For many Americans, it’s hard to love and believe in our country in today’s social climate; however, this feeling isn’t unique to our time.
America has always been a nation that professes freedom and justice while committing atrocities in the same breath. Moral contradictions and inequality have long been part of our history; we are living through its latest chapter.
One incident that has been on my mind is the use of a white supremacist slogan, “Which way, American man?” in a recruiting post by the Department of Homeland Security. The slogan came from a 1978 book by self-avowed white supremacist, William Gayley Simpson, and became a right wing meme in the 2010s.
There have always been different definitions of patriotism, or even what it means to be an American; the Trump administration has a very narrow understanding of these definitions.
The administration’s vision of patriotism would have us believe America can do no wrong. They refuse to reckon with our checkered history, and even actively try to erase it. This is not love of country — it is nationalism, not true patriotism.
Our current leaders often label any dissent or opposition as “anti-American.” This tactic is nothing new. From the treatment of suffragettes, civil rights marchers, union organizers and anti-war demonstrators, we have often been governed by leaders who cannot tolerate criticism.
A recent example of this was when the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, demanded that the press cover the war in Iran more favorably.
Hegseth said, “The media here, not all of it, but much of it wants you to think just 19 days into this conflict that we’re somehow spinning toward an endless abyss or a forever war or a quagmire…To the patriotic members of the press, nobody can deliver perfection in wartime. This building knows that more than anyone, but report the reality. We’re winning decisively and on our terms.”
This is very telling about the character of our leaders. Thomas Jefferson once said, “No government should be without critics. If its intentions are good then it has nothing to fear from criticism.”
It is our responsibility as Americans to call out our leaders and be critical of our own. However, the Trump administration’s vision of America looks backward, promising a return to a fabled “golden age” and seeking to enforce their definition of what it means to be an American.
But patriotism belongs to the people, not to any government or racist slogans. The people decide which America we want.
Author James Baldwin said, “I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.”
Holding our leaders accountable is our civic duty. We owe it to the oppressed, our communities and, most importantly, ourselves. True patriotism requires confronting our country’s faults. Patriotism is not loyalty to a flag but love for fellow Americans and for everyone in your community, and to extend that recognition outward.
Eleanor Roosevelt once outlined another vision of patriotism and said, “True patriotism springs from a belief in the dignity of the individual, freedom and … a constant striving toward the principles and ideals on which this country was founded.”
To figures such as Baldwin and Roosevelt, patriotism means pushing our country to be better, to fill the gaping chasm between our ideals and our actions. This is a task each generation must face. So now it is our turn to reckon with that tension and define what patriotism means to us.
A recent Chimes poll of mostly university students found that more than two thirds did not consider themselves to be patriotic. This trend is reflected nationally according to Gallup polling.
It’s easy to give up when the world is bleak, but we have to believe in our country and put in the work if this American experiment is going to make a turn around. Progress doesn’t make itself happen; just like hope is a choice, so is patriotism, so is choosing to believe in our country. It is an active, daily choice.
So which patriotism will Americans choose?
I know my reply. I love my country so vehemently, so nothing will make me give up on it.
To me, protesting injustice is the most patriotic act; above all, patriotism is to care for one another. It means acknowledging America’s past while working to make it better. It means loving your fellow Americans, even those we struggle to agree with.
American history is a mix of triumphs and horrors. Our challenge has always been to reconcile our ideals with our actions. Progress is possible, but it requires effort, courage and hope. America reflects both the good and evil of its people — and it is up to us to choose the good.
