Memorial Day

I’m happily wiping a tear or two while listening to the National Memorial Day Concert on PBS. Similarly, I’ve choked up reading the various postings from friends about lost family members, about tributes such as “Rolling Thunder” (http://www.dodlive.mil/index.php/2015/05/8-things-you-may-not-know-about-rolling-thunder/) and thinking about the service of so many friends and relatives to our great country.

In many circles, it seems that patriotism is being discarded and discounted – treated as jingoism at best, racism at worst (well, living near Ann Arbor does expose me to some significant biases). 

What is patriotism?

I defer to Mark Twain’s assessment:  “Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it.”  We live in the greatest country in the history of the world. Is it a perfect country? Nope. Does every citizen who makes him or herself aware of the direction our political leaders chart have a complaint? I expect so.

Because of forward thinking of our founders and the sacrifices of our veterans, we can voice our complaints. The First Amendment was established to allow us to complain about our government, express our opinions, publish newspapers, and investigate politicians.

Unfortunately, there is a growing movement to stifle speech. Speakers are shouted down on college campuses because they are neither politically correct nor expedient. The homes of campus writers who don’t toe the line are vandalized (see: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/12/16/omar-mahmood-vandalism_n_6336158.html).

Don’t take my word for it, see Kirsten Power’s book: The Silencing.  Ms. Powers was Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative for Public Affairs in the Clinton administration from 1993-1998 and subsequently worked in various administrative roles including press secretary, communications consultant and party consultant.  Today, she’s a columnist, pundit, and self-described “life-long liberal.”

Or, read Mark Steyn’s essays detailing the assault on freedom of speech (e.g., http://www.steynonline.com/section/71/defend-free-speech) if you are more comfortable reading a conservative tract.

(Speaking of conservatives, I’ve always chuckled when hearing/reading the late William F. Buckley’s line: “Liberals claim to want to give a hearing to other views, but then are shocked and offended to discover that there are other views.”)

I don’t want to pick a partisan fight. I want to celebrate – without apology – the men and women who have defended our country up to and including giving their lives. A line from the concert broadcast made a whole lot of sense: “No one comes back from war unwounded.”

God bless and guide the United States of America, its citizens, and its leaders. And Lord, please invest a little more time guiding the leaders.


Flag photograph reported to be in the public domain