Well let’s say liberals never lost the parts that actually matter. As you can guess by the avatar, I’ve spent a little time bending wrenches on military aircraft. 25 years, give or take. I look at this whole patriotism thing as a 3rd party observer. On the one hand is jingoism, belligerence, the flag on the lapel or the monster truck. The patriotism of symbols and rituals. On the other hand is diplomacy, humanitarianism, retrospection and self improvement. The patriotism of word and deed and community.
Late in my career I got involved in the Air Force Sergeants Association--a lobby group focused mostly on the needs of junior enlisted service folks. SecDef was Donald Rumsfeld, who was constantly on the troll for ways to cut pay and benefits right smack in the middle of the shooting war called Iraq. Quite a bit of Congress was willing to go along but the folks who had our backs included most of the Democratic side of the aisle. Patriotism in the form of honoring commitments. It’s certainly not lost on people like me that staying out of war entirely is a much better proposition than paying for its aftermath and again, the Democratic side of the aisle was willing to stand and question the justification for war. We went to war anyway, but not for the lack of voices against it and we know now the wisdom of that counsel. The thoughtful patriotism of the diplomat.
Fast-forward to today and a horrific civil war in Syria. We can’t solve it except to try mitigating the damage until all parties who own the mess can figure out how to stop killing each other. Key to mitigation is offering safe haven to war refugees. While doing so feels right, in more practical terms it deprives an enemy—ISIL—a steady supply of manpower. Are we going to take damage in doing so? Almost certainly yes, we will. Does that make it less right? No it doesn’t, and no one ever said humanitarian action was painless. Courage is doing the right thing when not only is there nothing in it for you, but you have a good chance of walking away unthanked and bloodied. Like anyone else who serves, the humanitarian is a patriot.
E pluribus unum doesn’t come with exceptions for race, religion, creed, or sexual orientation. It means simply “from the many, one”. It’s us. All of us—even the people we think are icky. That inclusion is probably the most difficult and the most critical aspect of patriotism because it prevents us from throwing away talent. I’ve worked with a lot of that talent in that imperfect institution called the military. Back in 1948 Harry Truman had the foresight to desegregate that institution, and the institution and the nation it served benefited. Fast-forward to today and that institution is again improved by allowing all who wish to serve to do so openly and proudly. The patriotism of reflection and improvement.
Enjoy your day.
