Monday, May 10, 2010

Q is for Quaere Into Patriotism

First, I want to apologize to our teacher, Jenny, for 'cheating', by using a "Q" word to segue to a "P" post that I posted following last Alphabe-Thursday. I would like to also apologize to our "Empty Nester" Kathy and Julie who have visited this post...thank you for your thoughtful comments. I promise to have something new for next week's post. This post today may be the most important one I have proffered to date. It is not specifically done to educate or provide pretty photographs. It is designed to introduce a question or issue, to Quaere you about Patriotism.

Patriotism is "love and devotion to one's country" as defined by the 3rd Edition of the American Heritage Dictionary. As we have unfortunately learned over time, politicians and pundits alike choose to use this term to draw distinction between their brand of Patriotism and the juxtaposed traitorousness. One person's Patriot is another's traitor, and vice versa. This rhetorical convenience belies the Greek origins of patrios and pater, meaning 'of one's father' and 'father', respectively, and is a grave departure from 'love and devotion of one's country'.

So, we are left with our perception of some interpretation by the particular speaker, often not coming to our own particular, thoughtful interpretation. This is not unusual in the mix of politics, media and language. Nonetheless it is nothing short of dangerous given the volatile world in which we live...that certain individuals would misuse a word, particularly vague by definition. This word Patriotism becomes a stick of dynamic, supercharged, rhetorical dynamite. Wars and conflicts have been started and fought, and many millions of lives lost over this and less.

Patriotism is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.
Adlai Stevenson

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.
George William Curtis

Patriotism is an ephemeral motive that scarcely ever outlasts the particular threat to society that aroused it.
Denis Diderot

The included photograph was taken on Memorial Day from the summit of the Chattanooga National Cemetery during my annual pilgrimage with my friend Kevin. This historic cemetery, Tennessee's largest, was established following the Civil War Battle of Missionary Ridge by Union General George Thomas. It is home to over 37,000 soldiers whose wars span the history of this country, from the American Revolution to the current Iraqi and Afghani conflicts. There are a substantial number of unmarked gravestones of unknown Civil War soldiers, both Union and Confederate. It is home even to a number of German POWs. As a HS teenager we would routinely escape the rigors of growing up and drive the meandering roads that lead to this flag-poled summit, smoking our cigarettes and cannabis, contemplating the universe and other philosophical pursuits. It was this particular location where my friend, Jack, and I decided to join the military...he the Army and I the Coast Guard. Needless to say this cemetery, at least on the surface, is a quiet place. Nonetheless, the numerous, perfect rows of markers, occasionally broken by monuments, speak so loudly about the horrors of war.
I will most likely be standing atop this flagged summit once again this upcoming Memorial Day. I am drawn to this place on Memorial day for the conversations with veterans and the contemplation of life's complexities. As usual I expect to be filled with a deep sadness over the enormous loss of precious life...lives of women, men and children, military and civilian...folks just like you and me with families and dreams who, more often than not, find themselves caught up in whirlwinds of violence perpetrated by the powerful and wealthy elite. This next visit I will think about a "new patriotism". It is a patriotism ripe with the deep courage of conviction to create peace, and the ever present need to speak to truth, to not take any life lightly, to create social and political structures that first and foremost acknowledge our inherent need for each other....to love immensely as if it matters, and as if there is no tomorrow. War is hell...Love can and is the only thing that will conquer war.

Peace and blessings
Namaste


31 comments:

  1. Such a thoughtful and thought provoking post. Love the Stevenson quote, I just wish that the pundits and politicians of today would take it to heart. I'm so tired of the hatefulness and name calling that passes for "news" these days. And I'm really sick of people using the flag to further their own polarizing agenda. If this country loses our capacity for tolerance, it really does seem like a slap in the face to all those who have sacrificed to make America a great country. Kathy

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  2. I am always distraught over people who claim that they are always proud of America. I love America, but America has been wrong. It seems like if you love America, you wouldn't want it to fall into error again. I think of the latest persecution of immigrants and can compare it to my great great grandfathers who were treated poorly and paid less working in the coal mines because they were Poles. I don't know how, over a hundred years later, we are going down this same road again!

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  3. I am so glad I read this post. Nice job.

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  4. Jeff, I love your Patriotism...no matter..
    Great QUOTES!

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  5. Hey Jeff,

    I am trying to catch up on my reading. I can identify with your "P" phobias, I too have a few! But, I am working on them, with diligence.

    I kinda burned out on my blogging too and am glad that I found Alphabe-Thurs, which urges me to at least sit down and write one time a week, and occasionally, I do get another one written. I have always had too many irons in the fire--don't know why I expect that to change just because I am not "gainfully" employed...LOL

    I enjoy reading your posts and looking at your pictures. You do a really great job! I hope you continue to share those with us.

    Thanks for stopping by the farmhouse for a visit. We love having company!! I might go all "60's" on you, but what they hey???

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  6. Jeff, thanks for sharing the Quotes and your thoughts. Very thoughtful post! I'm very much like Stevenson's quote. ~ Sarah

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  7. This is a very thoughtful and heartfelt post. While my hope is in a kingdom of peace and love, I believe that there are things worth fighting for. I also, with you, grieve over and deeply honor each life that is lost.

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  8. Jeff, thank you so much for your service to our country! As a military wife, I mourned with my friends over the loss of their husbands and lovers in 1991. I never dreamed that almost two decades later, I would sit next to another friend, holding her while she wept for her son. It is the sacrifice of brave men like yourself that built this country, and I am eternally grateful. As Steph pointed out, there are things worth fighting for, and this country and it's foundational ideals are a few of those things. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you!

