action.” The ethics of a person is a set of principles that the individual obeys; and these principles form the basis for their ethics. As the Cambridge Dictionaries notes ‘guiding principle’ influences a person “when making a decision or considering a matter.”  

What drives or awakens your spirit? Our behavior is affected by many factors, including passion, religion, belief and value system, culture, power and authority, personality, etc. Thus, how would you react if your spouse, boss or friends try to persuade you to act contrary to your principle? Such a situation would trigger off a value judgment and a choice between doing what you are prompted to do and doing the right thing. Some of us are blinded by fake patriotism and they cannot face reality. Remember Malcolm X’s advice: “You’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it”  

Nevertheless, some individuals have passion for human freedom and live ‘virtuous civic life’, as Aristotle would say; and others are irrational and devilish. For instance, Adolf Hitler and the Nazi committed a lot of atrocities against the Jews; General Augusto Pinochet killed many Chileans to remain in power; there were “genocide” against Biafra during the Nigeria/Biafra war; General Sani Abacha and other Generals killed and drove many Nigerians into exile to hold on to power. The mind-set of the political leaders has not changed since the reprise of civil rule in 1999. Chief Obasanjo and the sycophants in the “People’s Destructive Party” sent many Nigerians to their early grave in the name of party politics. Are they really patriotic Nigerians?

A good number of people ignore the “Golden Rule” or the “ethic of reciprocity” that is a fundamental moral principle: “Treat others as you want them to treat you;” “What you do not want others to do to you, do not do to others" (Confucius); and "Do to others as you would have them do unto to you" (Jesus); and “Hurt no one so that no one may hurt you” (Muhammad). In Nigeria justice and transparency in official dealings are rear commodities.  

Standing on a good principle on a right issue makes one stand out. And taking a deliberate and wrong action is different from making a mistake; mistake is part of life. Some sycophants think that is patriotic to keep quiet when the political leaders of Nigeria kill others to remain in power. Some of the sycophants who supported the Chief Obasanjo’s third-term plot also think that any Nigerians who are critical of the just concluded fraudulent elections in Nigeria are not patriotic.  However, the question is should Nigerians trust and clap the present government if it is not concerned about the welfare of the citizens?

Despite the unending corruption scandal at Abuja Chief Obasanjo had often preached patriotism to frighten and coerce the foolish. Nigerians are very patriotic as they allowed him to complete his term despite his repulsive and anti-people’s policies. However, the people’s seeming lack of patriotism emanates from the government’s lack of interest in their welfare as seen in the grim economic, political and social conditions in the society. But how would the common people become patriotic when they observe the gap between the privileged and the underprivileged continue to widen? Nigeria may be better of if greater equity prevails.

Are the political leaders of Nigeria patriotic when the citizens are drinking polluted water? When they lack basic medical care? When they lack jobs? When the roads are death traps? When the schools are closed for months? And are the leaders patriotic when they are corrupt? Only a fool would expect the people be quiet in the face of tyranny! As Wole Soyinka rightly noted, “the man died in all who kept silent in the face of tyranny.”  No, Nigerians will continue to criticize any bad government! And those who choose ‘to keep quiet in the face of tyranny’ are not by any means patriotic. It is the duty of every right thinking Nigerian to shout and fight tyranny and oppression! Sounding the empty gong of patriotism is unpatriotic. Because the political leaders focus their attention on selfish purpose and corruption they fail to realize that Nigeria is a community of humans.

Nigerian needs political leaders with ‘moral purpose’ (next article will deal with this) - those making a positive difference in the lives of all citizens. Nigeria needs political leaders who are committed to building institutions that would develop what Coleman (1990) branded ‘social capital’ – to enable the society “produce citizens who have the commitment, skills and dispositions to foster norms of civility, compassion, fairness, trust, collaborative engagement and constructive critiques [and not sycophancy] under conditions of great social diversity”. However, you cannot achieve moral purpose unless you develop mutual empathy and relationships across diverse groups.

Thus, hope for a better Nigeria will start with the election of a true patriot - a virtuous and democratic leader with the welfare of the citizens at heart. It would be folly for any person to expect the people to be quiet in the face of great social injustice and deprivation - that is after subjecting them to life of desperation. As Samuel Johnson has rightly noted “Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”  

Victor E. Dike, CEO, Center for Social Justice and Human Development (CSJHD) Sacramento, California, is the author of Democracy and Political Life in Nigeria (2^nd edition); New York, Lincoln & Shanghai: iUniverse,  Nov-2006.

Robot  Villager

# 1 ...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 02.06.2007 22:27