CAREFUL CONSIDERATION of PATRIOTISM
by Daniel Bruggemeyer

Patriotism is a multi-faceted oddity. It has no comprehensive definition, yet people never cease to pigeonhole it - to label it as one unique ideology or another. For reasons both political and social, love for one's country has become a top priority in the United States in the past few years. While there are many benefits to a citizenry united behind one flag, one government, and one driving cause, there are associated grievances as well. One of the most negative outcomes of the recent patriotism boom has been the ethical polarization that patriotism itself has undergone. It is viewed as either a miraculous panacea to the nation's yet incurable ills, or the contaminant that spreads the epidemic of hatred within our borders. In reality, neither argument provides a realistic portrayal of patriotism.

The most basic definition of patriotism is a devoted love, support, and defense of one's country. This, the purest form of patriotism, is strong due to its flexibility and openness to opinions and political stances. Patriots can be Democrats, Republicans, Green Party members, Socialists, or Moderates. They can fight for change or tradition. There are no limitations to being a patriot. Patriotism sets up no hierarchy of international power. It does not welcome hegemony. It does not entice its followers to disregard international concerns and global threats. It attempts to fulfill the needs and rectify the problems of a nation - something that all citizens should be concerned with. Invariably, however, there are those who take patriotism to its next, more extreme level - nationalism.

Nationalism is a stratum of loving one's country that commonly leads to hatred, violence, and serious social disturbances. It is defined as the doctrine of asserting the interests of a particular nation over the interests of other nations. Nationalism leads to a feeling of moral superiority - which eventually leads to anger, conflict, and ultimately violence. This invariably causes damage to the international realm because nations are incapable of working together due to their constituency.

Patriotism does not have these characteristics. It instead tries to unify conflicting nations by accepting and absorbing the unique positive attributes of each nation. Patriots attempt to find peace through understanding. The real problem is that patriotism has been directly associated with nationalism among many of this nation's ranks. This incorrect comparison has prompted anti-patriotism on a massive scale. Those who would hang American flags on their homes and put patriotic stickers on their cars are ridiculed and criticized by those who believe that the patriots are doing more harm than good. Nothing could be further from the truth.

In reality, this united patriotic ideal brings Americans together under a banner that for decades has gone ignored. It brings to the limelight a realization of the importance of a collective goal achieved through loyalty and strength. Patriotism must be recognized for what it is - a force for good brought about by the universal declaration of the message that the United States is free, pure, and powerful. By separating this idea from the negative ideas associated with nationalism, the citizens of the United States can once again unite for the greater good of all.

PeprallyUSA.com 2003 Essay Contest Semi-Finalist Daniel Bruggemeyer, a senior at Green Valley High School, Henderson, NV.

Dan writes his autobiography as follows:

"I was born at George AFB in California to Mark and Marilyn Bruggemeyer. My dad is a retired Lt. Col. of the Air Force and my mother is an RN and substitute teacher in the Clark County School District. I have a twelve-year-old sister named Diane. I am seventeen. I was involved in Green Valley High School's Forensics program and the theatre department for four years each. I debated competitvely and was in eight theatrical productions. I currently live in Henderson, NV, but will be attending Boston University in the fall as a student in The University Professors program."

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