 "Photo: Photo by Christina Downs, Managing Editor")
Many of us have heard about the previous controversy surrounding the exclusion of the phrase "under God" from the pledge of allegiance, but members of one Massachusetts group want to ban the pledge entirely. Brookline Political Action for Peace, in Brookline, Massachusetts, which argues that the pledge serves no educational purpose and has dictatorial implications, will bring the proposal to town residents for a vote in November. Needless to say, the idea is especially unpopular among several people, including veterans, the families of Sept. 11 victims, as well as the families of troops currently fighting in Iraq and Afghanistan. However, even more than shaking up a small town political scene, this provocative suggestion creates a space for debate about the true nature and function of patriotism.
In 2008, First Lady Michelle Obama's remarks about being proud of her country for the first time in her adult life sparked a great deal of controversy. Conservative pundits and the mainstream media alike seemed to be truly shocked at Mrs. Obama newfound or lack of "patriotism." Yet, not only was much of black America not surprised by her comments, we could relate. In the midst of debates about immigration reform, does anyone ever think about how having to formally declare their loyalty to a new country every day affects young children who have just left their home countries for the first time? Does patriotism just mean American patriotism?
Regardless of how many of us dutifully recited the pledge of allegiance in school or stood for the national anthem at sporting events, there was always a part of us that wondered what we really had to be proud of. For many of us, "patriotism" is not just about chanting "USA" or waving a flag, it's about liberty and justice for all," which is still largely lacking.
Even Americans who have feelings of patriotism have different ideas about how to express them. The "patriots" at Fox News don't agree with the "patriots" at MSNBC who don't agree with the "patriots" at CNN. With this in mind, reciting the pledge is also already optional in Brookline schools, as well as in the schools in many other cities across America. The political group pushing the ban also claims that the proposal is intended to prevent children who decline to recite the pledge from being teased or criticized.
No one can diminish the sacrifice of our veterans and soldiers. Respect, gratitude and appreciation for their willingness to risk their lives is a given, whether or not we always support the orders behind those risks, but that respect is not necessarily directly tied to the words of the pledge of allegiance.
Flags and words are symbols. They are nothing without the meaning that we give to them through our actions as a country. Almost everyone has a different idea about what those actions would need to be in order to induce a real sense of patriotism, from the Obama Family to the family of Troy Davis. Not everyone is living the "American Dream," and even those who are, are not living the same one.
Our View: Patriotism is just a word, if it does not promote and serve the greater good of the people.
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