FIVE

PATRIOTISM

1991

 

 

 

In July 1991, the Nation asked various people to submit brief reflections on “patriotism.”

 

 

“Patriotism” can seem to be as harmless as the love of certain musical instruments, food, a landscape. Certain personalities from one’s own country can seem so charming, so delightful. But “patriotism” always seems to mean: If you feel a fondness for your country, then it ought to be worth it to you to do “x.”

Patriotism is considered to be an emotion a person ought to feel. But why? Why is it nobler to love your own country than to love someone else’s? Why is it particularly wonderful to think that the place you’re from is the greatest in the world? Why should individuals speak in the first person plural about “our ideals” and “the things we believe”?

If certain great figures from our country’s past have had valuable insights, by all means let’s be inspired by them. But let’s not make a fetish out of it. The United States is a monster that must be stopped, controlled. It’s too elaborate to say (again and again), “We must change our current behavior because it violates our noble traditions.” The historical point is probably untrue, and anyway, it doesn’t matter. What’s necessary is to change the behavior. We don’t need to be flattered while we’re doing it, and in any case, even if we have some noble ancestors, that wouldn’t mean that we have any particular merit.

For citizens of small, weak countries, patriotism might be connected to a yearning for justice. For people who are despised, who despise themselves, more self-esteem might be a good thing. But for people who already are in love with themselves, who worship themselves, who consider themselves more important than others, more self-esteem is not needed. Self-knowledge would be considerably more helpful.