Ohhhh, So This Is What Patriotism Feels Like...

I’ve been a left-leaning relatively anti-government, heavily anti-military and war type of person ever since I started thinking for myself.

I so frequently cursed the government for a million problems, I went downtown the last time our president visited so I could scream at him with a crowd. There were many times I felt that everything needed to fall and be rebuilt. I’ve always had a pride for our species, and a love for my fellow man, but I had a solid resentment toward our country. I didn’t understand the patriotism of the 40’s, and a lot of the time around there. Then BAM!

One big tragedy and I’m practically waving the flag. I understand these feelings now, and have a feeling of connection with this country, and I feel as though a blow has been struck against me. I’m ashamed to say I’d be proud to be the guy who gets to pull the trigger when we figure out who did this.

I don’t know how I feel about this, but I do know there’s a good chance that I won’t make it to the capitol the next time GW comes around.

LC

Same with me. My Grandpa used to tell me about WWII and Pearl Harbor. Maybe now I’ll have something incredible to tell my grandkids.

My father tried to join the army right after the attack on Pearl Harbor. They found out how old he was and sent him home. He did join the army later. He has a WWII ribbon, so I assume he served during the war. After two years with the army he joined the Navy. He served for 20 years, rising from seaman to Lieutenant (O3, “captain” to you army types) – he was a “mustang”.

I grew up around the military. When we were in Japan I stood my three/four-year-old body at attention as they played the Star Spangled Banner before the movies. I spent many happy hours at NAS (now MCAS) Miramar in San Diego. Later I worked for a defense contractor at Edwards AFB. I’ve always been patriotic. Sure, I lean left when it comes to socialized medicine and right-to-choose re: abortion, drugs, etc. And I’ve been appalled at some of the things our country has done over the years.

But I know that the American people are good. We’re the first to help other countries out when they suffer disasters. Many Americans will literally give you the shirts of of their backs if you need it. We’re the good guys.

“Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel.” Maybe. Patriotism has been used to evil ends, even here. But dammit, this is a great country. I’m proud to be an American. We’re not perfect, but we generally have good intentions.

Many people are using the word “cowardly” to describe terrorists and their actions. It’s become a cliché. But let the terrorists show their faces. They won’t. They know they will be obliterated. Let them show us their cause is just. They won’t. And they can’t, when they kill innocent people. They are cowards.

I’m a city-boy who has had a soft life. The only corpses I’ve seen have been in boxes or at scenes of accidents. I don’t know what it is to live in a war zone. But I say this to terrorists: I – and I think many or most Americans – will stand up and fight you mano a mano. You may kill me – or us – but we’ll stand up to you. You’ll see our faces when we stand up to you. We won’t resort to terrorism. You cowards.

This may sound strange coming from an anarcho capitalist, but I’m an anarcho-capitalist because I am, and have always been, a patriot. The most important part of our society has always been, to me, the Bill of Rights, which enumerates some of the rights people have by simply being born, despite the government under which they live.

I have fought through words, and votes, and rants and tears the abuses of my and other governments upon the rights of human beings around the world, and most importantly within the United States, and I have suffered deep shame seeing the patriotism I have always felt used as an excuse to market indefensible actions by my government.

Today, though, my government was forced by the most hideous event of my lifetime to swing itself back to its core responsibility - safeguarding the rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for its citizenry. I am not angry because the most vile people on the planet struck out against my government. I am angry because they slaughtered thousands, perhaps tens of thousands, of individuals - each of whom were born with the rights I have spent my entire adult life promoting and defending.

I am proud to be an American today. I am proud that my country has rallied with message relays and prayers and countless thousands - if not millions - of gallons of blood to aid their brothers and sisters - people with whom they have nothing in common except their birthright - the right to live, to be free and to pursue their happiness.

Tonight, for the first time ever, I stand unabashedly in support of my government as it seeks to rescue those still alive, bury those dead and destroy those responsible. When the crisis has passed, when justice has been served and things return to as close a proximity to normal as they can, I am certain I will again argue with my government as it tries to expand its powers into the lives of its citizens for their “security” and “safety” and as it tries to unduly influence the people and governments of other nations, but on this night - and on every night until this matter is closed - we are all united.

There is an old saying, “My enemy’s enemy is not my enemy.” As a result, I don’t have a beef with the government today, as we have a common enemy - the dead men walking who killed our brothers.

There is another saying, “Me against my brother, my brother against my cousin, me and my cousin against the world.” These bastards have made Americans a family again, and we will surely turn back on each other again later, but until this is over, our front is united and we are one people with one goal - to save those left and avenge those fallen.

