Politics and Patriotism

It’s been a long week for me…at least that’s how it feels. I was able to go home and visit dear friends and family this past weekend in Oregon. It was a wonderful trip and part of me really wishes I could have stayed there. With work and the political conventions going on, sometimes I wish I had a cabin in the mountains I could run and hide in for an extended period of time.

Don’t get me wrong, I love my job and I am excited at all the possibilities that lie before us as the election draws near. But sometimes I feel as though I am slipping into overload on certain topics. This week it has been politics for me. My job tends to lend itself to discussions of politics…more specifically 18th Century politics. A system that was developed as a foundation for our current government, but as I am finding out for myself, it is a system vastly removed from our current one.

I have been slowly trying to learn all I can about the political climate of those early years of America. What has surprised me most is how much my own political viewpoints of today have begun to evolve as I research the foundations of our government. My father astutely pointed out I currently am a member of a political party, however, I am finding while on many issues I do fall in-line with that party there are a lot more issues where I am finding differences with them and all the other parties at present for that matter.

To be honest with you the one document that has affected the most change on my viewpoints is President George Washington’s Farewell Address to The People of The United States. I would highly suggest that all Americans should read this document from start to finish. Considering the current political climate we are in I feel there are many warnings and lessons that can be learned from the wisdom of our country’s first president…lessons not just for politicians, but for all of us.

We have lost our way as a country…

Think you have heard that before? Perhaps. But I am not talking about religion here…no, we have lost what it means to truly be a country…to be unified across our own borders…to be One Nation, of the people, by the people, and FOR the people.

You know we had this problem before some 230 years ago…fortunately there were enough people who saw the value in joining together for the united interests of the nation. While Bostonians and Virginians may have been worlds apart in their ways of life, religion, and politics they were able to set that all aside for the good of their country…they found purpose in defending the common good of their nation and all its citizens.

This banding together across individual borders is what enabled the fledgling colonies of America to ultimately succeed in defeating what was the greatest military force in all the world at that time. Washington knew the importance of this achievement:

"For this you have every inducement of sympathy and interest. Citizens, by birth or choice, of a common country, that country has a right to concentrate your affections. The name of American, which belongs to you, in your national capacity, must always exalt the just pride of Patriotism, more than any appellation derived from local discriminations. With slight shades of difference, you have the same religion, manners, habits, and political principles. You have in a common cause fought and triumphed together; the Independence and Liberty you possess are the work of joint counsels, and joint efforts, of common dangers, sufferings, and successes."

More often than not, especially in election season, it feels to me like we have lost the meaning behind the name American and we have lost the true sense and pride of Patriotism. Instead of applying them to all persons within our vast country we use these terms to push our own agendas and viewpoints to show how one party is more American or more Patriotic than the other.

Freedom and Liberty come at great cost…no one knows this more than the American soldier. Across the generations American soldiers have given up their personal freedoms and liberties so that ALL Americans may enjoy freedom, independence, and liberty. For it was once said, “For those who fought for it, freedom has a flavor the protected will never know.” And if any one group can say they are more American than the rest it would be the American Veteran…but keep in mind, the Veteran is not a political party…the Veteran is an American citizen…and it is the citizens who make up the parties.

Citizens from every walk of life compose our current political parties. There are doctors, lawyers, teachers, students, rich and poor, upper, middle, and lower class…and yes, even soldiers and veterans on all sides. So why do we claim that one party is so much superior to the other…that they are more American or more Patriotic?

Washington, like many early Americans feared that there was an inherent danger in having political parties in America:

"I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the state, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally.

This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty.

Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

It serves always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

There is an opinion, that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And, there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it.

A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume."

I cannot read these words from 1796 and not give some pause and heed to them even now in 2008. These words from over 200 years ago resound today…just look to the current election process and the media commentary surrounding both candidates and their campaigns…look to the bloggers, the strategists, and the super fans of each party and witness the passion of party…party over country. Party over American…

I encourage you all this season to reflect for yourself what it means to you to be an American. Consider all your liberties and freedoms afforded you as a citizen of the United States of America. Even take the time to read all of Washington’s Farewell Address for yourself.

Will you exercise your ability to freely participate in our government? A freedom afforded to you as a citizen of America, and not because you are from the right state or because you belong to a specific political party, for no other reason than the joint effort some 230 years ago that afforded you the liberty to have your voice in how this country…our country operates.

As James Madison said, “An elective despotism is not the government we fought for…”

No, Americans fought for a different kind of government, a government that put the power into the hands of the very people it governed, “Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, that whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the people to alter or abolish it, and to institute new Government laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and Happiness.”

It is our right, our duty, to think for ourselves, to vote of our own accord, and ultimately to participate in every way we possibly can in our government…for if we do not participate in our own government, then we shall be rewarded with the government which we deserve…with no one to blame but ourselves.