U.S. activists answer: What is Patriotism?

http://ncronline.org/news/peace-justice/us-activists-answer-what-patriotism

What comes to mind when you think of the word "patriot"? George Washington crossing the Delaware River, a Union soldier tapping on a timpani, or dusty American soldiers huddled in trenches? For most Americans, the word patriot probably does not conjure up images of peace activists throwing blood onto nuclear facilities, black men and women refusing to get up from segregated lunch counters, or journalists exposing classified government documents. But should it?

During his 2008 presidential campaign, then-Sen. Barack Obama delivered a speech titled "The America We Love." He reflected on the meaning of patriotism, and even though he mentioned flag-waving and military sacrifice, Obama also took note of U.S. dissidents.

"Precisely because our ideals constantly demand more from us, patriotism can never be defined as loyalty to any particular leader or government or policy," Obama stated. "When our laws, our leaders or our government are out of alignment with our ideals, then the dissent of ordinary Americans may prove to be one of the truest expression of patriotism."

NCR posited two seemingly simple questions to a group of U.S. activists, each of whom has years of experience resisting militarism, war and violence: What is patriotism, and are you patriotic? David McReynolds, an activist since the 1950s, explained, "Old radicals usually try to avoid these tricky questions!"


Following is a sampling of responses.

SNIP