Opinion: The Next Wave - Making Patriotism Political

Self Described 'Progressives' are trying to make it a partisan issue

This is a hard enough time for those of us who affirm life from conception to natural death, marriage only between a man and a woman and true human freedom, to muster up a spirit of pride in our country. Now, it seems, groups are intent on politicizing our patriotism.

WASHINGTON, DC (Catholic Online) - Here's a wake up call from a freelance writer, Dr.  Ileana Johnson Paugh. On Friday she posted a story on Canada Free Press about an article by Paul Bedard that ran in U.S. News and World Report politicizing the 4th of July.

Bedard talks about a study by two assistant professors, one from Harvard, another from Bocconi University, that links the 4th of July with spreading the influence of the Republican party.

He writes, "Democratic political candidates can skip this weekend's July 4th parades. A new Harvard University study finds that July 4th parades energize only Republicans, turn kids into Republicans, and help to boost the GOP turnout of adults on Election Day.

"'Fourth of July celebrations in the United States shape the nation's political landscape by forming beliefs and increasing participation, primarily in favor of the Republican Party," said the report from Harvard.

"'The political right has been more successful in appropriating American patriotism and its symbols during the 20th century. Survey evidence also confirms that Republicans consider themselves more patriotic than Democrats. According to this interpretation, there is a political congruence between the patriotism promoted on Fourth of July and the values associated with the Republican party. Fourth of July celebrations in Republican dominated counties may thus be more politically biased events that socialize children into Republicans,' write Harvard Kennedy School Assistant Professor David Yanagizawa-Drott and Bocconi University Assistant Professor Andreas Madestam.

"Their findings also suggest that Democrats gain nothing from July 4th parades, likely a shocking result for all the Democratic politicians who march in them."

In response, Paugh stated, "I am absolutely incensed that political and class warfare are spreading more malignancy to every aspect of American life. Can we not celebrate the birth of our wonderful Republic, of our Independence Day, without judgmental calls from the left?

"July 4th should be an opportunity to revel in being American, in being free from oppression, free to speak, free to worship the church of your choice, free to congregate, free to be yourself, free to move to the town and state of your choice.

"It is about coming together as a nation, willingly, not because a centralized government forces you to come out and march in odious communistic parades with the dear leader watching from a platform, surrounded by ruling oligarchs, while the forced- to-be adoring crowds cheer on cue or else."

This is a hard enough time for those of us who affirm life from conception to natural death, marriage only between a man and a woman and the dignity of true human freedom, to muster up a spirit of pride in our country. Now, it seems, groups are intent on politicizing our patriotism.

Are we looking at a future where we are not to fly our flag for fear we are making a partisan statement? Are we looking at a time when standing up for America's greatness will be considered alignment with the Republicans?

In this current climate, then, we must ask ourselves if there is really a future for patriotism.

During his presidential campaign in the summer of 1952, Adlai Stevenson II addressed the American Legion Convention in Madison Square Garden. His opponent in the election was General Dwight D. Eisenhower, so the speech was critical for hi campaign.

What captured my attention was his description of patriotism:

"We talk a great deal about patriotism. What do we mean by patriotism in the context of our times? I venture to suggest that what we mean is a sense of national responsibility which will enable America to remain master of her power-to walk with it in serenity and wisdom, with self-respect and the respect to all mankind; a patriotism that puts country ahead of self; a patriotism which is not short, frenzied outbursts of emotion, but the tranquil and steady dedication of a lifetime.

"The dedication of a lifetime-these are words that are easy to utter, but this is a mighty assignment. For it is often easier to fight for principles than to live up to them."

When we view patriotism as a dedication for a lifetime, we are no longer constrained by the ups and downs of politics and parties, but rather free to affirm our country and to preserve it, even from the forces within that tend to divert us from the course set for us in our foundation.

Patriotism describes one who affirms the convictions expressed by our founding fathers in the Declaration of Independence, Constitution and Bill of Rights.

As Catholics, our patriotism must be expressed in much broader and proactive terms. In my opinion, our particular expression for "love of country" is even more critical to the future health of our nation.

