Excellent, spot-on post. As an ex-pat in the UK, I often look over ‘the pond’ with a mixture of fear and shame engendered by those ‘patriots’ who’s understanding of the term is more akin to ‘fascist,’ ‘nationalist’ or ‘jingoist.’ Thanks for reminding us of its true definition.
Thank you for defining the problem. I’m a veteran and I’m appalled at what passes for patriotism in the US. Service for all, not service for straight, white, Christians only.
Jul 4, 2022·edited Jul 4, 2022Liked by Robert Reich
Lincoln summed it up most succinctly: "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."
Slavery is not just the chattel slavery we most commonly consider. It is also slavery subsumed in paying an employee with a wage and in a manner which locks him to the wheel exclusively for your benefit.
It is also the slavery of insisting on deciding the most personal things for another like what to God they must pray if any or when and how to reproduce.
The web of life ties everything together, human and animal, flora and fauna. If we do not acknowledge this in all things, it's as if we would live in a world without oxygen or without water. Good luck with that.
It's now almost 400 years since John Donne wrote his famous meditation:
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
All this is a main reason I gave 14 years in uniformed service to my country. It's my flag, too, dammit!
Patriots celebrate and value diversity, united in the belief that all people deserve equal opportunity, justice and a secure future for themselves and their children. It doesn't always happen, but working towards a level playing field for ALL is essential. There is none of this patriotism in the xenophobia, racism and irrational fears created by Trump and his tribe the Big Liars. They don't want a "better America", but rather an "American their way". This sort of basic division is not patriotic.
Thank you, Robert Reich, One thing I would add, Patriots in the State Legislatures do not take Legislation written by an outside coalition of greedy, warped people (ALEC), and enact it in their State Legislatures with no further discussion, for the sole purpose of retaining their puny power.
This is true. Thank you, Robert. What I find most odious is the idea that our borders must be closed to people who need to come here for a better, safer living; they’ll benefit us. We also have to ensure the peaceful, lawful transfer of power.
Thank you so very much for this! I add one more thing. True Patriots accept America’s past, warts and all. We learn from our past and move on. We don’t whitewash it. We remember it so we’re not condemned to repeat it.
Excellent analysis - and we are in big trouble because not one Senator who aided the insurrection has been called out in public much less suffered any consequence for their CRIMES. and Just WHEN is that bastard tRump going to be arrested and prosecuted????
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
And Patriots certainly don't grab 20 or 30 million dollars every year for vomiting vicious lies through the media for the profit of their frightened, quaking devotees and greedy shareholders. And they know who and what they are, and they don't care. But they ain't patriots, fer sure.
True patriotism means service. Caring for others, being sure that EVERYONE has what they need to thrive. It does not mean everyone out for themselves at the expense of others. Talk used to be cheap, but the Big Lie has shown what a cost talk can have. Let us stop tearing ourselves apart and trying to hurt others.
Being a patriot is to love one's country, not to hate people we deem as "others." It is to serve it with integrity and probity, and, for this exact reason, criticize it when it is not loyal to its ideals. "Love it or leave it!", the rallying cry of Fox "news" pundits, is an emotional fit of anger and a brain laxative aimed at preventing building a genuine relationship with one's country.
Yes to all the foregoing and adding one aspect not mentioned above that matters, patriotism as a determinant of foreign policy.
This is an area where many have given up the classic position, “dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” In layman’s terms, my country right or wrong.
Over the years we have seen proliferation of protests over foreign wars etc. But I just want to make one small point which is that voter redistricting is going to make it even harder for every eligible voter to signal their opinions “officially”. So you can expect see more polarization, protests and militarization of law enforcement. More good news.
"He is a lover of his country who rebukes and does not excuse its sins."
- Frederick Douglass
Excellent, spot-on post. As an ex-pat in the UK, I often look over ‘the pond’ with a mixture of fear and shame engendered by those ‘patriots’ who’s understanding of the term is more akin to ‘fascist,’ ‘nationalist’ or ‘jingoist.’ Thanks for reminding us of its true definition.
