True Patriotism Speaks Truth
John Bacon

I’ve never thought of myself as a “naysayer” but that is exactly what I’ve Become, concurrently I suppose, with the antiquing process of mind and body. Unitarianism has led me to question what is preached and what is perceived as truth, not only in human relationships but in the body politic. What I conclude is not encouraging. As a nation, we carry patriotism to the extreme of self-delusion. We are told the United States is the greatest military power in the world and that we use that power only for the good of mankind, that we are invincible. If that is true, how is it that with all our might we have seen a successful conclusion to only one war with our military machine, and, coincidentally, the only one with popular backing: World War II. In Korea we ended up splitting the difference, in Viet Nam we were whupped but good, and in Somalia and Bosnia we didn’t exactly leave smelling like a rose. In the first war with Iraq we could perhaps have done with popular support that which we are trying unsuccessfully to do today. Unfortunately, the long-term consequences for disaster would have remained the same. On the positive side, I guess we did have success when we invaded a medical school somewhere in the Caribbean. Despite our record, we hear our politicians (and others) declare our power, past successes, and the sacrifices of our military personnel as justification for further folly. Without the “race” card to play, a new one has been foisted on us: the “patriotism” card, the sole purpose of which is to denigrate the thoughts and actions of those opposed to anything that hints at dissent from the administration’s policies: if you tell a lie often enough it becomes the truth. When used against loyal opposition it becomes character assassination. Let’s not let “patriotism” be defined by the narrow vision of the flag wavers. I am back where I started. I know what should be done. I do not know how to get it done. My “nay-saying” continues.