American Patriotism Stands Alone (American Patriotism Is The Sanctuary Of The Good Alert)

Worldnetdaily.com ^ | 07/11/2007 | Ben Shapiro

[goldstategop]

The American Left is fond of bumper sticker slogans. One of their favorites comes from arch-wit Samuel Johnson, who once reportedly remarked, "Patriotism is that last refuge of a scoundrel." Johnson was describing false patriots – his 1755 dictionary defined "patriot" as "one whose ruling passion is the love of his country." Nonetheless, Leftists have rallied around the anti-patriotic banner.

Their current leader is lauded scholar and campus hero professor Howard Zinn, quasi-Marxist author of the virulently anti-American "A People's History of the United States." On July 4, Zinn posted his most recent diatribe against patriotism: "On this July 4, we would do well to renounce nationalism and all its symbols: its flags, its pledges of allegiance, its anthems, its insistence in song that God must single out America to be blessed." He wrote, "We need to refute the idea that our nation is different from, morally superior to, the other imperial powers of world history. We need to assert our allegiance to the human race, and not to any one nation."

Zinn's point of view is radically blunt, but it is a mainstream component of American liberal thought. According to the Left, the current chaos in Iraq is a result of American arrogance rather than religious sectarianism; America's failure to embrace European relativism must be attributed to a benighted American exceptionalism.

Blaming the world's ills on American nationalism is a predictable result of a broader attempt to undermine nationalism. Nationalism, in this view, inherently carries with it a pernicious distinction between "us" and "them" – a distinction that often leads to dehumanization and human rights abuses. Hannah Arendt articulately summed up the sentiment: "I have never in my life 'loved' any people or collective – neither the German people, nor the French, nor the American, nor the working class or anything of that sort. I indeed love 'only' my friends, and the only kind of love I know of and believe in is the love of persons."

This critique carries a grain of truth. Nationalism clearly creates distinctions – those within the nation are more highly prized than those outside it; national goals are more important than the goals of outsiders. And in many cases, these inherent traits of nationalism cause more harm than good. Nazi Germany's nationalism meant Holocaust and fascist conquest; Soviet Russia's nationalism meant purges of dissidents and tyrannical expansionism.

Nationalism, then, reflects the values of the nation. For some nations, nationalism is an evil. But it is an evil not because nationalism is inherently evil – it is an evil because the national values manifest in that particular brand of nationalism are themselves evil. A nation that seeks evil is evil; a nation that seeks good is good. The problem isn't nations – the problem is values.

And not all values are equal. Those who oppose patriotism on its own terms either embrace the lowest sort of moral relativism or foolishly bank on a set of yet-to-be-discovered universally accepted values.

American patriotism does indeed create outsiders and insiders, as all value systems do. But the distinctions drawn in America are based on the highest set of values ever embodied in national form. American values discriminate based on hard work, determination, individual initiative and traditional moral values. They do not discriminate based on race, religion, class or sex.

American patriotism is the deeply held belief and hope that American values ought to be purveyed – that the spread of American values is good for humanity. Any American who stands against patriotism stands against American values – the same values responsible for the liberation of Europe, the end of Soviet communism, the spread of democracy around the globe and the most tolerant society ever devised.

"Is not nationalism – that devotion to a flag, an anthem, a boundary so fierce it engenders mass murder – one of the great evils of our time, along with racism, along with religious hatred?" Zinn asks. Not American nationalism, untold millions answer. God blesses America uniquely because America blesses the world uniquely. Anti-Americanism is the last refuge of the fool; American patriotism is the sanctuary of the good.

[goldstategop]

American Patriotism The Sanctuary Of The Good Bump

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find things only evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelologus

[irv]

Is not nationalism – that devotion to a flag, an anthem, a boundary so fierce it engenders mass murder – one of the great evils of our time, along with racism, along with religious hatred?

Note the distorted definition of "Nationalism."

Liberals are terrible at making distinctions. To them, all nationalism (or patriotism) is jingoism (or worse). All religion is bigotry. All morality is hypocrisy. All good is evil.

And they think there's something wrong with the rest of us for thinking that the actual definition of the term matters.

[LeoWindhorse]

the full statement of this ‘gentleman’

http://www.commondreams.org/views06/0703-29.htm

I have many Jewish friends , and whenever I discus geopolitics and the current situation with them all,
I am so surprised how , to a man, they hate George Bush,
don’t see any point in going after the radical muslims , and
think that America is self-deluded and inherently evil.
Like this guy does.....
I have to wonder : where did their father come from? And his father ? And why ? What gives most the right , after just a few generations here to be so vehemently opposed to and against the land that gave their immigrant ancestors such vital succor?
And further , does not the very existence of Israel not inspire them and cause them to think and appreciate what standing up , with a real spine , stands for?
I wonder.....

