Patriotism

OK, I'll admit it. I struggle with patriotism. It's not that I am anti-American or even anti-anything. It's just not my thing to wave flags and shout slogans and put bumper stickers on my car. I tend to believe that it's short sighted thinking to always put the best interests of America first, to the detriment of countries that are struggling just to survive. Borders are necessary, but we're all in this together, and short-sighted selfish thinking will help no one.

Today, I'd like to propose a new definition of patriotism.

To understand this new definition, you first need to understand the idea of 'self-esteem'. No, not the therapy-induced self esteem where you grunt real hard and exclaim that you're not the loser that everyone thinks you are. No, it's a real self-esteem that comes from, well, doing things that are worthwhile, spending time helping others, managing your responsibilities well, finishing and actually excelling at something that needs to be done. Feeling good about yourself because 'you' know you're honest. Doing the right thing even when it's not popular, or when no one can see that you did it. That kind of self esteem.

Now let's extend this to national esteem. A nation consists of the people within it, right? So what happens when the people of a country live in such a way as to project their personal values that build high self-esteem to the way they expect their country to be run. They expect and use respect when dealing with other countries, as well as assertive interactions (my needs are important but I recognise yours are too) in foreign policy and any interaction with foreign countries. What happens when we begin dealing with others with respect, dignity and assertive behavior? As in individual relationships, worldwide relationships improve. Those who do this kind of thing are patriots.Those who spend time building our country and making us strong, and guiding our country to be strong in the world, those are patriots.

Notice I didn't say those who encourage aggression in the world. As we know on an individual level, aggression is never the solution. Oh, aggression is defined as 'I'm important, you're not'. Neither is passive a relationship building role for a patriot. Passive is defined by 'You're important, I'm not.'

So a true patriot is one who manages their own life in a positive and constructive way, looking for ways to make a better life for themselves and also for others. A patriot is one who uses their skills, talents, abilities, as well as self-sacrifice to help build and make our country strong. A patriot expects the best from our leaders and will not settle for those with agendas that are not in the best interest of our country and of those with whom we must interact.

Those in the rest of the world need to know that America will be a strong positive force, and will be an assertive friend to those countries who understand what assertive is all about. There is no way America can be strong without depending on the personal strength and integrity of those who 'are' the country.

Personal self-esteem, which seems to be in short supply, is a prerequisite to national self esteem.

Where are the patriots?