Patriotism
I have never considered criticism to be lack of patriotism. Neither do right wing religious groups---for they criticize the loudest with the usual threats of hell, jail, or denial of human rights for their opposition. Then they charge anyone who refuses to cheer on their beliefs as being unpatriotic. Interesting. James Baldwin had it right: "I love America more than any other country in the world and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually."
If "my country, right or wrong" is a requirement for patriotism than I am not much of a patriot. If believing my country has a special connection with God, then I am not much of a patriot. If believing God is on our side is a requirement for patriotism then I am not much of a patriot. If believing God gave America some sort of "manifest destiny' is a requirement for patriotism than I am not much of a patriot. I did not choose this country. Rather, I was lucky enough to be born and raised here. It is nothing I earned. I don't really view world politics as a contest to do God's will. I doubt God needs us to accomplish His will. Why we flatter ourselves with these notions escapes my credibility. My own belief is that God created the evolutionary process, a process which proceeds according to evolutionary laws and these laws run the show. All the praying in the world doesn't seem to ever alter any of these laws or the consequences of these laws.
I have an allegiance to my country much as I develop an allegiance to my parents or friends or any other entity of which I am voluntarily a part. The most admirable allegiance is to moral principles, in particular the Golden Rule. This ancient rule has permeated every moral system everywhere simply because it is an inherent quality of human thought. One has no need to argue the morality of the Golden Rule because it is logically self evident. It is indeed safe to judge most every hap-pence on the Golden Rule. It is not hard to admire and support those people and those countries which adhere closest to the Golden Rule. I would like my own country to be a leader in this regard. I would like my own behavior to be driven by the Golden Rule as the measure of right vs wrong.
This country has risen to be a powerful and successful country not so much because "we earned it", but because all the ingredients needed to be successful were right before us. Many of those who first populated our country did so because they were seeking more freedom and more justice, and they incorporated these desires into a Constitution. Not a perfect constitution but a good start, one which pointed us in the right direction. Early on white landowners had more rights than others---with time other groups began to get 'equal' rights and even today there are groups still seeking 'equal' rights.
I think patriotism is best applied to the Golden Rule. Duty towards one's country implies supporting those policies which enable your own country to adhere to the Golden Rule.
