May Obama’s ‘patriotism’ exclude — patriots?
SIGHISOARA, Romania — Although the immediate surrounding of this medieval Saxon town monumentalizes an intimidating communist aesthetic insensitivity, the nearby countryside offers quaint pastoral scenes and boundless opportunity for travelers to interact with the Romanian locals. Thus, my father and I hoped for a taste of pre-modern life when we drive into the remote village of Archita and made our way to the village’s general store and café.
A collection of Romanians sat inside — some on a brief visit, others there for the afternoon — all residents of the village. Upon learning...
All this "deep" thinking after some "palinca" ? Were you stil drunk when you were writing this "article" ?
Peter,
In short, this is a picky column. I did like it for allowing me to imagine you being rubbed on the head by a drunk Romanian man. Where you and I do agree, probably, is that Obama’s speeches are too often over-the-top razzle-dazzle given to make crowds cry. I suspect Obama himself knows this; but he also knows that he has to do it in order to win the election.
The reason you have drawn the lines too sharply in this case is because of a misguided definition of American patriotism. You are a cynic of the idea of “global citizenship.” I will put the debate around this term aside for a moment to point out that you are wrong to pin Obama as a novel or even non-traditional peddler of universals-speak. Nothing could be more American. From its beginnings Americans declared it “self-evident” that “all men are created equal,” etc. This philosophical framework was reinforced by waves of immigration over the last two centuries. America, in short, is not a patria: the conventional usage of the term “melting pot,” of individuals from anywhere wanting to come and fulfill the “American dream” is more accurate. These circumstances have of course had an impact on the way Americans might view tradition or culture. As Tocqueville discerned even in the 1830s, everything in America is more fluid, more unstable. With this in mind, it may not be a coincidence that people frequently accuse America of “having no culture.” The Burkean formula you very obviously want to apply to America will not fit so nicely as in England, for the simple reason that our culture has a very close and clear beginning. It is not as organic.
When Obama speaks in universals, he is drawing on the American tradition of universalism in order to use it as a base for challenges like globalization, international trade, etc, that must be addressed in global terms. Since the problems of non-critical patriotism in wars are obvious, I will focus on a more subtle and pernicious form that you seem to be defending. You would have us guess (since you don’t explicitly state what you fear) that Obama would dissolve “American” interests in favor of “global” interests. What precisely are you afraid of? Something like, that Obama will sign Kyoto instead of promoting America’s ‘home-grown’ tradition of thoughtless international market capitalism? This seems a likely guess based on your sentence: “Patriotism of this sort forms a bulwark against the grand designs of the ruling elite who would rather not attend to the business of living in world.” This mock-humility is disgusting coming from someone in a country as resource-guzzling and already global-minded as the United States. Your sentence could be translated by an example into “Patriotism of this sort forms a bulwark against the Kyoto treaty and other such international contracts which restrict economic freedom of Joe Smith to buy whatever he wants in Walmart and drive a Hummer.” This is not merely a vulgarization. Your definition of “patriotism” is really a veiled attempt for Americans to make whatever economic choices they want—choices which, perhaps unfortunately, do not only effect Americans. It is merely because of self-embarrassment that what is actually Americanization has been called “Globalization.” You are trying to misconstrue a small detail in Obama's speech to make it look as if he would eventually push to extend the rights of American citizenship to all human beings. It is a fact, anyway, that this has been a live possibility for anyone who actually ever became an American citizen, including your and my own fathers. You may be right in fearing the erosion of national or local pride of the kind the Romanian man displayed, but your proposed solution basically amounts to denying the problem exists.
In order to preserve the country we were born in, we have to also talk to the countries from which our forefathers came. This is not a compromise of our “values” (even though that term would make less sense in America than many other countries), it is a way to protect the borders in which our values might exist. The alternative American “patriotism”— the kind that is current in America today, and the kind that will result when you try to invoke an idea of a patria that never existed— is to be global citizens while not acknowledging any of the duties that go along with it. That is hypocrisy.
Would he who made the former post please identify himself? I would like the chance to discuss at greater length, in a different medium.
I very much doubt that Obama would ascribe American patriotism to anyone other than a citizen, resident, or someone moving to the United States.
Just because some Germans in Berlin also shared his and other Americans ideals for a more peaceable world, they would not be American patriots, by his definition.
And while you are certainly correct that many countries are not as welcoming to immigrants who cross oceans to start again (the US isn't so welcoming often either ...), one of the defining qualities of being American is that one can become it. Everyone in this country, minus a few Pilgrims (and descendents) and Native American peoples, came after 1776.
I can't tell if the word you are looking for is jingoism, or nationalism. But considering that on Thursday night Obama made quite clear that he thinks Sen. McCain is also a patriot, I have no doubt he would admire your patriotism.
No need to straw-man yourself.