Is Patriotism Dead?
On July 4, in a thousand hamlets, loyal Americans
will march in parades as millions of their fellow citizens watch with
pride. The passing of the Stars and Stripes will cause many backbones
to stiffen and bring smart salutes from the military as well as the
placing of hand over heart by those who pledge again their allegiance
to "one nation under God."
But many of our
people will offer no salutes, feel no sense of pride, and pledge no
allegiance to the flag. Some will not respond because of indifference
or calloused hearts. Others will be working to tear the fabric of our
national life to shreds; to worsen, not heal, our sickness; to destroy,
not to build; to bring disunity, not unity, to the nation. For them,
patriotism is dead; love of country is archaic. Far from echoing the
words of Stephen Decatur, "Our country, right or wrong," they will even
refuse to say, "My country when it is right."