Re: explaining...

Posted by Rich on October 08, 1999 at 12:06:16:

In Reply to: Re: explaining... posted by Victoria on October 08, 1999 at 10:53:50:

: Hey Y'all,

: I too feel some cognitive dissonance when I see patriotic ceremonies that seem to miss the point and pretend that there might not be some group of people that have been either left out of the picture or who might have suffered at the hands of those who chose not to examine the effects of their patriotism. Don't forget Europeans have had recent experience with patriotism that had been taken too far, as have America's First Nations and other people of color.
__________

Yep! I don't know if I made my point of view clear on that issue ... "My country, right or wrong" has never sat well with me. My feeling of patriotism is that it's caring enough about your country, and loving the people inhabiting it enough, to attempt to support it when you can, question it when you have to. To blindly accept is to ignore all that has gone before & invite disaster.

Now, that said, I am also totally fascinated by our history and the accomplishments we have achieved as a Nation. Always, though, I try to keep aware of those who came before & of the people we displaced ... It's a hard thing to balance, the love with the knowledge of the wrongs that have been done ... Much like a person, with all his strengths & weaknesses; his cumulative experience ... you just need to accept what has come before & try to influence, positively, what is yet to be ...

The key, always, for me, is to make that bridge ...

Follow Ups:

• Well said, Rich! Petra 12:36:32 10/08/99 (1)
  • Re: Well said, Rich! Ilse 14:54:34 10/09/99 (0)
• Re: explaining... Bill R 12:33:57 10/08/99 (1)
  • Re: explaining... Dana S. 13:26:46 10/08/99 (0)

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Comments:
: : Hey Y'all,

: : I too feel some cognitive dissonance when I see patriotic ceremonies that seem to miss the point and pretend that there might not be some group of people that have been either left out of the picture or who might have suffered at the hands of those who chose not to examine the effects of their patriotism.  Don't forget Europeans have had recent experience with patriotism that had been taken too far, as have America's First Nations and other people of color.
: __________  

: Yep! I don't know if I made my point of view clear on that issue ... "My country, right or wrong" has never sat well with me. My feeling of patriotism is that it's caring enough about your country, and loving the people inhabiting it enough, to attempt to support it when you can, question it when you have to. To blindly accept is to ignore all that has gone before & invite disaster.

: Now, that said, I am also totally fascinated by our history and the accomplishments we have achieved as a Nation. Always, though, I try to keep aware of those who came before & of the people we displaced ... It's a hard thing to balance, the love with the knowledge of the wrongs that have been done ... Much like a person, with all his strengths & weaknesses; his cumulative experience ... you just need to accept what has come before & try to influence, positively, what is yet to be ...

: The key, always, for me, is to make that bridge ... 



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