Patriotism today

Patriot: “A person who loves, supports and defends his country.” American Heritage Dictionary

Patriots disagree with one another about what their country should do. There was a time when, if you wore a gray uniform, it was patriotic to kill other Americans who wore the blue uniform. The definition of patriotism changes over time and I wonder what the definition is now.

Let’s assume that in 1942 there were American citizens who completely identified with the goals of Germany, Italy and Japan. They wanted to see the Axis powers win the war and have those three "superior" ethnic groups rule the world using the political style of National Socialism rather than liberal democracy.

Let’s further assume that there were American citizens in 1946 who completely identified with the goals of the Soviet Union. They wanted to see Communism dominate the world, replacing the American Constitution with the Constitution of the Soviet Union, replacing our liberal democracy with a dictatorship of the proletariat.

Can those citizens of 1942 and 1946 be described as American patriots?

Let’s further assume that there are American citizens today who completely identify with the goals of traditional Islam. They want to see Islamic law become the law of the land, replacing the Constitution, and Islam the dominant religion in America.

Can those citizens be considered American patriots?

Finally, let’s assume there are citizens who completely identify with the social values and rules in the Bible. They want the Bible (as explained by their particular sect) to replace the Constitution as the source of our laws, replacing our liberal democracy with a Christian theocracy.

Can these citizens be considered patriots?

To the extent that Fascism, Communism, Islamic law or Christianism become politically dominant in America, our heritage of liberal democracy dies. An American patriot will resist them all.

We need to draw a line, and it is not easy to do. We should continue to guarantee free speech, but only to those who do not advocate forcible overthrow or incite to violence. I have serious doubts that advocates for Islamic law qualify for that guarantee because Islamic law does not prohibit the use of violence to overthrow infidel governments .

All the above ideologies fail to qualify as replacements for liberal democracy for the same reason. Not one of them is capable of producing the equality of opportunity we get from liberal democracy. Each of the above ideologies creates a favored class of citizen and less favored classes—us and them.

An American patriot will resist them all.