Patriotism: The word makes any well-educated student of American history mentally stand at attention. It stirs the hearts of many who zealously believe that it means willing to live and die for ones own country. Websters 1995 New World Dictionary defines patriotism as "one who zealously loves and supports ones own country." But how is that love depicted? And must one support his or her country at all times to be considered a patriot, lest he or she be depicted as disloyal or a traitor? Through my own feelings and analogies, the following gives my own interpretation of the word and how it can be both beneficial and dangerous to humanity as a whole.

First of all, I will come right out and say that I dont view myself as a conventional patriot. My spiritual views encompass for a love of humanity as a whole, not just humanity in the United States. In elementary school, I was taught that Colombus was essentially a hero, discovering America and laying the foundation for the christening of Jamestown at Plymouth Rock. I was taught that whites like myself that existed during that time were correct in forcing the American Indians from their lands and establishing their own settlements for want of territory. I was taught that the civil rights movement seemingly changed societys views on racism very quickly, with little conflict.

In my early years of schooling, they didnt teach us that entire tribes were abased and wiped out within the first hundred years of the English settling Plymouth Rock. They didnt teach us about the abominations that were performedboth physically and mentallyon the American Indians: how they were massacred at Sand Creek, deceived and removed from their lands by "government contracts," and denied to hold onto their cultural heritage. I didnt learn these facts until late in my junior year in high school and my freshman year in college.

They didnt teach us to the fullest extent of how racist white people were for four hundred and fifty-eight yearseven todaysince the countrys settlement. Not until college did I learn about the evils of slavery and of Plessy v. Fergusonhow innocent people were denied the basics of living because of the pigmentation of their skin. I didnt learn until fairly recently how cruel many people in this country were and still are to an extent to those of other races: how the Chinese were used like indentured servants to build the railroads, how the United States "welcomed" Mexicans during times of war and conflict to use them for labor, but removed and unjustly ostracized them, and very recently, the disturbing and sadistic attitudes of some Americans toward people of Arabic descent after September 11, 2001. In 1993, Proposition 183which I consider the proposition from hell (and I mean that with every fiber of my beingthere are few issues I am as strongly against as this), was proposed denying illegal immigrants the very basics of healthcare and ability to live life in society. While I dont support illegal immigration, I believe it is cruel and sadistic to deny anyone the basics of living. And the main idea used to justify these crimes against other human beings in one way or another went back to patriotism.

In the late 1800s, the famous German Chancellor and powerful orator Von Bismarck delivered his "blood and iron" speech, speaking for nationalism and a more powerful Germany. His speech was one of the main influences that united Germany under Kaiser Wilhelm II and influenced its actions in the beginning of World War I, which caused the first noticeable plunge in world population in any way ever fought. During World War I, the names of German foods were changed: Saurkraut became "liberty cabbage" and hamburger became "liberty sausage." Germanys myth of imperialistic pride and superiority to other cultures would revive itself in World War II, leading to the mass murder (personally, I think there is simply no word to describe the atrocity committed) of six million innocent people because of their religion, sexual orientation, or political views that didnt agree with Hitlers deluded philosophy of the Germans being products of the Aryans. Again, this was done for the same exclusive love and zeal for ones country, of which patriotism is defined as stated in the first paragraph.

Also during the 1890s, the United States went to war with Spain. Tensions had built up with the Spanish, and when the U.S. warship Maine exploded, killing hundreds of American sailors, the U.S. immediately without question labeled Spain as the responsible party and wiped out their fleet, killing thousands of innocent people. And this was once again done in the same patriotic unity espoused in other countries promoting nationalism during this time.

Now I am by no means against the celebration of a countrys founding or a countrys unity. However, when it goes to the point of self-superiority, arrogance, or saying that if a person does not believe one way he or she isnt a "patriot," it becomes dangerous. The first amendment of the Constitution of the United States reads: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or of the right peaceably to assemble, or the right of the people to assemble and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances." Clearly, under the first amendment, everyone has a right to believe what he or she wishes. However, it seems that people forget this essential freedom.

As of now, the U.S. government is contemplating war with Iraq. According to statistics, most people favor war with Iraq with U.N. support. However, there are those that are against war with Iraq. I read in the "Press Telegram" that the California Green Party was protesting against the war. People drove by and called them names and said they werent being patriotic. They werent being patriotic because they were exercising their right to freedom of speech. They werent being patriotic because they werent walking with the majority in supporting war with Iraq.

I own a movie called The American President starring Michael Douglas as the President of the United States. At the end of the film when he is rebutting Republican attacker Bob Rumson of Kansas, he said something that I will never forget as long as I live. He said, "America isnt easy. America is advanced citizenship. Youve got to want it bad, because it is going to put up a fight. Its going to say, You want free speech? Lets see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil who is standing center-stage advocating at the top of his voice that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours. You want to claim this land as the land of the free? Then the symbol of your country cant just be a flag. It has to be one of its citizens exercising his or her right to burn that flag in protest."

While I certainly do not advocate flag-burning, this quote brings the point home that the true symbol of ones country is a person exercising his or her rights. In the United States, it would be a person exercising his or her constitutional right to free speech through the media, a magazine, a newspaper, or an essay such as the one I have written here. Moreover, it is the individual exercising his or her right to "life, freedom, and the pursuit of happiness."

When any organization or individual says the phrase, "You cant say that", or says that a person is not being patriotic by exercising their constitutional right to free speech, that organization or individual clearly has forgotten the principle behind the First Amendment. The French philosopher Voltaire is renowned for his statement: "I may not agree with what you say, but I will fight for the right for you to say it." Those who try to instill guilt trips in those who do not agree with their opinion forget this saying. They forget one of the primary principles that the Bill of Rights was founded on. An old saying that I have heard throughout my life is that "those who point a finger at someone else say more about themselves then those whom they try to characterize."

Therefore, patriotism is good to unify people behind a good and just cause, such as the events after September 11^th, 2001. However, when it is used to coerce someone to do something against his or her will, or to ostracize and discriminate against people of other cultures and races, it becomes dangerous and wicked. It poisons, withers, and abominates the principle of liberty with the hideousness and contradiction of hypocrisy. The consequences have been seen throughout history, with Germanys nationalistic oppression of peoples of other races and creeds and the United States imperialistic ventures in other parts of the world during the 1890s and its hypocritical oppression against people of other races and creeds.

This is why I portray a universal love of humanity regardless of what country one is from or what race he or she is, etc. My love of people extends beyond country and nationalistic ideal. While I support the ideals of the United States Constitution as protecting my individual beliefs such as the ones portrayed herewhich I hold no matter what other people saymy love of people goes beyond any patriotic ideal. People constantly say to me that I am difficult to forget because of my kind, accepting, loving, and caring personality. This is because I accept people and treat people like human beings no matter what their beliefs or background. I strongly believe that if more people held this view, there would not be so much persecution, war, hatred, violence, or bigotry in this world today.