The Catechism of the Catholic Church states, Those subject to authority should regard those in authority as representatives of God, who has made them stewards of his gifts: "Be subject for the Lord's sake to every human institution.... Live as free men, yet without using your freedom as a pretext for evil; but live as servants of God." Their loyal collaboration includes the right, and at times the duty, to voice their just criticisms of that which seems harmful to the dignity of persons and to the good of the community. (2238)

It is the duty of citizens to contribute along with the civil authorities to the good of society in a spirit of truth, justice, solidarity, and freedom. the love and service of one's country follow from the duty of gratitude and belong to the order of charity. Submission to legitimate authorities and service of the common good require citizens to fulfill their roles in the life of the political community. (2239)

In May of 2009, Archbishop Raymond Burke addressed the National Catholic Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC. His remarks kindled in me a fresh understanding of how we, as Catholics, do exercise our patriotism.

Archbishop Burke said, "The most treasured gift which we as citizens of the United States of America can offer to our country is a faithful Catholic life... From my earliest formation in the life of the faith, received at home from my parents and in the Catholic schools, it was clear to me that duty to one's nation, to one's fellow citizens, is integral to our life in Christ in the Church."

I'm a Catholic patriot when I pray for our nation and its leaders. As Archbishop Burke stated, "Surely, the most fundamental expression of patriotism is daily prayer for our homeland, the United States of America, her citizens and her leaders."

However, I'm also a Catholic patriot when I march for Life with thousands of others through the streets of Washington in January and when I write my senator or congressman, reflecting the social teachings of the Church in my message.

Catholic Patriotism, then, is fueled by the church's social teachings. Msgr. Stuart Swetland, Director of  Homiletics and Pre-Theology at Mount St. Mary's in Emmitsburg, MD and a Naval Academy Graduate states, "there are those who are appropriately given the responsibility for the common good of those societies that we belong to and we should honor them in their roles.

"We should honor our bishop for his role in the Church. We should honor our mother and father because of their parental role in the family. And we should honor those who have been entrusted with authority from God and Romans 13 makes that clear."

From his article, "The Catholic Virtue of Patriotism," Msgr. Swetland goes on to remind us that as a virtue, patriotism can have two extremes. First, you have the unpatriotic; those who are not willing to love his country or fulfill the duties and responsibilities of citizenship.

There are also those who go beyond patriotism to a nationalist bigotry, who defends the bad as well as the good of the land.

"Between those is the virtue, somewhere in the middle, where we have an appropriate love of our nation. And an appropriate love of our nation is this: that we want to see it flourish. We want to see our nation flourish.

"We want to see the common good pursued and obtained and the common good is the sum total of all the conditions necessary for each and every member of the society to flourish as a human persons. And we should be pursuing the common good as a community."

Our country needs Catholic patriots today more than ever, men and women of faith who are committed to bringing forth the common good in society. Murderous assaults against unborn and infirmed are continuing unchecked, marriage and the family are regularly targeted for destructive redefinition, and our freedoms are being whittled away.

The words of St. John Chrysostom are just as pertinent today as they were when he wrote them, "all humanity has lost its savor and had been corrupted by sin. Therefore, he requires of these people those virtues which are especially useful and even necessary if they are to bear the burdens of the human race.

Again, those who are clean of heart, peacemakers, and ardent for the truth, will order their lives so as to contribute to the common good."

Along with Archbishop Burke, may we declare, "Invoking the intercession of Mary Immaculate, Our Lady of Guadalupe, Mother of America, let us pray today and everyday that we as Catholics, true to our faith and, therefore, patriotically devoted to our nation, may promote respect for all human life, safeguard the sanctity of marriage and the family, and, thereby, foster the good of all in the nation and in the world."

Forget politics, patriotism for Catholics is an issue of faith.

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Randy Sly is the Associate Editor of Catholic Online and the CEO/Associate Publisher for the Northern Virginia Local Edition of Catholic Online (http://virginia.catholic.org). He is a former Archbishop of the Charismatic Episcopal Church who laid aside that ministry to enter into the full communion of the Catholic Church.

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