January 27, 2003
ANOTHER VIEW:
Carefully examine patriotism's aims
___By Henlee Barnette
___"Patriotism" is one of the most perverted terms in the English language. It is usually defined in dictionaries as love and support of one's country, which is too narrow. Edith Cavell, the brave English woman executed by the Germans as a spy in World War I, declared moments before she was killed: "Patriotism is not enough. There must be no bitterness or hatred for anyone." Unfortunately, some take the extreme view of patriotism filled with bitterness and hatred.
___Some extremists absolutize patriotism. They are the superpatriots whose slogan is "My country, right or wrong." They advocate blind obedience to one's government, no matter what its policies. For them, the nation tends to become ultimate.
___Samuel Johnson, English writer, critic and lexicographer, held, "Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel." Obviously, Johnson did not mean all patriots are scoundrels. Rather, he referenced those who wrap themselves in the nation's flag and professing love of country, do unpatriotic things. They run for public office for private gain.
Patriotism and faith in God are two sides of the same coin--love for country and citizens.
___In a recent political campaign, a leading politician reported that talk of terrorism and war could aid his party. President George W. Bush implied Democratic senators were unpatriotic for not supporting his legislation on Homeland Security. Some of these senators were veterans of foreign wars. Opponents of a Georgia senator questioned his fitness for re-election on the basis of his patriotism. They played the unpatriotic card for political gain. He lost three limbs in the Vietnam War.
___Some politicians parade under the flag of patriotism. They profess to be for "law and order," then break the law. They claim to work hard for legislation to help their constituents, then accept money from corporations not to push for its enactment.
___Patriotism in the narrow sense is not enough. True patriotism has a larger embrace. It expresses itself in certain values, places morality above material interests, justice above imperialist concerns, peacemaking above waging war.
___Genuine patriotism criticizes and seeks to correct government from undemocratic policies. Sen. Carl Shurz was being patriotic when he said: "My country, right or wrong. When right, to keep her right. When wrong, to put her right." Superpatriots quote only, "My country, right or wrong."
___Authentic patriotism challenges Caesar's claim to absolute political power and to the people's ultimate loyalty to God. Holy Scripture and history are replete with examples: The biblical prophets. Jesus. ("Render unto God the things that are God's and to Caesar the things that are Caesar's." Here he relativises the state.) When the disciples were forbidden by the authorities to preach the gospel, they preached anyway, declaring, "We must obey God rather than man" (Acts 5:29). When Hitler demanded Pastor Martin Niemoller obey the laws of Nazism, Niemoller replied, "Gott ist mein Fuhrer" (God is my Fuhrer).
___We are in our deepest nature both patriotic and religious. According to the Declaration of Independence, patriotism is grounded in both "nature and ... nature's God." Moreover, basic human rights are endowed by the Creator, and "among these are life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness." Signers of the Declaration of Independence appealed "to the Supreme Judge of the world for rectitude of our intentions" to win freedom from Britain. They decided to do it "with a firm reliance on the protection of divine providence."
___Today, this sort of patriotism has found expression in America's slogans: "In God We Trust" on our money, "one nation under God" in the salute to our flag and "in God is our trust" in our national anthem.
___Patriotism and faith in God are two sides of the same coin--love for country and citizens.
___Can a person be both Christian and patriotic? Mark Twain held that a citizen could not be Christian and a patriot. He wrote that the relationship is an oxymoron, as two irreconcilable concepts incapable of conciliation. Billy Graham, the great evangelist, believed "Christian" and "patriot" are synonymous terms. If not synonymous, they share harmonious ethical principles. True patriotism calls for justice, freedom, love of all people as well as "pro patria." These are values in harmony with the Christian way of life. To be patriotic is to be law-abiding. When government ceases to function as the "minister of God for good" (Romans 13), the patriotic thing to do is to change the government. Paul appealed to his government as a Roman citizen. (Acts 25:11). He urged prayer for rulers. (1 Timothy 2:1-3)
___But the Christian patriot always remembers that Christ is Lord, and when the claims of Caesar conflict with the claims of Christ, ultimate loyalty belongs to God.
___This was the conviction of Thomas More, English statesman executed for his refusal to recognize the king of England as head of the English Church. The king admired More and hoped he would be obedient to him. More assured the king he was "The king's good servant, but God's first."
___Henlee Barnette is professor emeritus of Christian ethics at Southern Baptist Theological Seminary
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