What is patriotism? Should it mandate devotion to all things American, or heed acceptance of every governmental pronouncement? President Bush told us that the perpetrators of the horrors of Sept. 11 were motivated by a hatred of our freedoms. Maybe they were, but let’s be honest. The circle of people who hate America extends far beyond deranged extremists, encompassing whole populations with deep intellectual traditions and rich cultures. To pretend otherwise is not only
irrational but also dangerous to our long-term security.
I was born at West Point and raised in a military family. We didn’t talk a lot about patriotism. We just lived it. My dad and my mom survived Pearl Harbor. We teach our children about people like them — not just military people but Americans from across the spectrum who in countless ways have rallied to noble causes and endured unspeakable suffering all so others could remain free. This is what we teach in our history books, and indeed we should.
But how clear-eyed is our patriotism? Does it embrace the courage to also acknowledge America’s involvement in the overthrow of democratically elected governments, our support of oppressive dictators (so long as they professed to be anti-Communist), or our propping up of commercial interests to the detriment of indigenous peoples? Are we sufficiently resolute in our commitment to democracy to demand of our leaders that they support it not only in word but in deed?
I love this country and condemn any America-bashers who justify the atrocities of Sept. 11 as payback for past misdeeds or moral failure, whether their voices come from the right or the left. But if our goal is to preserve peace and security for our children, then I hope our hearts are big enough to look beyond the motivations of murderers, to attempt at long last to come to grips with the deep-seated anti-American sentiments of so many people worldwide. Such an effort could be a crucial step toward promoting an understanding among peoples of the world that among other benefits, might help diminish environments in which terrorism thrives.
We can take the easy path and pretend that anyone who hates us must be an evil extremist. Or, we can make the courageous commitment to at least try to see ourselves as much of the rest of the world sees us. Such an effort would take nothing away from our grief, would in no way diminish our profound gratitude for our heroes, and need not weaken our resolve to bring to justice the murderers of September. Patriotism should not require the wearing of blinders. If anything, it is a deeper and more meaningful kind of patriotism that does not mandate a head-in-the-sand view of our own history.
Let us never forget the heroes and victims of Sept. 11. As we wave our flags with justifiable pride, let us also avoid confusing honest and sometimes painful self-reflection with unpatriotic behavior. Our long-term peace depends on adjustments to international policy grounded in more informed assessments of our own past, as much as it depends on our military might.