POST SCRIPTS

governed by a deep need to take whatever measures it deems necessary (I gotta right!!) rather than merely participating in the republican system bequeathed to us by the founding fathers.

We are privileged to live in a country where elections, representation, assembly, the rule of law and the courts, newspapers, radio, television and the internet are readily available tools for expression and appeal. The mail system and a typewriter or pen will even suffice. America is not a tyrannical system where revolution, protest and dissent are the only means available. So what is going on with these resentful angry Americans? It could be the result of what people have been taught. Consider this from Emma Goldman an anarchist feminist from the first
half of the last century:

"Patriotism... is a superstition artificially created and maintained through a network of lies and falsehoods; a superstition that robs man of his self-respect and dignity, and increases his arrogance and conceit."

"What we need is a propaganda of education for the soldier: anti-patriotic literatur e that will enlighten him as to the real horrors of his trade, and that will awaken his consciousness to his true relation to the man to whose labor he owes his very existence."

"When we have undermined the patriotic lie, we shall have cleared the path for that great structure wherein all nationalities shall be united into a universal brotherhood,--a truly FREE SOCIETY."

The writings of Emma Goldman are indicative of modern feminist and modern liberal thinking. They do not represent American values or the principles that are the bedrock of our country. They do represent the sentiment found in the fabric of modern liberal speech. I will use one example to illustrate my point, quoting Ms. Goldman, "Patriotism assumes that our globe is divided into little spots, each one surrounded by an iron gate. Those who have had the fortune of being born on some particular spot, consider themselves better, nobler, grander, more intelligent than the living beings inhabiting any other spot. It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot to fight, kill, and die in the attempt to impose his superiority upon all the others."

Her assumptions bear no resemblance to the Americans I know, "better, nobler, grander, more intelligent" than others. Hardly! The people I know celebrate the freedom we share to be whatever we desire and are happy to encourage and assist others in the direction of freedom. Her appeal to propagandize the soldier with anti-patriotic literature demonstrates her own feelings of superiority, of being better, nobler or more intelligent. She then goes on to assume she knows the heart of each soldier and the intent of every conflict:

"It is, therefore, the duty of everyone living on that chosen spot to fight, kill, and die in the attempt to impose his superiority upon all the others."

We celebrate peoples from all around the world and respect and enjoy the differences as well as the similarities. We do not appreciate injustice or cruelty and eschew both. We embrace liberty, hard work, self reliance and charity. We do so because we have found that they work. We subscribe to the notion that human beings are strong and capable in spirit and that all human beings share certain rights that no one human can take away. Our government is a symbol of these things, it is, therefore a beacon, a light shining for those caught in darkness. Some may reside here in our own country. Borders are simply demarcations that allow and support order. They allow and support chosen differences. A human being need not give up his own identity to relate to another, neither does a country. And so I say:

Emma, dear, American patriotism is not a lie. It is an upholding of ideals that support human beings in the "pursuit of happiness" and the expression of self. It includes humble or playful expressions such as pledging allegiance, flag waving, parades, fireworks and singing. It also includes much more serious endeavors such as taking up arms to
defend our precious way of life, our Constitution, our humanity, our love for the spirit of decency in mankind. I will not apologize for that sentiment and ideal.

George William Curtis: "A man's country is not a certain area of land, of mountains, rivers, and woods, but it is a principle and patriotism is loyalty to that principle."

"I couldn't help but say to [Mr. Gorbachev], just think how easy his task and mine might be in these meetings that we held if suddenly there was a threat to this world from another planet. [We'd] find out once and for all that we really are all human beings here on this earth together." ~Ronald Reagan, 1985

God bless America and God bless those who do not faint to be called patriot.