"...It is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country." -- Hermann Goering
"Moral cowardice that keeps us from speaking our minds is as dangerous to this country as irresponsible talk. The right way is not always the popular and easy way. Standing for right when it is unpopular is a true test of moral character." -- Margaret Chase Smith
Obama made his own noteworthy statement about "patriotism" today. I'll include it under the fold after the following contextual observations.
Here is a reminder of those stupid, febrile, "patriotic" days:
A news excerpt for the YouTube clip above:
March 2003.
"A handful of people peacefully gathered for an hour on the corner of a busy intersection in Soldotna, Alaska, to protest the buildup to the war in Iraq.
The protesters, made up of mostly women, included Ms. Billie Dailey, 82, and several pacifist Quakers. The temperature in Soldotna in March is often just below freezing but it got even colder for the protesters one evening late in the month. While standing on the corner, the protesters were doused with a bucket of cold water from the back of a passing pickup.
Jeff Webster, a resident of Soldotna and the father of a Marine serving in Iraq, later admitted to throwing the water. The protesters declined to press charges, saying they understood the stress Webster was under because of his son. The police issued a warning to Webster not to do it again.
Webster did not heed the advice, however, and returned a week later to douse the protesters with even more water. In addition, Webster arranged to have the second dousing videotaped and later distributed the (video set to patriotic music) via e-mail."
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Many of us who saw through the war propaganda felt hugely alienated those days in 2002-2003 during the buildup of this Iraq war. Bush right-wing authoritarian demagogy burned everywhere in the US, in the media, in workplaces, and at homes. Gullible Americans stepped in line from Washington D.C. to the hinterlands of Alaska.
Liberals as a class were labeled treasonous directly and by innuendo (as they still are). Flags and yellow ribbons dotted every landscape. "Support our soldiers" took on the pervasive implication and threat, "Do not oppose this war."
It took courage actively to oppose the war those days, especially if you had another kind of public or work life at stake. Or a family. It took courage to challenge the shared mainstream notion that patriotism meant accepting the Bush narrative without question.
It took courage, not simply because only a small minority actively and publicly were raising legitimate questions. It took courage also because the threat of negative consequences for speaking out, including various forms of ostracism, intimidation, and violence, was widespread, implicitly supported even by mainstream Democrats, and rarely opposed.
It was October 2002(!), well before his speech at the Democratic convention in 2004, when Obama said:
"Good afternoon. Let me begin by saying that although this has been billed as an anti-war rally, I stand before you as someone who is not opposed to war in all circumstances. The Civil War was one of the bloodiest in history, and yet it was only through the crucible of the sword, the sacrifice of multitudes, that we could begin to perfect this union, and drive the scourge of slavery from our soil. I don't oppose all wars.
"My grandfather signed up for a war the day after Pearl Harbor was bombed, fought in Patton's army. He saw the dead and dying across the fields of Europe; he heard the stories of fellow troops who first entered Auschwitz and Treblinka. He fought in the name of a larger freedom, part of that arsenal of democracy that triumphed over evil, and he did not fight in vain. I don't oppose all wars.
"After September 11th, after witnessing the carnage and destruction, the dust and the tears, I supported this administration's pledge to hunt down and root out those who would slaughter innocents in the name of intolerance, and I would willingly take up arms myself to prevent such tragedy from happening again. I don't oppose all wars. And I know that in this crowd today, there is no shortage of patriots, or of patriotism.
"What I am opposed to is a dumb war. What I am opposed to is a rash war. What I am opposed to is the cynical attempt by Richard Perle and Paul Wolfowitz and other armchair, weekend warriors in this administration to shove their own ideological agendas down our throats, irrespective of the costs in lives lost and in hardships borne."
Obama spoke to me as a leader then. Thoughtful. Clear. Eloquent. And exactly right.
Yesterday, Wednesday, an ABC affiliate reporter asked Obama,
"You don't have the American flag pin on. Is that a fashion statement? Those have been on politicians since Sept. 12, 2001."
Obama replied, "You know, the truth is that right after 9/11, I had a pin," Obama said. "Shortly after 9/11, particularly because as we're talking about the Iraq War, that became a substitute for I think true patriotism, which is speaking out on issues that are of importance to our national security, I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest.
"Instead," he said, "I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great, and hopefully that will be a testimony to my patriotism."
These are more receptive times. Nevertheless, I believe the importance of Obama's statement and example of patriotism cannot be understated. For the healthy future of our country, "patriotism" must be explicitly re-framed as Obama very nicely has begun doing. That is leadership.