Patriotism Defined

What is patriotism?  

During the past few days there have been no end to the discussions of patriotism and what it means to be a patriotic American. 

I am not going to offer my own definition, but rather I have been looking to others to define what patriotism is and what it means.

“Patriotism means to stand by the country. It does not mean to stand by the president or any other public official, save exactly to the degree in which he himself stands by the country. It is patriotic to support him insofar as he efficiently serves the country. It is unpatriotic not to oppose him to the exact extent that by inefficiency or otherwise he fails in his duty to stand by the country. In either event, it is unpatriotic not to tell the truth, whether about the president or anyone else.” 
― Theodore Roosevelt

“The people cannot be all, and always, well informed. The part which is wrong will be discontented, in proportion to the importance of the facts they misconceive. If they remain quiet under such misconceptions, it is lethargy, the forerunner of death to the public liberty. ... What country before ever existed a century and half without a rebellion? And what country can preserve its liberties if their rulers are not warned from time to time that their people preserve the spirit of resistance? Let them take arms. The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon and pacify them. What signify a few lives lost in a century or two? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” 
― Thomas Jefferson, Letters of Thomas Jefferson

“A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government.” 
― Edward Abbey

“There are two kinds of patriotism -- monarchical patriotism and republican patriotism. In the one case the government and the king may rightfully furnish you their notions of patriotism; in the other, neither the government nor the entire nation is privileged to dictate to any individual what the form of his patriotism shall be. The gospel of the monarchical patriotism is: "The King can do no wrong." We have adopted it with all its servility, with an unimportant change in the wording: "Our country, right or wrong!" We have thrown away the most valuable asset we had:-- the individual's right to oppose both flag and country when he (just he, by himself) believed them to be in the wrong. We have thrown it away; and with it all that was really respectable about that grotesque and laughable word, Patriotism.” 
― Mark Twain

“In every age it has been the tyrant, the oppressor and the exploiter who has wrapped himself in the cloak of patriotism, or religion, or both to deceive and overawe the People."

(Canton, OH, Anti-War Speech, June 16, 1918)” 
― Eugene V. Debs, Voices of a People's History of the United States

• Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinction. We didn't pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected, and handed on for them to do the same, or one day we will spend our sunset years telling our children and our children's children what it was once like in the United States where men were free.
  -- Ronald Reagan

• And so, my fellow Americans... ask not what your country can do for you - ask what you can do for your country. My fellow citizens of the world: ask not what America will do for you, but what together we can do for the freedom of man.
  -- John F. Kennedy

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

My Take: What Does it Mean?

We are a distracted nation. Our passions are consuming us regarding disrespecting the national anthem and our flag, yet the world is scarcely taking notice. The enemies of peace loving peoples are continuing their assault upon the very fabric of our society.

Added to this, there have been devastating hurricanes and earthquakes across the face of the world. Our news media has lost focus on the relief efforts and have stopped encouraging us, as a nation, to step forward and support the rebuilding efforts for millions of Americans and all nationalities across the Caribbean.

The Presidential Oath of Office, as prescribed by the Constitution, reads as follows: "I do solemnly swear (or affirm) that I will faithfully execute the Office of President of the United States, and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States."

Note: There is no evidence to confirm that Thomas Jefferson
actually penned this statement

The key part, in my mind, is the very end: ". . . and will to the best of my Ability, preserve, protect, and defend the Constitution of the United States."

This statement, by itself, defines the ultimate job of the President.

This, then, becomes the point where it is important to separate the person from the position. It is OK for the person that occupies the office of President to have an opinion and to feel strongly about issues, but  as the President and the defender of the Constitution, protecting the right to disagree and dissent means supporting those who take a contrary position in a professional and understanding manner. 

My Take: We live in a country where the right to disagree is protected by the Constitution. This is materially different from a monarchy or a despot-controlled country where personal rights are not protected.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 25, 2017

1. Autumn has arrived although it has felt like summer's last gasp with temperatures over 90 degrees for the past few days. 

Chris and Ethan at Jax's Game

2. Who says that a Cowboys fan and a Redskins fan cannot share the same space?

3. A new Star Trek series, Star Trek Discovery,  debuted last evening. The original series made its appearance 51 years ago during September 1966.

4. Monday Morning Family Sports Report. Winners: Orioles, Redskins. Losers: Steelers, Ravens, Penguins. Remaining to play: Cowboys.

5. Jax hit a grand slam during his baseball game yesterday. It was exciting and was a true homer unaided by opposing team errors. 


6. Supporting and defending the Constitution, the following quote is from the Washington Post opinion piece cited below: As Justice Jackson wrote three-quarters of a century ago, “If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein.”

7. Isn't great that we can disagree with each other and still be friends?

Headlines

This is what the flag stands for, Mr. President - The Washington Post

Hot, isolated, and running out of supplies, parts of Puerto Rico near desperation - The Washington Post

Pentagon Tests Lasers and Nets to Combat a Vexing Foe: ISIS Drones - The New York Times

Trump's culture wars take over American sports - CNN

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"Two centuries ago, in a hall much smaller than this one, in Philadelphia, Americans met to draft a Constitution. In the course of their debates, one of them said that the new government, if it was to rise high, must be built on the broadest base: the will and consent of the people. And so it was, and so it has been. My message today is that the dreams of ordinary people reach to astonishing heights. If we diplomatic pilgrims are to achieve equal altitudes, we must build all we do on the full breadth of humanity's will and consent and the full expanse of the human heart."

Address to the 42nd Session of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, New York, September 21, 1987

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

End of Day Celebration

Fire pit in the Evening

Celebrations come in many forms. They can range from exuberant and loud to quiet and pensive.

Last evening, Chris and I celebrated the end of a busy and productive day around the fire pit in the yard. 

