I know the history of this country. I'm no fool. I know the corruption and the compromises and the venality that we've dragged through the centuries. I know the smallpox-laden blankets and the Pinkertons breaking strikes by breaking heads.
And why does this all outrage me?
Because I am an American, and I hold that fantasy dear.
I am loyal, I am faithful, I am patriotic -- but not to the "nation", be it the geographical accident of modern times or to the ill-conceived cultural conglomeration of the Napoleons and the Bismarks. I am patriot to the concept and ideals expressed in our Constitution, to the principles we espouse, but far too seldom manage to manifest.
Being a Patriot is not holding that fantasy of America's virtue as a blinder to the past. It's holding it UP and FORWARD, as a goal to which to strive, as a standard by which we can and must measure our actions. When we fall short of that standard, we MUST not turn away.
And, yes, by your lights, I may be a "rational patriot". I believe those humanistic rights and protections we've struggled and stumbled to assert for ourselves should apply to ALL people, across the globe, in the Nation of Mankind -- but we've been pretty handily cocking that up over the years, haven't we?
And we'll keep cocking it up, until people understand that you can't REALLY be true to the ideals of the Revolution and the Enlightenment unless you're willing and able to see when you're FALSE to them.
Branagh's <i>Henry V</i> is on TV, so this may be a bit florid.
I know the history of this country. I'm no fool. I know the corruption and the compromises and the venality that we've dragged through the centuries. I know the smallpox-laden blankets and the Pinkertons breaking strikes by breaking heads.
And why does this all outrage me?
Because I am an American, and I hold that fantasy dear.
I am loyal, I am faithful, I am patriotic -- but not to the "nation", be it the geographical accident of modern times or to the ill-conceived cultural conglomeration of the Napoleons and the Bismarks. I am patriot to the concept and ideals expressed in our Constitution, to the principles we espouse, but far too seldom manage to manifest.
Being a Patriot is not holding that fantasy of America's virtue as a blinder to the past. It's holding it UP and FORWARD, as a goal to which to strive, as a standard by which we can and must measure our actions. When we fall short of that standard, we MUST not turn away.
And, yes, by your lights, I may be a "rational patriot". I believe those humanistic rights and protections we've struggled and stumbled to assert for ourselves should apply to ALL people, across the globe, in the Nation of Mankind -- but we've been pretty handily cocking that up over the years, haven't we?
And we'll keep cocking it up, until people understand that you can't REALLY be true to the ideals of the Revolution and the Enlightenment unless you're willing and able to see when you're FALSE to them.