Well, I think I just got it. What I have come to be proud to be a part of is not “America”. I have realized that we together are a group of PEOPLE. It’s the PEOPLE who died, the PEOPLE who lost friends and family, the PEOPLE who are afraid right now that I am united with.

Right now, that flag is one thing we have in common, so I am proud to use it to ally myself with ALL the people in this community around me, and to tell them that whatever the government is doing wrong or right, we’re all in this together, and we will see this through.

Today as I was driving home I saw two kids standing on the corner at a busy 4-way stop near the entrance to my neighborhood. One of them was holding a flag and the other had a sign that said “SHOW YOUR COLORS! PUT OUT YOUR FLAGS!” These kids were maybe 10 or 12 years old.

I gave them a honk and a wave, and with tears in my eyes, I drove on. When I got home I gladly raised that flag in front of our home, to say that yes, people of America, I am with you. We are strong together, and we will overcome this.

LC

Lucky, I’m very much in the same boat. However, my “conversion” was with the USS Cole last year. My college roommate was on that ship. I was frantic all day, and was met with the reality of what that bombing meant vs. my opinions of the government. The two just don’t co-exist very well. However, they do co-exist in some way, on a very fine line. My panic was so much greater that day than it was yesterday. So I know what you’re going through. Loss of this magnitude is excrutiating. But what you end up seeing is what we have in common - the ability and freedom to have these conflicting opinions.

For the record, my roommate is getting married next week.

My dad, whom I mentioned above, always flew a flag for the Fourth of July, and often flew it other times in good weather, taking it down at night.

I know my dad was not jingoistic, but it I always thought it would feel jingoistic if I were to fly the flag. I understand my feelings without the need for the symbol.

Today I bought a small (about 12") flag on a stick. I put it on the windscreen of my Yamaha with paper clamps. As I was leaving the parking lot at work a person in the cross-traffic honked and gave me a thumbs-up. It took a beating at 80mph, but I’ll get out the gaffer’s tape and it will be on the bike again tomorrow.

Similar thing here. As I was heading home, I passed a decent sized group of people on the edge of Boston Common with flags and “Honk if you love the USA” banners. Waiting at the light watching traffic go by honking, tears started welling up in my eyes. Of course, I was on a bicycle, so I couldn’t honk myself.

Lucky, this makes me think of a visit I paid to some dear friends in Alaska, when the husband in the couple worked for BP (having his old job with Sohio absorbed in the takeover). He and I have a great gap in our political leanings, but whenever we met a foreigner (in this case, mostly our friends, the Brits) who wanted to rag on the U.S., it was phenomenal how quickly we closed ranks.

Lucky Charms, you are not alone. I have read many similar stories on this board and others in the last 24 hours. There is no shame in wanting to right this terrible wrong.

My husband is career military and currently serving in the Army Reserves. I’m proud of him and of his committment to this country of ours.

He has not always been treated well by his fellow non-military Americans. Constant budget cuts have made it so that the MAJORITY of our Armed Forces are Reservists. They are CIVILIANS, just like you, with jobs, 2.4 children, the family dog, and a mini-van in the driveway.

It does my heart good to hear your story. You and others like you can now support my husband and all others of the military in their mission.

Godspeed to them all.

That was Patriotic thing to do. So is supporting the Country.

waterj2, I hope that you at least SAID “honk”. Or blew your nose. Either would have been appropriate.

Munch - “honk”

with everything taht’s going on, I can’t say I’ve had too much oppurtunity ot go downtown, but when talking to my parents, and hearing about all the patriotism and volunteerism everyone is showing, well…

I have never been so fiercly proud of being in the service. I had more to say, but it was too verbose, and I feel the above pretty much sums it up.

Folk singer Utah Phillips quoting somebody quoting somebody (ain’t that how this folk singer stories always start out?)…now being paraphrased by me:

“You don’t hate your country. You don’t. You hate the government. That’s different. Get it straight.”

You’re absolutely right, LC…and I know the stirrings of patriotism I’ve felt the last two days have been some of my most confusing feelings. But the country, its places, its people…I know how I love that. On the other side of the coin, I know I haven’t come to terms with my government. (For instance, if the U.S. had been behind last night’s attacks on Afghanistan…) But our differences of opinion, on policy, morality, whathaveyou…that doesn’t exclude me–or YOU!–from yesterday’s events or the emotional reaction.

And, just as always, in the face of opposition, I wipe some tears from my eyes, steel my back and stand strong. Right now, I’m proud to be doing just that with all Americans.