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Editorials - 06/28/01

Patriotism is pride, not arrogance
As the Fourth of July approaches, we are bombarded with images of what it means to be American, from barbecue to historical re-enactments. Too often, though, patriotism seems to get confused with prejudice: because America is great, people act as though the rest of the world must be inferior.

This is not a new attitude, nor is it unique to Americans. Nationalism, the belief that people with the same language, traditions and religion are different from others around them, has been one of the most pivotal beliefs in history. Nationalism was a major factor in both World Wars, but it was also what gave people a sense of identity and helped to separate them into distinct groups. It has also caused more than a few problems, such as 19th-century imperialism and 20th-century ethnic warfare.

In a nutshell, the rise of nationalism led to the end of an era when arbitrary boundaries were decided by an interwoven monarchy and "kingdoms" followed geographic, not ethnic, boundaries. So what does all this have to do with picnics and fireworks? Simply this:

As Americans, we are part of a nation that has been a force for good around the world. Our soldiers have fought for democracy, and our civilians have worked for human rights. We have given of our time, our money and our compassion for people we may never see or speak to. But this does not mean that the rest of the world is in our debt, and it does not make us better than them. We have been blessed with power and prosperity, and helping others is just being neighborly.

This year, let's celebrate the good things about our country. Join the festivities on Main Street, mingle with friends and enjoy the fireworks after dark. Let's rediscover what our forefathers fought and died for, and remind ourselves of the freedom we want our children and grandchildren to continue to enjoy.

And remember, while we contemplate our independence and our pride in America, that patriotism doesn't have to be arrogant to be sincere.

Happy Fourth!

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