On the Fourth

            Today, the Fourth of July, we celebrate the founding of our nation. As Christy and I walked this morning we noted all the flags and bunting; which sprouted like wildflowers across our neighborhood. In fact, I replaced a worn and bent flagstaff with a new, sharper one in order to fly my flag in an appropriate fashion. Now, it is up and proudly waving in the West-Texas breeze, and I feel appropriately patriotic. But, what does it mean to be patriotic?

            Does flying a flag and barbecuing beef, which I will do later this afternoon, make me patriotic? How about setting off fireworks in the evening? Does that make me properly patriotic? Do I need to attend a parade, armed with a small flag to wave at the floats and marching bands as they pass? I could drag out an old uniform, attempting to stretch it across my waist, and wear to a parade. Would that make me patriotic? What are intrinsically patriotic acts? Is it particularly patriotic to honor and revere our military machine? In some places, we will engage in a corporate flexing of military muscle with fly-bys, rumbling tanks, and other displays of our military prowess. Does patriotism require fawning at the feet of the military? Does our military might equate national power and greatness?

            Do not get me wrong. I served in the Army of the early eighties; a time in which many did not respect those in uniform. The national wounds of Vietnam still smarted. I remember walking off post in the evening, wearing the uniform, and having people in cars throw trash at us. So, as a soldier, albeit retired, I appreciate the periodic expression of thanks I receive from grateful fellow citizens. But is military service the way we truly express patriotism? Where can I go to gain clarity about patriotism?

            In its final words the Declaration of Independence offers a good, succinct definition of patriotism. “And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor.” Patriotism involves sacrifice. These men, not only wrote eloquently, they walked out their patriotism. They sacrificed for the betterment of others. True patriotism leads us to consider how we might better the world, not how we might better profit from the world. Our national might lies not in our military strength. In the final analysis, military strength does not equate to patriotic greatness. All too often, military strength is more an exercise in bullying. We fail to exert the influence we want so we resort to force. In our own revolution, we never fielded an army or navy capable of taking on the British military machine, yet we prevailed in the end. True patriotism involves listening to our better selves. And listening, cultivating, our better selves leads us not only to true patriotism but also, to true greatness.

            Our military might does not make us great. Our compassion and willingness to sacrifice for the good of others makes us great. When we bind up the wounds of others, we are great. When we take up the basin and towel to ease the hurts of the world, we find greatness. When we open our hands to the destitute, comfort the frightened, and welcome the homeless, we show true patriotism and our nation will be truly great. True patriots shift their focus, their gaze off themselves and onto the needs of others, seeking ways to make our country a better, more wholesome place. So this Fourth of July, I purpose that we spend some time thinking of ways to show our patriotism by taking actions that provide succor to the downtrodden, truly expanding the frontiers of freedom.