[ConsistentLibertarian]

I don’t know if you have small children, but s’pose you did. If you caught one of them saying “God Bless Finland!” would it bother you? How about “God Bless Iraq!” What if she pulled out an Atlas and went through countries in alphabetical order asking God to bless each one?

[driftless2]

"hate Bush"

I strongly suspect that many American Jews can't get past Bush's (and many Republicans) strong Christian background. For many earlier Jewish generations Christians were the people who discriminated against them if not outright persecuted them for being Jewish. The fact that today's conservative Christians are far more likely to support Israel probably does not enter into their thinking. If we could pry into the minds of many liberal Jews we would most likely see a hatred and suspicion of Christians equal to their hatred and suspicion of Bush.

[ConsistentLibertarian]

“What gives most [Jews] the right, after just a few generations here to be so vehemently opposed to and against the land that gave their immigrant ancestors such vital succor?”

The Constitution of the United States.

[rlmorel]

"...And they think there's something wrong with the rest of us for thinking that the actual definition of the term matters...."

Very good point. I would change it though, to state: "...And they think there's something wrong with the rest of us for thinking that the actual definition of the term matters whenever our definition is not the same as theirs..."

My wife purchased me this book by the author A People's History of the United States as a gift since she knows I am a history buff, and it was rather awkward.

I read probably a single introductory sentence or two, and immediately had the measure of the book. I told my wife that I couldn't enjoy the book, and I think she was a bit hurt. She had opened it, seen the glossy pictures and professional layout of the book, and it didn't occur to her that it would be a typical example of leftist, Hate-America-First drivel.

Of course, this is one of the endearing aspects of the leftists who hate America. Whenever they write or say something, no matter how strenuously they attempt to disguise it, one can see or hear it almost immediately 95% of the time. They simply cannot help themselves.

I actually appreciate this, since I have probably saved hundereds of hours over the last twenty years by not having to read the entire article or listen to the entire verbalization to get the gist of their liberal argument.

Embarrassingly, that small percentage where I am wrong can be fairly foot-in-mouth painful, so I now make sure I read on a little bit and pay extra attention just to be sure. But once you are sure, you don't need to read. You know their argument...liberal talking points and so on.

The bottom line is: Liberals do not have an original bone in their bodies. They could not practice independent thinking and generate an original thought if their lives depended on it. That is why socialism, communism and marxism are so dear to the left.

[rlmorel]

I disagree.

You should be aware that your statement sounds bigoted. The issue is not that many liberal Jews hate and are suspicious of Christians, it is that they are in love with liberalism and its tenets. It is not because they are Jewish.

[Impeach98]

BTTT!

[Little Ray]

Depends. I might have some words with her on “God Bless the PRC” or “God Bless North Korea.”
And she bloody well better start AND finish with “God Bless America!”

[AirBorn]

"....God must single out America to be blessed...."

With the obvious goal of seeking Monetary Rewards-

( Books Sales Income - Speaking fees! From a hypocrite of one who States that HE Follows & Supports the Marxist Goal of " Distribution of Wealth "-I guess he re-wrote it like all other libs to mean "..except MY Wealth!!" hahaha!)

And the egotistical, self-centeredness of this person shown through his own SIN of "Vanity"-

(That Others Eating up his tripe can't see his own fault at ASSUMING he can Read Minds and KNOW automatically what OTHERS Think & are planning to think!)

It always still Amazes me how narrow minded and obviously very Egocentric Con Artists like him have been able to pull the wool over crowds of "Enlightened" liberals in the first place!

But then again-according the very definition of "Liberal"; Blindly-Following, sycophant idealists, it is probably very easy for those like him and the Norman Milers, Chomsky's & Hollywood elites to do so and so easily at that!

"....God must single out America to be blessed...."

I guess he is simply & obviously (as all libbies are)wrap up in his own "press"! and probably long ago lost all contact with Reality anyhow -that he and the rest can't see:

It is NOT " Americans"; Citizens OF This Nation that have thought that GOD must have ' Singled out ' America- But rather that "OTHERS"; Cuban Boat people, Foreigners and Bordering Nations Citizens , Who RISK THEIR LIVES to get here because THEY have come upon that conclusion Themselves WITHOUT us "Americans" to tell them!

The MORE these lunatics Talk and speak- the More FREE ADVERTISING Conservatives and those others who Logically & Rationally Love America: and ALL it stands for and all the Ideals it was founded upon, get to show how RIGHT WE ARE! and help persuade those others to Love America for what it is if they ever had any doubt!