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  9. I am really not up to date on the political comings and goings in the US but it seems that all around the world politicians are becoming a little too self-centred. Perhaps they should all subscribe to your ideas about love a bit more!

    Best wishes,
    Natasha.

    PS the post about your mother was beautiful.

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  10. thought provoking for sure ... You always provide me with a good read and food for thought ... I adore the Stevenson quote. I read the last line and immediately thought of the John Lennon's "Love is the answer and you know that for sure" which just seem to answer so many issues ... that's where my mind is today ... thanks again!

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  11. Jeff, I have been thinking a lot about patriotism of late. It always segues into "If not now, when?" for me. And I feel so strongly that now is the time to find our voices...and fight for the country we hold dear.

    Thank for your amazing insight and post.

    You are such an integral part of this meme.

    I thank you for sharing with us each week!

    A+

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  12. No apology needed, I really love this post. I think it's important that we examine just what patriotism truly means to each and every one of us. And clever way to tie this into Q! Kathy

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  13. I read once about two remote villages that were always at war with one another. No matter how much they talked or negotiated they could not find a way to live peacefully. One day a wise elder told them they had to gather up all their children and exchange them with the children from the other village. The switch was made. They never fought each other again.

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  14. Q is for Patriotism? Well, now that I am getting to know you a little better, I will accept almost ANYTHING.
    You write well, so you can get away with it!
    Best wishes,
    Anna
    http://annasadornments.blogspot.com/2010/05/q-as-in-quilts-quartz-abc-wednesday.html

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  15. Wonderful Quotes! Adlai Stevenson's really resonates with me! Thank Q!

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  16. Jeff you are obviously proud to be an American, I am with you. This was a very powerful post indeed. Jeff I also want to thank you for commenting on my Q post, yes it was a heady topic, but a necessary one....I am tired of hearing all these unnecessary tragedies, and only hope and pray my husband and I teach our boys all the necessary tools and skills they can later on utilize in their life. It was chilling what you wrote, it seriously made me tear up!

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  17. I agree that patriotism is thrown out a lot these days especially to show one person is or is not patriotic. Your "new patriotism" is what I think patriotism is. I loved this post. There are many people that have served this country, including my husband even when it wasn't popular. We can only hope that one day we will not have as a great a need for them. Peace is the answer !!

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  18. Thank you so much for sharing, Quirky use of a Q post or not, it was worthwhile to read! Really made me think.

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  19. As always hubby, your post is thought provoking and reaches into our souls to help find out how we truly feel. Thanks for "stirring the pot" with these questions and ideas.

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  20. I love the quote by Adlai Stevenson. I'm a very patriotic person. But in the same way I love my child deeply but am still sometimes disappointed by his actions and decisions, so too am I with our Grand country and its people. The leaders for fighting so often their own agendas and the citizens for expecting everyone else to do something about it.

    Thank you for your post and for your service. You are a hero to me.

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  21. Thank you Tennessee Mudbug. This was a very thought provoking blog.

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  22. As always you give us all something to think about.

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  23. Thank you for your Q post. Coming from growing up in a military family, marrying a military man, and with so many other family members that have served in the military...I really appreciate what our country was founded on...

    I agree with Steph that there are things worth fighting for... We are a blessed nation and will continue to be so, when we continue to be "...one nation under God..."

    Blessings & Aloha!
    (Thank you so much for stopping by. I appreciate your comments :o)

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  24. thanks for visiting me again. What a nice blog you have! Very thoughtful entry...as is the one on your mother! I look forward to reading more of you!! :)

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  25. Very thought-provoking post - thanks for that. There's a difference between patriotism and nationalism and sometimes that difference is lost.

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  26. A cemetary dedicated to those fallen in war makes peace seem even more important....thanks for the great message....

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  27. Thanks for your comment on my blog. I'm impressed by the cabbage!
    We actually had a thought-provoking discussion about this last night. And, as strongly as I feel about it, I can't see any solution.
    I feel a post coming on . . . kinda like a migraine.

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  28. Wonderful post and thought on patriotism! Each person interpret love for his/her country, but the best part is when we come together for the better, if we all agree..

    Thanks for visiting!

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  29. This is a magnificent post. As an Army brat ( I
    am from Ft. Benning, GA and my father retired as a full colonel, with three tours of duty in Viet Nam ), I watched thousands of troops go to war. My own son, an AF reservist for nearly fifteen years, has been deployed several times - he just went to Germany about two weeks ago, missing his brother's wedding but, thankfully, he's missed Iraq and Afghanistan. In my soon-to-be released book of poems, I have one entitled, "Blood" that relates to a young soldier killed in Iraq.

    There is also a poem about "Hate" - it saddens me that children, who are born without predjudice, learn it from their elders. No one, in my opinion, really benefits from war. Mothers, on both sides, weep at the loss of their children, families are left without their breadwinners, maimed soldiers return home shattered with insurmountable obstacles to overcome.

    As an American, I, of course, do, and always will, support our troops but I believe we must seek to find peace! That is the ultimate answer.

    Thank you so much for a truly wonderful post that touched my heart deeply, Jeff.

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  30. beautiful , amazing post...
    thank you so much for sharing with us...
    I truly love the quotations..
    I also think you should not worry about posting..I hope this post helped you..
    it is ok to run out of things to post..
    ever think of recycling your posts?

    mine is here
    wanna try my meme, Weekend Funnies ?
    Happy Thursday!
    hugs
    shakira

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  31. What shallow and superficial comments I leave on your thoroughly eloquent and touching posts!
    Hello again!
    Anna

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