The American Spectator

tj| 10.19.09 @ 1:25PM

This administration is detrimental to this country and "We the People". It is time to take a stand! You either fight for it or get out of the way...

S.L. Toddard| 10.19.09 @ 1:46PM

This is a season of patriotism, but also of something that is easily mistaken for patriotism; namely, nationalism. The difference is vital.

G.K. Chesterton once observed that Rudyard Kipling, the great poet of British imperialism, suffered from a "lack of patriotism." He explained: "He admires England, but he does not love her; for we admire things with reasons, but love them without reasons. He admires England because she is strong, not because she is English."

In the same way, many Americans admire America for being strong, not for being American. For them America has to be "the greatest country on earth" in order to be worthy of their devotion. If it were only the 2nd-greatest, or the 19th-greatest, or, heaven forbid, "a 3rd-rate power," it would be virtually worthless.

This is nationalism, not patriotism. Patriotism is like family love. You love your family just for being your family, not for being "the greatest family on earth" (whatever that might mean) or for being "better" than other families. You don't feel threatened when other people love their families the same way. On the contrary, you respect their love, and you take comfort in knowing they respect yours. You don't feel your family is enhanced by feuding with other families.

While patriotism is a form of affection, nationalism, it has often been said, is grounded in resentment and rivalry; it's often defined by its enemies and traitors, real or supposed. It is militant by nature, and its typical style is belligerent. Patriotism, by contrast, is peaceful until forced to fight.

The patriot differs from the nationalist in this respect too: he can laugh at his country, the way members of a family can laugh at each other's foibles. Affection takes for granted the imperfection of those it loves; the patriotic Irishman thinks Ireland is hilarious, whereas the Irish nationalist sees nothing to laugh about.

The nationalist has to prove his country is always right. He reduces his country to an idea, a perfect abstraction, rather than a mere home. He may even find the patriot's irreverent humor annoying.

Patriotism is relaxed. Nationalism is rigid. The patriot may loyally defend his country even when he knows it's wrong; the nationalist has to insist that he defends his country not because it's his, but because it's right. As if he would have defended it even if he hadn't been born to it! The nationalist talks as if he just "happens," by sheer accident, to have been a native of the greatest country on earth — in contrast to, say, the pitiful Belgian or Brazilian.

Because the patriot and the nationalist often use the same words, they may not realize that they use those words in very different senses. The American patriot assumes that the nationalist loves this country with an affection like his own, failing to perceive that what the nationalist really loves is an abstraction — "national greatness," or something like that. The American nationalist, on the other hand, is apt to be suspicious of the patriot, accusing him of insufficient zeal, or even "anti-Americanism."

When it comes to war, the patriot realizes that the rest of the world can't be turned into America, because his America is something specific and particular — the memories and traditions that can no more be transplanted than the mountains and the prairies. He seeks only contentment at home, and he is quick to compromise with an enemy. He wants his country to be just strong enough to defend itself.

But the nationalist, who identifies America with abstractions like freedom and democracy, may think it's precisely America's mission to spread those abstractions around the world — to impose them by force, if necessary. In his mind, those abstractions are universal ideals, and they can never be truly "safe" until they exist, unchallenged, everywhere; the world must be made "safe for democracy" by "a war to end all wars." We still hear versions of these Wilsonian themes. Any country that refuses to Americanize is "anti-American" — or a "rogue nation." For the nationalist, war is a welcome opportunity to change the world. This is a recipe for endless war.

In a time of war hysteria, the outraged patriot, feeling his country under attack, may succumb to the seductions of nationalism. This is the danger we face now.

- Joe Sobran

Jim E| 10.19.09 @ 6:39PM

More cut and paste jibberish from the libtard moron boy.

S.L. Toddard| 10.20.09 @ 8:03AM

If you've discovered a flaw in Mr. Sobran's reasoning then please, by all means tell us what it is.

Ken (Old Texican)| 10.19.09 @ 3:02PM

No, Toddard

We face the danger only of persons like you.

Why can't you shut up until we get the country back from the communists. Once that is accomplished, then raise hell.
Thank you

Dennis| 10.19.09 @ 8:23PM

This is just further proof that the liberal Democrats have never met a war they didn't want to run from...Obama who said just a few short months ago that this was a "war of necessity" now is clearly looking for an exit stategy. Of course there was some fraud in the recent elections. My God, it's a third-world country that is just now trying free elections after decades of strife and one-man rule. Give them a decent shot at this thing we call freedom. If we pull out now, or fail to stand with them adequately no country will ever again trust us when their backs are aginst the wall.

Yosemeti Sam| 10.20.09 @ 12:03AM

40ish years ago this purple ketchup stained male slimed soldiers of the United States of America serving in Vietnam. Is it perhaps forgotten his
gratuitous sliming of US soldiers serving in Iraq
awhile back - clearly also on record.

Now, again, notwithstanding having served in
Vietnam for reportedly 4 months, with a keen eye
for combative detail and strategy, he waxs
concern for a 'viable' government extant in
Afghanistan as a prelude to continuing to fight
the 'right war' as per Commander in Grief BHO.

Upshot: this purple ketchup male would abide the
limbo state of non-surge-supported American soldiers serving as cannon fodder- until the political niceties are played out.

What heroically twisted thinking - as has
demonstrably been evinced by this purple
ketchup stained sunshine warrior - at American
soldiers expense.

BTW: are any 3AM phone calls being made/
contemplated to Jane Fonda for guidance?