(Two disclaimers: One -if you find hyperlinks inserted into the text of this blog, they are not from me. I find them annoying and often contrary to what I would wish. So, please ignore them. Two –the splint on my finger is hurting and typing is uncomfortable, so this may be a little briefer than I would usually wish.)
Last week was on politics. This week is on patriotism. Next week is on perspicacity. (just kidding, simply going for the alliteration!) The posting today is some musings about patriotism.
I believe in being patriotic. I believe in loving my country. I also believe that being a Catholic is not always identical with being an American. Certain things are similar. Some are different. Sometimes, there is indeed a conflict between being a Catholic and being an American.
When I was in college and later in the seminary, issues of war and peace were quite acute, usually about Vietnam. I had some friends killed in the war. I knew others who were called to serve. The very first week that I was in the seminary in Baltimore, all of us were asked to go down to Washington for one of the huge Moratorium demonstrations. We were not there to take a position against or for the war. We were asked to go and volunteer to be part of a human chain between the demonstrators (sometimes violent) and the police.
We arrived in the evening and simply stayed awake through the night into the next day. I remember spending the night in a church where Quakers gave workshops on non-violent behaviors and dealing with tear gas being thrown at you and how to minimize its effects. We also learned how to form a human chain with interlocked arms so that people could not break through and reach people on the other side.
As the night turned into morning, we felt very well prepared – and it was a little scary. We actually got to use the various techniques that the Quakers had taught us. There was tear gas thrown. The Yippies unsuccessfully tried to break through us to shove through and attack the police. We remained a rather good barrier so that neither demonstrators nor police could reach the other. It could have been nonviolent, but the Quaker tactics worked. The idea of having a human chain with about 300 people wearing black suits and Roman collars seemed to be a good deterrent against violence. I recall the police were well-armed, but very friendly to us. We really wanted to help preserve the peace.
Although many decades ago, I know that I had conflicting feelings about the war. In truth, I had never thought about some of the issues until Bishop Fulton Sheen, in no way an unpatriotic person, spoke out against the bombing. I also did not have a strong appreciation of the soldiers who were called up and served in the armed forces in Vietnam. I know that I was more and more against the war, but fortunately cannot never recall a moment when I was against the members of our armed forces. It only became clear to me years later how much their service was unappreciated because it was caught up so much in the political turmoils of that time.
Today, when I see a soldier in uniform or know that they are in or have been in the service, I always go up and thank them for their service. I think it is morally unconscionable when we enter into a conflict without sufficient protection for our troops, both in terms of proper equipment to keep them alive and also in terms of a Veterans Administration system which cannot meet their needs when they return. These are the problems not caused by the soldiers; they are caused by the politicians who were quick to send our fellow citizens into battle without the proper equipment and follow-up care. I have always been skeptical of politicians who applaud our troops and will not take care of them properly. How dare they act like they’re patriots! (ok, end of soapbox)
I do love being patriotic. Of course, we’re an imperfect country – we’re made of human beings. News flash: Heck, even the Church is imperfect for the same reason even though Jesus is our head. For me, it is impossible to be anything but patriotic and thoughtful and vigilant since 9-11.
Evil is real. It has to be fought. I give thanks for the people who have come forward to protect us – both here and throughout the world.
It’s Pentecost. It’s Memorial Day. Holy Spirit, give us courage and peace. America, God shed his grace on thee.
