Patriotic prose

Patriotism – no word seems to have become so ingrained in the American psyche. And yet, for a word that is so indoctrinated in young minds today, few can accurately describe what it encompasses. Conservatives would have you believe that there is nothing more important than supporting your government, no matter what. In Bill O’Reilly’s immortal words, “It is our duty as loyal Americans to shut up once the fighting begins …” On the other hand, liberals tend to agree that it is a patriotic duty to question one’s government. In their minds, patriotism equals dissent and debate. \nI was especially reminded of this when I recently watched a CBS “60 Minutes” special on American soldiers. The show was not about deplorable conditions at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center or the lack of mental care for soldiers returning from a battlefield. It concerned a group, comprised of military men and women that is calling for an immediate withdrawal from Iraq, among other things. The group filed a petition called “Appeal for Redress” with each member’s individual Congress member expressing his or her opinions. While members of the group strongly asserted that they would continue serving in the army, they hoped that the U.S. occupation in Iraq would end soon. \nDissent within the military is virtually unheard of – there is an unspoken rule that service men and women must try to portray a united front to the public. With regards to Iraq, this meant that President Bush traditionally enjoyed a great deal of support from service members, a point that has thoroughly been exploited by the administration. \nNot surprisingly, the soldiers that signed “Appeal for Redress” have been criticized for being “cowards” and “traitors.” That’s right, the very same men and women who are fighting in Iraq have been labeled as unpatriotic. Only in America. Sean Hannity called the special a “hit piece” and in an appeal for fairness, which FOX news is well known for, and asked service members who supported the Iraqi occupation to send him an e-mail at victoryiniraq@foxnews.com. Any takers? \nI’ve always been troubled by the slogan “Support the troops.” What exactly are we “supporting”? Death, both American and Iraqi? It is always surprising to me that war whips up such nationalistic feelings in people. At the same time, there seems to be nothing patriotic in agonizing over the lack of health insurance for more than 46 million Americans. There seems to be nothing patriotic in deploring the great divide between the rich and the middle class in our country. No, the American flag has earned the veneration of people today, not the value of life.\nPatriotism is a byproduct of propaganda. Wars are fought on its basis, serving as the cause of innocent death. Nothing justifies loss of life, however “moral” the cause. At times like this, I am reminded of a quote by activist Arundhati Roy: “Flags are bits of colored cloth that governments use first to shrink-wrap people’s brains and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead.” If only that were not true.