There are enough “Happy Birthday, America!” thoughts going around that I don’t feel any need to add my modest weight to them. Anne republished the Declaration of Independence over at The Golden Pencil, and over breakfast Kerri and I read it aloud in its entirety. I couldn’t help but be struck by some of what I read. While Will has posted his Top 5 Abuses, these are more like Abuses that to me ring strangely relevant in our time. Consider: (My commentary is in bold.)
- He has erected a multitude of New Offices, and sent hither swarms of Officers to harrass our people, and eat out their substance. I may be engaging in hyperbole, but this sounds a lot like today’s ever expanding Federal government.
- He has affected to render the Military independent of and superior to the Civil power. Again, military tribunals and such.
- He has combined with others to subject us to a jurisdiction foreign to our constitution, and unacknowledged by our laws; giving his Assent to their Acts of pretended Legislation… For transporting us beyond Seas to be tried for pretended offenses. Air Torture?
- He has excited domestic insurrections amongst us. – Again, I’m using hyperbole, but there is something amiss with the vilification and demonization that now occurs between the two major political parties.
Now, I’m not patriotic, which might seem odd coming from the child of a career airman married another child of a career airman with veterans of military and government service replete on both sides of the family. It is odd, and I am fully aware of the irony (hypocrisy?) that I write from safe within the US heartland. Yet, there it is. I’m grateful for the “sole surviving son” draft exemption, for it will save me the potential trouble of choosing whether of not to be a concientious objector.
My lack of patriotism, however, is derived not so much from disapproval of US policy and values. Yes, I have my questions and concerns illustrated by the Abuses I picked out above, but there are also passages in the Declaration that ring true and noble. Rather my lack of US patriotism grows from a new, “first citizenship” that I believe ought to characterize all who claim to be Christians.
My point, since I suppose I ought to have one, is to call attention to the above listed Abuses from an outsider/insider perspective. Perhaps those who proudly wave the flag can mine out any truth resident in my comments and do their part to effect a resolution. There is for much patriotic Americans to be proud of. I pray their pride would not blind them to the shadows that exist.
I will admit that I am not a patriot either. I have seen the results too many times of people who are just too patriotic to see past the fact that maybe the ones they are siding for might be at fault. It was in large part, patriotism that lead to both WWI and WWII. How many people are supporting the “war in Iraq” because it’s the patriotic thing to do? I mean really, people are riding that one for all it’s worth (I think every spending bill for education should include a rider for something to do with the war because then no politician would ever vote no). I think that it is time we took off the rose coloured glasses through which we’ve been looking at our country for the last 30 years and see ourselves as we really are. Do you think it odd that almost every other country in the world doesn’t like the image of the patriotic US? Could they all be wrong? Do we not see that we are more than willing to look the other way when a friendly nation wants to improve their missles, but adapt resolutions in the UN when a non-friendly nation does it?
Yes, we have a great country, but it’s far from perfect. Blind patriotism does nothing to help it.
I would like to hear more about your “first citizenship” and how it would relate to other people’s citizenship.
Rantz,
I’m of the opinion that the Christian is first and foremost a citizen of the Kingdom of God; and that this new citizenship ought to replace or rule over all former allegiances. Exactly how this works out is a matter of some discussion. I’m still working out where exactly I stand, but I am so far tending to lean away from the syncretism that dominates much popular US Christianity.
I am more interested in how your first citizenship would effect your neighbor’s first citizenship. Isn’t that a bit what this war in Iraq is about? Moslems are upset with Christians. My god is bigger than your god! Didn’t we have the Crusades already? I mean, before I work up a big lather here, should we all be first citizens of the world, and then become concerned with other ones? Like it or not, everyone is not going to convert to any one religion. There is always on stubborn person (raises hand) out there who just won’t do it. We will have to come up with some way of getting along so everyone can continue to believe what we believe on a world that isn’t about to blow up or overheat or whatever.
Ok, now I’ve done it. I’m frothing at the mouth so much I look like I just dipped my head in a well poured glass of Bugmans. Sorry. I feel better now… Breathe… Baldman friend. Shinny things nice.
No, seriously, I realize that not everyone is war crazy. I know that war is not the reason behind religion although sometimes I forget that when I look back at history. In fact, I know that often religion is a good scapegoat for why war happens (See WWII). And I know that if all of us, whether we believe or not, were to live as citizens in the Kingdom of God (no matter what name you give to your god), we’d have a better world. I may not believe in a supreme being, but I do believe that most religions have the right idea on how to treat others.
Peace brother. That is the way to true happiness.