Pensieri di un lunatico minore

Jingoism as patriotism

On the first Independence Day celebration following the horrific events of September 11, 2001, one can be expected to endure an enlarged role of jingoism masquerading as patriotism from the media outlets and various civic organizations who will compete with each other to determine who is the most “patriotic.” What one can not imagine is the absurd levels that are demonstrated by various people.

The award for most egregious grand-standing and jingoism must go to ABC for its repeated airing of a 30 second segment of dozens of people reciting the pledge of allegiance. Quite honestly, this is a bit of pandering to the people who somehow believe that we are a “Christian Nation”, and therefore “one nation under God” should be in some pledge. This, of course, ignores the fact that there are millions of people in this country who do not believe in the Judeo-Christian conceptualization of God, whether it be another deity, or the lack of one entirely

The second self-serving example would be LeAnn Rimes and her heinous flag dress (isn’t this nearly as offensive as burning it?), singing various drippingly jingoistic songs while pumping her fist in the air with all the enthusiasm of a goth-kid proclaiming their individuality. The addition of forced emphasis on phrases that are not the focus of the song only added to the absurdity of the performance.

Last, but not least, third place goes to Peter Jennings and his homey broadcast from Mount Vernon, just down the road from where I live. From this location, we got to see various patriotic festivities around the country, but never much more than a 15 second snippet before they had to cut to the next very special moment in another locale.

What binds all these episodes together is not patriotism, but the hollow jingoism that has fueled the past 9 months. Rather than examine what it truly means to be American, and where the nation found it’s calling, people have much preferred to wrap themselves in the flag and ignore the true meaning of Independence.

This country was not founded as a Christian nation, and various of the Founding Fathers fought hard to avoid the endorsement of any specific religion, to the point of Jefferson using the term “Creator” rather than God. Jefferson, as a Deist, believed that mankind had to pursue its greatness on its own, rather than having some divine influence. By not allowing a state-sponsored religion to flourish, we have allowed all religions to flourish.

What makes the United States of America a “great nation” is not that we are all alike and that we all spout the same slogans and pledges. It is, rather, that we are all so different, and that on the whole, we can coexist peacefully with each other on a daily basis. Being an American is not about where you were born, or what deity you worship, but it is about the constant struggle to better one’s self, and the respect for “life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.” When we forget that, we forget what it means to be American.