Patriots
J. D. Pendry
“These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country, but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of men and women.” – Thomas Paine, December 1776
Over time, Mr. Paine’s historical statement about patriotism has been used to support every conceivable notion about what patriotism is or is not. I have always thought that his meaning was clear. In difficult times, true patriots will proudly support and defend their country and its way of life.
There has been lots of talk about the subject of patriotism recently. Maybe it is because that is the most relevant theme around the birthday of our nation. Maybe it is because it is an election year. I suspect it is more about the latter than the former. Every politician wants to declare the he is endowed with an unquestionable abundance of it. Questioning a politician’s demonstrated judgment, his lifelong associations, his stated political positions or the integrity issues that arise as those political positions flip and flop in the direction of prevailing political polls, is too often countered with a how dare you question my patriotism. It has always been my opinion that when someone is so adamant that his patriotism not be questioned, especially when no one has questioned it, it is he alone who doubts the degree of it that he possesses.
Do you suppose that is why politicians attempt to define patriotism to suit their character? Remember the Swift Boat Veterans of the Vietnam War? Honorable men, decorated combat veterans with unchallenged patriotism who put forth their honest beliefs only to be ridiculed in favor of one who openly lied about them and used stories of proven liars and frauds who dubbed themselves as “winter soldiers” as his basis to perpetuate those still unproven claims. To bolster a political candidate, patriotism was redefined as having the courage to dissent and protest, or, to disparage those who honorably and courageously served their country. They have continued it right on through the war by calling them Nazis, gulag tenders and cold-blooded murderers among other things. I guess that makes them true patriots.
What exactly is a patriot?
There is no better example of patriotism than the oneness demonstrated by 1,215 members of the United States Armed Forces as they reenlisted on July 4, 2008 while serving our nation in a combat zone. What could possibly account for an act such as that other than truly being proud defenders of our country and its way of life?
“Volunteering to continue to serve our nation, while deployed – is both noble and inspiring. It is, as award citations often state, in keeping with the finest traditions of our military services.” - Gen. David Petraeus, Commanding General, Multi-National Force – Iraq. “ Amen to that General.
What about the only people who are in a position to engage in the economic war that is being waged against our country now by oil producing and terrorist subsidizing states and who have refused to take any action to defend the way of life of most Americans? Is that patriotism?
If 535 men and women in Washington, DC could put aside silly politics and act for one week with the single focus, as do our serving men and women, to protect and preserve the greatest country God ever blessed, there would be no more energy crisis. There would be no economic crisis. American Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen could spend their next 4th of July with their families and marching in parades in America’s streets rather than on patrol in Iraqi streets or in Afghanistan.
That, ladies and gentlemen of the United States Congress would be a true act of patriotism – both noble and inspiring and deserve the love and thanks of men and women.
Copyright © 2008 J D Pendry All Rights Reserved