How Much Is Too Much Patriotism
Posted: Friday, August 20, 2010
by Grace O'Malley
Last night while sitting in an emergency room waiting area the television was on for those of us relegated to pondering our navel whilst medical professionals treat our beloved. During bouts of rest between musings of why some people have innies and some have outies, I heard an interview with Sylvester Stallone about the movie The Expendables. The movie recently opened in theaters nationwide.
During the interview Mr. Stallone was asked about his reaction to reviewers and bloggers indicating the film is "too patriotic". I never heard the response as my klutzy daughter was released back into my care and we left the building.
On the drive home the question of being "too patriotic" niggled in the back of my mind. It never occurred to me that someone could be that way.
Patriotism comes in all forms and fashions. There are those who rally behind a movement to improve a situation and do not mind telling all and sundry about it. There are others who quietly go about their daily business while flying a flag outside their home. Still more never think about their loyalty to their nation until or unless it is called into question. But what is "too much"?
Is it the family who decorates their yard in flags and banners of red, white and blue during times other than the 4th of July? Is it the gung-ho military member who proudly proclaims his or her membership in those august groups by having decals displayed on vehicle windows? Or is it the vocal group that bands together to protest a country's involvement in overseas disputes or a country's politicians.
Who is it that qualifies themselves to be experts on what is "too much" patriotism? Is there a university that teaches such things? Are there degrees that can be bestowed upon those who complete such classes?
Patriotism is not a political platform, nor is it an oft abused rallying cry. Patriotism is something felt deep inside the heart of every person who resides within a nation. It demonstrates itself by the actions of every citizen who votes in order to protect the masses. Patriotism details itself while standing behind those who serve its populace, even when we as individuals do not agree with another's stance.
I have no idea if Mr. Stallone's movie The Expendables is "too patriotic" or not. I will leave the reviews of the film to those more qualified than I. I will however say that no matter the reaction to the message, theme or quality of the movie in my world there is no such thing as being "too patriotic".
Is there?
On the drive home the question of being "too patriotic" niggled in the back of my mind. It never occurred to me that someone could be that way.
Patriotism comes in all forms and fashions. There are those who rally behind a movement to improve a situation and do not mind telling all and sundry about it. There are others who quietly go about their daily business while flying a flag outside their home. Still more never think about their loyalty to their nation until or unless it is called into question. But what is "too much"?
Is it the family who decorates their yard in flags and banners of red, white and blue during times other than the 4th of July? Is it the gung-ho military member who proudly proclaims his or her membership in those august groups by having decals displayed on vehicle windows? Or is it the vocal group that bands together to protest a country's involvement in overseas disputes or a country's politicians.
Who is it that qualifies themselves to be experts on what is "too much" patriotism? Is there a university that teaches such things? Are there degrees that can be bestowed upon those who complete such classes?
Patriotism is not a political platform, nor is it an oft abused rallying cry. Patriotism is something felt deep inside the heart of every person who resides within a nation. It demonstrates itself by the actions of every citizen who votes in order to protect the masses. Patriotism details itself while standing behind those who serve its populace, even when we as individuals do not agree with another's stance.
I have no idea if Mr. Stallone's movie The Expendables is "too patriotic" or not. I will leave the reviews of the film to those more qualified than I. I will however say that no matter the reaction to the message, theme or quality of the movie in my world there is no such thing as being "too patriotic".
Is there?
This Article has been viewed 942 times. (Not updated in real-time.)
Top-level comments on this article: (4 total)Wow. Very well said. I'm glad I stumbled across this.
Good pondering Grace- In my opinion, patriotism is one of the main ways our country became great. To be patriotic is to be loyal- without the loyality of her citizens, a country can fall apart- just as a family might.......Thank you Ella. Your analogy is spot on.GraceGrace, thank you for the thoughtful discoarse on a subject dear to most American hearts. I guess that the only time you might say that someone is too patriotic is when one American calls another American 'unpatriotic' when the person is doing his patriotic duty. The Viet Nam war might be an example, another might be Kent State, where our patriotic soldiers were called unpatriotic for doing their duty. But all in all your point is very well taken. Thanks again for your thoughts. I hope that everything turned out OK in the emergency room. I've got a few klutsie kids myself. Thank God they grew out of it. ;-)Thank you for your repsonse Robert. Yes everything turned out fine. Kids can do the darndest things.
Thank you for writing such an excellent and to-the-point article. Well said and incredibly to the point. There is no such thing as too much patriotism. Rather, we no longer have enough of it. I am thankful for all of my fellow citizens who rise to say the pledge, under God, and place their hands over their heart. I am thankful for those who rise for our national anthem and stop talking and remove their hats. Those are perhaps some very visible group behaviors that I have seen shunned by far too many - the last being at a graduation in a nice opera-type theater. The flags and all other open demonstrations of patriotism are getting fewer and more far between. Your article puts attention to a subject that needs it.Now I'm blushing. Thanks Heidi. It's something dear to my heart.Grace
I think patriotism can be very dangerous, it can blind people to reality, and they can use it as an excuse to perpetrate human rights violations.
We want your comments! If you can read this, you don't have javascript enabled, so you can't use this comment system. Please enable javascript.