One of the tasks during the day was to saw some of the larger limbs which had fallen from the trees into usable size firewood. We were able to enjoy the fruits of that labor as a hot fire coming from the fire pit. 

Chris and Finn

Finn, our new Yorkie puppy, was there with us for part of the evening. We enjoyed the fire so much that instead of cooking dinner, we ordered pizza to eat by the fire. 

After Darkness has Fallen

At one point during the evening, a fox ran by us. I think he was confused to see people in the yard after dark. Chris had heard the screams while I was away retrieving the pizza and the fox appeared from the brush just as I was returning. It was a interesting sight to see the fox run from me, but within about 15 feet of Chris as she was sitting in her chair by the fire.

It was a perfect ending to a day which has seen me make two trips to the landfill and perform an assorted number of tasks around the house.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Top Golf Night

Nicole with a Club

Mike Showing His Form

Golf at night! What a great idea.

Last evening we headed off to Top Golf in Alexandria, Virginia, for a birthday celebration.

What a great idea--dinner, golf, and celebration.

The drive was a bit long as we navigated Friday night rush hour traffic. But it was worth the drive. 

We experienced an enjoyable evening full of golf and food and fun even if the computer scoring system was not functioning for much of the time. What could be better than hitting golf balls into targets buoyed by unlimited food and drink?

Thanks to Nicole and Mike for the unique celebration. It was a blast!

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Arriving, Autumn

Summer exits officially this afternoon at 4:02 PM EDT. 

Summer has been checking out for quite while now given the cool temperatures and rainy skies. The trees are even beginning show some color here. 

I believe that I am as ready as I can be--the pool is closed and I have made preparations for cutting the grasses around the pool on Columbus Day. All of the Autumn related activities are gearing up. There is even a big pile of leaves in my yard that need to be removed today. 


CNN published some 5 facts about autumn. Autumn facts. I found Fact 4 to be especially interesting as I had never read about how the season that we are entering came to be called autumn, or harvest, or fall.

Whatever  the season is called, the real situation is that now the Sun, my favorite bright orb in the sky, will be focusing its light on the Southern Hemisphere and leaving those of us north of the equator in more darkness than light. 

The year 2017 is rocketing by. There are just over three months remaining in the year. The final full season of the year is beginning and the trees will soon be bare once again. 

The slide into winter has begun, but at least summer's last gasp will be keeping our temperatures in the 80's.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Out the Hotel Window - Huntsville, part 2

Out my Hotel Window
Huntsville, AL
September 21, 2017

Yes, I am still in Huntsville, Alabama. 

I decided that sine the nighttime shot out my hotel window was so interesting that I would provide the daytime compliment.

It is boring!

Buildings, convention center, not much to look at.

The area is rather pretty, except for out my hotel window it is fairly bland and urban.

That is funny, calling Huntsville urban.

The nighttime image seemed so much more interesting.

At least he sky is blue this morning and that is a plus.

Well, it takes all views to make a world.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Huntsville, AL

Out the Hotel Window - Huntsville

Out my Hotel Window
Evening Shot
Huntsville, AL

Traveling again, for the second week in a row! I am in Huntsville, Alabama. It has been a while since I have been here. I love the NASA rockets and museum. 

Looking at the Saturn V, I remember the exciting space flight days of the 60's and 70's when despite all odds, the United States send men to the moon and safely returned them. I have only recently begun to understand the complexity of the task and they accomplished it without the sophisticated computers we have today. 

I decided for a nighttime shot out my hotel window at all of the lights of the region. 

It is a beautiful sight--the stars and the lights of the night sky. I do wish that it were dawn, however. Daylight is so far elusive.

-- Bob Doan, writing from Huntsville, AL

Darkness Falls Early on the Land

Stars of the Night

I noticed the early passing of the day on Sunday. 

The darkness arrived early during the evening. Because of the clouds, the sunset was not visible and it was dark by about 7:30 PM. 

Summer has truly departed.

The long evenings enjoying the additional light has given way to the autumn and shorter days. The end of DST, or Daylight Saving Time, is still over a month away, November 5, but the daylight is becoming shorter and shorter. 

I need to pack more activity into the short daylight which remains between when I arrive home and darkness falls.

I guess that is why we have two fire tables and one fire pit--so we can enjoy the evenings longer as the night falls.

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD

Monday Musings - September 18, 2017

Louis Protesting the Closing of the Pool

1. September is singing the praises of autumn. The leaves are falling everywhere. 

2. I closed the pool yesterday, with some help. I was happy to get it closed because the leaves are already falling from the trees, they look like big snowflakes falling to the ground. 

Leaves Falling on the Closed and Covered Pool

3. Closing the pool makes the ending of summer a reality.

4. Sports from Sunday: Winners: Orioles (not that it matters much), Ravens, Steelers, Redskins. Losers: Cowboys.

5. New puppies are a lot of work. They are cute and playful which almost makes up for the added work.

Our Dogs
Makayla and Finnegan

6. The weekend's 80 degree days were an enjoyable respire from the colder 60s and 70s we have been experiencing.

Headlines

U.S. warns that time is running out for a peaceful solution with North Korea - The Washington Post

Amid Opioid Crisis, Insurers Restrict Pricey, Less Addictive Painkillers - The New York Times

A Potent Fuel Flows to North Korea. It May Be Too Late to Halt It. - The New York Times

Ronald Reagan Quote for the Week

"So, remember, in this vast and wonderful world that God has given us, it's not what's inside the Earth that counts, but what's inside your minds and hearts, because that's the stuff that dreams are made of, and America's future is in your dreams. Make them come true." Remarks at Convocation Ceremonies at the University of South Carolina in Columbia, September 20, 1983

-- Bob Doan, Elkridge, MD