A "Liberal"; by their very own existence, Contradicts & expose themselves as hypocrites & frauds- although very DANGEROUS ones for the Security and Interests Of The Great Free and OPEN Nation.

BUT I GUESS the PROOF that These Frauds really ARE :Educated, Open-Minded, and Justice-Seeking self-proclaimed " Prophets " as can be shown in their ACTIONS- like below!

They are AFRAID!? of a Little, Small piece of Cloth with the Colors: Red, White and Blue on it?, that they have to distroy it? Real BRAVE people they are!

DA

[the OlLine Rebel]

Where is the BARF alert? I know it’s not the point of the author here who is on our side, but still, focusing so much on commie scum makes me want to barf.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I suppose this book may have been a counter-attack on Paul Johnson's book "A History of the American People"?

http://www.amazon.com/History-American-People-Paul-Johnson/dp/0060930349/ref=pd_bbs_1/105-8007260-1572459?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1184266268&sr=8-1

I hear it is excellent (from my mother; history lover, America-lover, whose judgement I trust). And from an English national, no less. Take that "American" commie Zinn.

[the OlLine Rebel]

I fail to see how his statements were any way “bigoted”.

And how saying Jews are in love with liberalism isn’t, any more than what he said.

[driftless2]

"Bigoted"

I doubt it. I've just read too much combination literature and words coming from Jewish writers and activists to minimize the idea that many of them are suspicious of fundamentalist Christians. Certainly the fact that they are liberals has something to do with them hating Republicans, but I doubt they dislike the RINO version of Republicans as much as they do the fundamentalist branch supposedly represented by George Bush. I remember reading a section of Philip Roth's "Portnoy's Complaint" where the protagonist mentions that "hideous Catholic bullbleep". That sentiment is probably what many ultra-liberal Jews feel about Christianity. I'm just stating fact.

[rlmorel]

Thanks for the link the OlLine Rebel...I will check it out.

Thanks to both of you for not getting all crazy about my observation, which IS an opinion and not fact.

I do think there is a difference between what I stated (and is an actual demonstative fact via demographic surveys) and the assertion that Jews are suspicious of Christians.

It is a fact that the majority of American Jews ARE Democrats, and the majority is a fairly large one. In a Pew Research Study done in 2004, of the Jewish respondents who had a political affiliation, 51% were Democrats, and 16% were Republicans. That is a HUGE disparity. And, is a fact backed up by research.

Your statment driftless2, is an opinion. As you said, for historical reasons, it may be valid (depending on your viewpoint) to make an assertion like that, but it is an opinion nonetheless.

I understand the historical perspective that the statement was made in, and that there are indeed Jews who ARE suspicious of Christians. But I think the more compelling explanation is that many Jews are Liberals, which is a religion of its own. Some say cult.

What made me say that it "appeared bigoted" is that if you take the statement:

"...If we could pry into the minds of many liberal Jews we would most likely see a hatred and suspicion of Christians..."

and turned it around to say:

"...If we could pry into the minds of many Conservative Christians we would most likely see a hatred and suspicion of Jews..."

then perhaps you might see why I made that observation. Again, I appreciate that you did not engage in a hysterical ad-hominem attack on me, and I presume it was because you picked up on the fact that I did not call YOU bigoted, because that was not what I meant. Indeed, I should cut you some slack because you did specifically say "many" and not "most" or "all". But if you turn the statement around, do you see what I mean?

[rlmorel]

"...hideous Catholic bullbleep..."

I can say with some confidence there are at least an equal amount of Protestants who say the same thing about Catholics (being a Catholic by birth...) and an even higher percentage of people of Catholic and Protestant faith who say the same thing about Mormons.

That is, if judging what I read on FR is any indicator...:)

[driftless2]

I'm not saying that I believe all liberal Jews hate conservative Christians. But from statements I've read from liberal Jews in many different spheres of American life I'd have to assume that many liberal Jews hold a deep distrust and/or irrational hatred of fundamentalist Christians if not all Christians.

And don't worry about accusing me of being bigoted (which I considered to be an astounding and perplexing conclusion on your part). That's what many people do when confronted with facts they don't like. If you can't shoot the messenger, accuse him of being bigoted.

[driftless2]

I'm not saying that I believe all liberal Jews hate conservative Christians. But from statements I've read from liberal Jews in many different spheres of American life I'd have to assume that many liberal Jews hold a deep distrust and/or irrational hatred of fundamentalist Christians if not all Christians.

And don't worry about accusing me of being bigoted (which I considered to be an astounding and perplexing conclusion on your part). That's what many people do when confronted with facts they don't like. If you can't shoot the messenger, accuse him of being bigoted.