On Patriotism

Okay. So, I've been doing a little reading lately. If you haven't picked it up yet, 1776 by David McCoullough is definitely worth a read, and should hopefully give you a new idea of what, exactly, a patriot truly is.

Many invoke our founding fathers, the framers of the constitution, signers of the Declaration -- iconic imagery of George and the cherry tree, later crossing the Delaware, of the early congress deliberating in their elegant 18th century finery, powdered wigs and floral handwriting, all of it synonymous with the spirit of our nation -- with the very word "Freedom." Their actions, their beliefs, and the passion with which they held them are the benchmarks of American patriotism. And, reading McCoullough's descriptions of the battles and events of that year, it really sinks in how radical those early thinkers were. The ideas being debated by great men like Thomas Paine and Adam Smith -- radical ideas like market-driven economies, balances of power in government, independence -- were so controversial, so anti-government, I shudder to think how some modern critics would paint them.

But it makes you think. Our founding fathers were rebelling against what they saw as a corrupt, oblivious government. It wasn't just "taxation without representation" they were opposing. It was an antiquated, ineffective system. These were men who read philosophy and history, sociology and economic theory. These were riotous times.

But, in the end, all it took to shake off the reigns of the most powerful nation in the world -- outside of the years of bitter war and massive international debt -- was the conviction to hold radical beliefs against nationalist propaganda, and the passion to share the message of a just cause.

Really, all I'm saying is, in times where governments are being overthrown and reformed, where our nation is controlled by special interests, run by corrupt and depraved men with no interests but their own, perhaps we should take up our duty as Americans, as true patriots, and try to shake the system from the ground up.

And what would that take? Secession? Armed insurrection? No, nothing of the sort. The system crafted by those brave, great men was created for nonviolent upheaval. Renovating the system bloodlessly whenever deemed necessary. And, damn is it necessary. In a Democracy, the loudest, most organized side wins. The only thing that could be done, the best thing to do, would be to just talk. Spread these beliefs, spread the Gospel of Truth, share facts. Passion is infectious and the truth cannot be changed.

Right?

Right.