Thoughts on Patriotism 2023

The late, great civil rights activist and preacher, the Rev. William Sloane Coffin wrote, “There are three kinds of patriots, two bad, one good. The bad are the uncritical lovers and the loveless critics. Good patriots carry on a lover’s quarrel with their country.”

Those who carry on lover’s quarrels with their country are rarely seen as patriots. Those who are uncritical lovers are held out as the example for everyone to follow.

Patriotism is a tricky thing, especially in these days of rising nationalism. “My country right or wrong” is the cry of nationalism and under it is the belief that no matter what, my country is right. As William Sloane Coffin notes, “That’s like saying my grandmother drunk or sober.” It helps no one.

Carrying on a lover’s quarrel with our country is the mark of critical thinking and deep passion. As a parent loves their children and is not afraid to call them out when they are wrong, so patriots love their country and are not afraid to call it out when it is wrong.  Of course, we risk being called communists, haters, disloyal, unfaithful, treacherous, disaffected and fickle.

For people of faith, the best patriotism is that which is informed by faith: concern for the poor, commitment to justice, love for all God’s creation and so much more. We live, however, in a time where the tables are turned and those who proclaim these things are marginalized as the unpatriotic.

It’s time we claim our patriotism again. Fly the flag and be clear about what you mean when you do it. When I fly the flag I proclaim my love for my country. It is a love that believes in the best America can be and isn’t afraid to be critical. It is a belief in the greatness of America that is being squandered by rich, greedy individuals and corporations who legally get to take far more than their share because they are protected by their cronies in government. It is a belief in the potential of the United States to be generous and a beacon of light and generosity to the world.  Instead America lives with its light under a bushel because it serves the rich and influential. Finally, my love for America is rooted in a conviction that religious pluralism, cultural diversity and an accurate understanding of our history are crucial if we are to realize part of the potential that lies within us.

It’s time we claim our patriotism. This means participating in government, not just by voting but by being a thorn in the side of our elected leaders. It means being courageous, outspoken critics of a corrupt Supreme Court. Write individual letters to them. Call them out for their corrupt and unjust rulings. And while you are at it thank Sonia Sotomayor, Ketanji Brown Jackson and Elena Kagan for their tireless work trying to do the right thing, even though it must seem like shoveling sand against the tide. 

It’s time we claim our patriotism. This means being well informed and caring deeply about things that do not directly affect us. The student loan decision of last week by SCOTUS may not affect anyone you know, but it is devastating to those who are struggling to meet their commitments and not live in poverty. This was a spiteful decision. The Paycheck Protection Program has so far forgiven $757 billion in loans to private businesses, nearly double what the Biden administrations student-loan forgiveness would have cost. There is an undercurrent of racism in this decision as those most likely to be impacted are black borrowers because they pay a disproportionate amount of student loan interest.

And this is just one issue. Affirmative action, the overturning of Roe v. Wade and other decisions make our current Supreme Court the most corrupt and politically motivated court in American history.

Patriotism requires us to think critically about who is impacted by the advantages/disadvantages of decisions that affect our social and political system. Further, it requires us to consider how the laws and decisions measure up against what our faith asks of us and willingness to SAY SOMETHING.  Patriotism asks something of us. Democracies don’t run themselves. They depend on the participation of average citizens. Nature abhors a vacuum and when we are silent, other less balanced voices come to the fore.

Here’s to being called disloyal, fickle, treacherous and unpatriotic. Happy 4^th of July.