Patriotism

Benny Hicks · 03-05-2003, 03:22 PM

[Travis] 2. Patriotism is allowed by universal morality but not required.
[Me] I'm thinking that this would be my response as well.

[t.j.] The problem I have with patriotism, at least as defined since 9/11, is that it is usually a feeling of pride rather than gratitude.
[Me] Great point, I concur. This is one of things that almost disgusts me about the modern-day church. I saw some preacher preaching about war and Scriptural justification, and, while he did make some worthwhile points, you could tell that it evolved into a hyper-patriotic pep rally. Sometimes I think people don't know how to be patriotic without being (a) arrogant or (b) divisive. Interesting topic though, excuse my venting

Ben

Travis · 03-05-2003, 05:48 PM

I have to write a short paper on patriotism this week. After I finish, perhaps I'll expand a bit on it and try to explain what I think the Christian position should be. Then I'll ask Jon if he thinks it's good enough to post on Always Reforming.

Amanda · 03-05-2003, 05:55 PM

Know what song annoys me to know end? "This Is My Country." AGH. You know the one:

This is my country, land of my birth
This is my country, grandest on earth

First of all, I wasn't even born in America.

Secondly, I wouldn't say that America's the grandest country on the planet. There's a lot of things wrong with it, you know? Not that it's the worst, either--don't get me wrong, I love the United States--but in this case I'd have to go with what Euchre said

Dr. Doom · 03-05-2003, 05:59 PM

well, i would say that it is the "best" country, but i would also say that there is a buttload of problems with America, that people seem to love to forget and ignore when it is time to get on our high horse...

Travis · 03-05-2003, 06:00 PM

I think people are sort of missing my point. I am not really talking about patriotism as in "yay go America." I'm talking about the favoring of compatriots in certain situations simply because they are compatriots.

Than · 03-05-2003, 06:21 PM

Hmm that's a good question. I think that most American's ideas of patriotism are tainted toady. 9/11 bred a lot of bandwagon patriots, closer to jingoism than actual patriotism. As to the compatriots issue, I'm not sure, but I'll introduce this point of view.

Most Americans have said the Pledge of Allegiance at least once in their lives. When you say it, you swear allegiance to the country, the flag, and the republic for which it stands.
dictionary.com defines the word "republic" as follows:

Quote:

re·pub·lic ( P ) Pronunciation Key (r-pblk)n.

1. A political order whose head of state is not a monarch and in modern times is usually a president.
A nation that has such a political order.

2. A political order in which the supreme power lies in a body of citizens who are entitled to vote for officers and representatives responsible to them.
A nation that has such a political order.

3. often Republic A specific republican government of a nation: the Fourth Republic of France.
4. An autonomous or partially autonomous political and territorial unit belonging to a sovereign federation.

5. A group of people working as equals in the same sphere or field: the republic of letters.

Definitions 2 says the supreme power lies within the body of its citizens. Therefore, in order to uphold the nation we've sworn allegiance to, would we not have a duty to preserve its citizens, since the supreme power of the nation is found in its citizens?
I know this is only pertinent to America, but it's the only nation whose pledge I'm really familiar with. This is all just off of the top of my head, and I'm sure that there are some flaws, and I would appreciate any rebuttals. Again, I'm not sure if I even hold to this, I'm just throwing this out here.