Thank you for defining the problem. I’m a veteran and I’m appalled at what passes for patriotism in the US. Service for all, not service for straight, white, Christians only.
Lincoln summed it up most succinctly: "As I would not be a slave, so I would not be a master. This expresses my idea of democracy. Whatever differs from this, to the extent of the difference, is no democracy."
Slavery is not just the chattel slavery we most commonly consider. It is also slavery subsumed in paying an employee with a wage and in a manner which locks him to the wheel exclusively for your benefit.
It is also the slavery of insisting on deciding the most personal things for another like what to God they must pray if any or when and how to reproduce.
The web of life ties everything together, human and animal, flora and fauna. If we do not acknowledge this in all things, it's as if we would live in a world without oxygen or without water. Good luck with that.
It's now almost 400 years since John Donne wrote his famous meditation:
No man is an island entire of itself; every man
is a piece of the continent, a part of the main;
if a clod be washed away by the sea, Europe
is the less, as well as if a promontory were, as
well as any manner of thy friends or of thine
own were; any man's death diminishes me,
because I am involved in mankind.
And therefore never send to know for whom
the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
All this is a main reason I gave 14 years in uniformed service to my country. It's my flag, too, dammit!
Patriots celebrate and value diversity, united in the belief that all people deserve equal opportunity, justice and a secure future for themselves and their children. It doesn't always happen, but working towards a level playing field for ALL is essential. There is none of this patriotism in the xenophobia, racism and irrational fears created by Trump and his tribe the Big Liars. They don't want a "better America", but rather an "American their way". This sort of basic division is not patriotic.
Thank you, Robert Reich, One thing I would add, Patriots in the State Legislatures do not take Legislation written by an outside coalition of greedy, warped people (ALEC), and enact it in their State Legislatures with no further discussion, for the sole purpose of retaining their puny power.
This is true. Thank you, Robert. What I find most odious is the idea that our borders must be closed to people who need to come here for a better, safer living; they’ll benefit us. We also have to ensure the peaceful, lawful transfer of power.
Thank you so very much for this! I add one more thing. True Patriots accept America’s past, warts and all. We learn from our past and move on. We don’t whitewash it. We remember it so we’re not condemned to repeat it.
You’re right Mr Reich, and it scares me that so many in power have us careening at breakneck speed in the other direction.
Excellent analysis - and we are in big trouble because not one Senator who aided the insurrection has been called out in public much less suffered any consequence for their CRIMES. and Just WHEN is that bastard tRump going to be arrested and prosecuted????
Well said, Robert Reich! Happy 4th of July! to you and everyone on this forum!
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, --That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness.
And Patriots certainly don't grab 20 or 30 million dollars every year for vomiting vicious lies through the media for the profit of their frightened, quaking devotees and greedy shareholders. And they know who and what they are, and they don't care. But they ain't patriots, fer sure.
True patriotism means service. Caring for others, being sure that EVERYONE has what they need to thrive. It does not mean everyone out for themselves at the expense of others. Talk used to be cheap, but the Big Lie has shown what a cost talk can have. Let us stop tearing ourselves apart and trying to hurt others.
Being a patriot is to love one's country, not to hate people we deem as "others." It is to serve it with integrity and probity, and, for this exact reason, criticize it when it is not loyal to its ideals. "Love it or leave it!", the rallying cry of Fox "news" pundits, is an emotional fit of anger and a brain laxative aimed at preventing building a genuine relationship with one's country.
Thank you, RR!
Yes to all the foregoing and adding one aspect not mentioned above that matters, patriotism as a determinant of foreign policy.
This is an area where many have given up the classic position, “dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.” In layman’s terms, my country right or wrong.
Over the years we have seen proliferation of protests over foreign wars etc. But I just want to make one small point which is that voter redistricting is going to make it even harder for every eligible voter to signal their opinions “officially”. So you can expect see more polarization, protests and militarization of law enforcement. More good news.