Patriotism Vs. Nationalism: Drawing the Line

Even a lot of people who have known me for awhile aren't always sure of my politics. A common assumption in this country right now is that to be a Christian is to be politically conservative, and probably a Republican. Acceptance of certain political views, including a respect for diversity, are associated with being a Democrat. Speaking as one who is an Independent, I feel that both parties have lost sight of the values that were behind their founding. One of these is a true love for our country based upon the principles of its founding: life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, as defined in the Declaration of Independence.

Our country has been facing a culture war of sorts due to unchecked illegal immigration. Because many illegal immigrants seem to owe their allegiance to their home country rather than the one they live and work in, ethnic pride is becoming a subject of hostility. In the minds of many, regardless of whether you're an immigrant (legal or not), or a native-born American, having any pride in your ancestors' background is anti-American. Even something as innocent as a St. Patrick's Day parade (which has been a tradition since the 1700's) is slammed as being inappropriate in some circles. This is ironic, as I've found that Americans of Irish descent often tend to be very patriotic.

Patriotism does not demand that one forget about and bury any memory of their ancestors' backgrounds. True patriotism has nothing to do with mere outward displays of patriotism and showing contempt towards other nationalities. Rather, it shows that one's loyalty lies with America rather than another nation and that they truly support what our nation stands for. As the motto goes, "Out of many, one." The American people did not come into existence in a vacuum. Various ethnic groups have contributed to the growth of our country, and most have demonstrated their loyalty to their new country. There is nothing wrong with pride in one's ethnic heritage so long as they identify as an American.

One video I witnessed recently showed someone railing against "hyphenated Americans", attacking St. Patrick's Day parades, and calling for nationalism. The term nationalism needs to be used very carefully. By one definition, it's no different from patriotism. By another, it's reminiscent of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy. While these forms of national socialism and fascism are unlikely to be accepted by most Americans, the mindset behind them lives.

We must find a way to encourage pride as Americans without promoting a supremacist viewpoint or attacking the ethnicities that make us this unique nation. During the early 1800's, sentiment against immigrants, especially Irish Catholics, grew. Nativists and Irish immigrants often ended up engaging in violent clashes. One incident in Philadelphia in 1844 resulted in rioting that destroyed much of a Catholic neighborhood. Nativism persisted well into the 1870's. A good source of information is "Us and Them: A History of Intolerance in America" by Jim Carnes, published by Teaching Tolerance. We must be willing to learn from our mistakes if we are to go forward.

If we fall into a nativist-inspired, false patriotism, we will become the very thing that this nation has been against from its beginning.