America the Beautiful: An Essay on Patriotism
July 2, 2008 – 12:56 pmOh beautiful, for spacious skies, for amber waves of grain. For purple mountains majesty above the fruited plain. America, America God shed His grace on thee. And crown thy good with brotherhood, from sea to shining sea.
In 1893, a young teacher by the name of Katharine Lee Bates, scribbled these words into a notebook after ascending Pike’s Peak and witnessing the vast expanse of America in front of her. She never knew that the words she wrote would eventually be sang in churches, public forums and eventually during the 7th inning of many baseball games in the United States.
She had no clue that the words, “America the Beautiful” would resonate with so many people. She knew that they resonated with herself.
According to the story (reprinted here with no known attribution to the original article), after tweaking and rewriting some sections, the song would be reprinted in the Boston Evening Transcript where it was mostly well received, yet she was criticized for using the word “Beautiful”.
Oh, beautiful.
There’s a lot of talk these days about patriotism. George Bush made the point famous by using rhetoric like, “You’re either with us, or you’re for our enemies” and calling patriotism into question. Congress went along with the war rhetoric under the guise of patriotism.
It became an unofficial requirement for members of the media to display American flag lapel pins. An exotic dance of expectations, intentions, and cooperations ensued where patriotism was challenged.
They don’t understand patriotism.
Patriotism is a love of country. Patriotism is not an act demonstrating a love of country. Patriotism is respect and honor. Patriotism is not a shallow public display of affection. Patriotism is the ability to stand back and say, “Wow, I’m blessed to be an American”. Patriotism is not “America and no one else.” Patriotism is recognizing that, at the end of the day, despite disagreement we can all stand shoulder to shoulder in defense of the freedom to disagree.
America, the Beautiful.
Much has been talked about Barack Obama’s speech on patriotism the other day. I confess, I haven’t seen it yet.The old view of patriotism likes to hammer him because he doesn’t wear a lapel pin. He’s not Muslim, but if he was that’s okay. He’s got a middle name that brings back some memories, yet… he is patriotic as far as I can tell.
He loves his country. He will defend the right to disagreement. His core is baked into a tremendous love for this country, his country, OUR country.
The fact that a black man, today, can run for President is a beautiful thing.
America the Beautiful.
I like what my friend, Erin, has to say about this.
I have never considered myself a patriot.
I have never served in the armed forces. I have never served as a lawmaker, or heck, even a volunteer.
I thought patriots died for America, they lost their homes or sacrificed their sons. I thought they did what was asked when the United States was in need and always stood by her side.
Those people are why I never once considered myself even close to a “patriot.” Sure I have a loyalty to my country, but I also question her. While it may be one of the things that makes this country great, it was always one of the things I thought disqualified me to really be patriotic.
Guess I was buying the spin too.
The most noble and patriotic thing that an American can do is to question authority. That is what makes America beautiful, and that is patriotism.
4 Responses to “America the Beautiful: An Essay on Patriotism”
On the eve of the American Revolution, Samuel Johnson observed that “patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.”
Of all the lamentable episodes of this year’s presidential campaign, the debate about patriotism and the childish, irrelevant focus on whether Obama wears a flag lapel pin is perhaps the most offensive and despicable.
“The most noble and patriotic thing that an American can do is to question authority. That is what makes America beautiful, and that is patriotism.”
Patriotism has nothing to do with what’s on your lapel, and everything to do with what’s in your heart.
Would that the false patriots on the right who wallow in the diversion about flag pins would read and understand this distinction.
By Steve Levine on Jul 2, 2008
Great essay Aaron. How anyone can believe that a person would put him or herself through the absolute nightmare that is a presidential campaign without loving the country he or she wants to lead is bizarre.
Unfortunately, some individuals from the extreme right wing have turned loving your country into yet another wedge issue, a mere distraction from substance, saying that certain members of the left do not love their country because they are not white, were not raised in the heartland, do not wear a flag lapel pin, etc. Forunately for us, we know better.
It is not unpatriotic to question your government; it is one of the most patriotic things you can do. The freedom to dissent from our elected leaders is what makes us Americans, different from citizens from other nations around the globe, where such an act may lead to death.
This is precisely why Washington Hotlist was created!
By Joshua Rosenstock on Jul 2, 2008
Well said, Aaron.
The ideals of freedom that our country was founded on transcend the imperfections of government– seeing a black man as the presumptive nominee for the Democratic presidential candidate is another milestone on our journey to a more perfect realization of the ideas enshrined in the Constitution.
I think electing Obama as president would demonstrate to the world that our great experiment is an ongoing enterprise, and that we still believe in our quest of justice for all.
By Vince Williams on Jul 2, 2008