On Patriotism

By Bob Schaffer, Headmaster

Subjects of landed political jurisdictions are prone to attach loyalty to the defensible boundaries of their existence. This can quickly lead one away from authentic citizenship and toward servitude.

Patriotism, on the other hand, rests upon a personal identification and agreement with a set of commonly held values that define a nation and its relationship to its citizens. For example, patriotism associated with a monarchy is loyalty to a king or queen, perhaps an oligarchy. This is the devotion of a subject to his master.

Patriotism justified by nothing firmer than the location of one’s birth is blind patriotism – the cause of wars, the taciturnity that feeds national corruption and accepts misery.

True patriotism is a loyal devotion to a set of high moral ideals. For Americans, these values are well defined in patriotic documents such as the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution.

Patriotism expressed by Americans is associated with the philosophy expressed in these and other philosophical statements that are representations of freedom and virtue. True patriots are prepared to sacrifice it all for the preservation of honorable traditions that their children may continue to enjoy the fruits of authentic liberty.

America’s Founding Fathers summed up their patriotic commitment in the last line of the Declaration, “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.”

The true patriot understands America is not an expanse on a map. It is instead a set of ideals, rather simple ones, at that. They include concepts such as self-evident truths, “unalienable” rights given by no man or political jurisdiction, belonging to each individual as a function of natural law.

Good patriotism is demonstrated by those who fully understand these concepts, whose depth of knowledge allows them to appreciate the historical context and lesson of how philosophy supports and honors the dignity and human essence of mankind.

Good patriotism entails knowing the underlying principles worth defending and the costs associated with losing them. Completely apprised, great leaders become more than the “summer soldier and the sunshine patriot” described by Thomas Paine in the winter of 1776.

Wholesome patriotism is absolutely necessary in the maintenance of our Republic – the one to which American students pledge allegiance each day. Actively promoting truly informed patriotism is a cause to which we must remain fully dedicated.

Indeed, America is in desperate need of patriotic leaders who will not shrink from the service of their country. For, “he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman.” (T. Paine).