Happy Independence Day

Those of us whose politics tend toward the left on the American political spectrum are often accused of not being sufficiently patriotic. And, truthfully, I can understand this accusation. A not implausible first stab at a definition of patriotism sees it as equivalent to supporting the policies of our country in international relations simply because they are our policies. If that's correct, then us in the middle/left tend to be less patriotic than those on the right. Yet while "My country right or wrong" is often confused with patriotism but a little reflection is enough to see that such a definition is mistaken. What a true patriot wants is a country he or she could die for and be noble in so doing. No one (or at least no decent person) wants to die for Hitler's National Socialism. To die in service to an evil institution is to waste one's life.

Patriotism, then, should be thought of as a well-founded commitment to the institutions of one's native or adopted land.

By these standards, American liberals ought to be exemplars of patriotism. For our country was formed on the principles of freedom and equality. And while we've often done a damned poor job of living up to our own standards (or of even interpreting them aright), ours is still a country founded on a democratic and even egalitarian ideal, rather than ethnic/tribal pride and purity. This is something we ought rightly to celebrate and even take pride in. So tomorrow, on July 4th, I'll be celebrating the principles that our country was founded upon: freedom of the individual to worship as he or she sees fit, the equality of all persons, the belief that the government should generally let people live as they see fit, and the conviction that our God has given us rights and responsibilities of self governance.

Happy Fourth of July, y'all.