Patriotism and Politics

By Charlie Barber
Staff Writer

“Our country! In her intercourse with foreign nations, may she always be in the right; but our country, right or wrong.” - Stephen Decatur

“The tumult and the shouting dies;
The Captains and the Kings depart:
Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,
An humble and a contrite heart ...
Lest we forget—lest we forget!”
- Rudyard Kipling

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it.” -attrib. to Voltaire

I’m a liberal and it’s my flag too.

That’s right. The American flag.

I agree with Stephen Decatur that it is important to love one’s country, even when one thinks that its leaders have pursued policies not in the interests of the American nation, and/or a larger humanity encompassed by Giuseppe Mazzini’s view of nations as halfway between the family of an individual and the family of mankind.

My objections to the way my country is led stem from concern over the directions it is headed at any point in time; the product of deep devotion, not lack of same. I assume as a matter of patriotic duty, that similar emotions control those who disagree with me. I might question their judgment, but I never question their patriotism, and I deeply resent politicians and others who use slogans to trash my patriotism or the patriotism of those who disagree with their government or “the powers that be” in the public and private sector in America. When it comes to “Don’t Tread on Me,” Tea Baggers (excuse me, Tea Party members) are flying my flag as well.

One of my close Republican friends (I am pleased to say that I have a number of them) told me once how my bumper sticker, “Red State Democrat” often gave him (partisan) “palpitations.” My reply was that the “things which tie us Americans together are stronger than the things which divide us.”

In spite of all the conflict over contemporary issues, I really believe this. It is what I consider my patriotism, along with a lot of singing of the National Anthem and “America the Beautiful” whenever I feel like it, not just at ceremonial occasions.

Love of one’s country, one’s special locale in the U.S.A., is, like beauty, in the eye of the beholder. The same is true for the political positions one chooses, including the choice of “none of the above.” Problems arise when self-appointed “poobahs of patrioism” connect the American flag to a specific political point of view, and try to tell others how they should be patriotic, i.e. “a real American.”

It is just as offensive to be told how to worship your country as it is to be told how to worship God. But it happens every day in America, and we need to “cool it” along those lines. Our right to disagree with one another is one of the most sacred freedoms our soldiers have fought for here and abroad, and that our civilians have defended in the courts and in the streets.

We choose our opinions, but we do not choose when we were born. Just as we need to be careful about assigning places of privilege for patriotism, we need to be more careful in assigning “greatness” to any given generation.

On July Fourth and Memorial Day I am saddened by the notion that only one generation in American history is designated as “The Greatest Generation,” that of The Great Depression and World War II.

Each generation faces different and daunting challenges. Most certainly the current one does. Despite the pivotal nature of the generation which survived and triumphed from 1929-1945, no one generation can be held out as being the greatest generation, anymore than any one political party can hold itself out as the most patriotic.

A case in point would be the career of General and President Dwight David Eisenhower.

As Commander in Chief of Allied D-Day forces on June 6, 1944, Ike gained everlasting fame as a hero in World War II. But as the principal architect of the Interstate Highway System, President Eisenhower (1953-1961) laid out plans that define us today. I’ll never forget watching the trucks flow by as I made a pilgrimage from Chicago to New York and “Ground Zero” in October, 2001 and reacting: “What were these terrorists thinking? A country with such cement sinews cannot possibly fail to deal successfully with such a challenge.”

What is not well known is that Ike decided upon America’s need for an Interstate system in 1917-1918, while preparing logistics for World War I. Despite an extensive railroad system, he despaired over a U.S. highway system that linked each city with every town and village, thus making it impossible to move cargo at all deliberate speed on roadways.

The greatness of Dwight Eisenhower as an individual, therefore, is not to be defined solely by his command in the generation that fought World War II, but also by the generation that fought World War I, as well as generations that faced the Cold War and now face the post Cold War. So it goes with each and every one of us. We begin with what the previous generation left and try to expand upon their achievements for those who follow.

Ike also transcended political parties and political philosophies. He was much sought after by the Democrats to be their candidate in 1952, but he ran as a Republican. “Eisenhower Republicans” were known for their acceptance of the Democratic New Deal and its expanded role of government in American affairs, epitomized by Ike’s Interstate Highway System, but also for their acceptance of programs like Social Security brought in under Franklin Delano Roosevelt.

And then there was that smile of his.

When I wave my flags and watch the fireworks as Mandan blows itself up each year, I think of Ike’s smile despite all he and his generations of soldiers had endured in the 20th Century. I am reminded that we should not take programs like Social Security or infrastructure like Interstate Highways for granted any more than our freedom.

Lastly, Ike was a German-American who loved the Scottish sport of golf. Golf is a game that reminds us that we should always take our problems more seriously than we take ourselves.

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