An interesting phenomenon emerged in the aftermath of the tragedy of Sept. 11, a disconcerting backlash to the rediscovered patriotism that for a while washed the nation in red, white, and blue. I witnessed this anti-patriotism in the oddest of places: wild tangents in professors' lectures, editorial sports articles, and even keg parties, when instead of carousing, college kids were illustrating that nobody is ever too young or economically privileged to be cynical to the bone.
September of 2001 was, if nothing else, a slap to this country's punch-drunk collective face. Growing up the youngest of three brothers, I've learned a few valuable life lessons from being on the receiving end of a good smacking. For many, this one was a very rude awakening. For everybody else, allow me to fill you in: the freedom and security that we enjoy everyday are not God-given. They are under attack and need to be protected. Success breeds jealousy and contempt in others, cancerous sentiments that make the envious lash out in frustration at their chosen scapegoat. If you don't follow this cause-effect relationship then odds are you've never been a Yankees fan at Fenway Park.
Please don't misinterpret these words as encouragement for Americans to curb their criticism of the US government's domestic and foreign policies, nor for Oliver Stone, Michael Moore, or Zach de la Rocha's ilk to stop opening our eyes to the blemishes that Washington, like every government in history, has on its rap sheet. I encourage the opposite - it is all warranted. Plus, the French can't get enough of this stuff.
Since the moment the first European, Leif Ericsson, touched Viking oar to North American water (and no doubt long before), this land has played host to horrible bloody power struggles. Along with America's finest hours, we Americans have much to be ashamed of. Instead of allowing this to jade us, let our actions be all the more guided by patriotism. Patriotism is defined as "the passion which inspires one to serve one's country." Allow yourself to be patriotic, not jingoistic, skeptical, but not cynical. Find that balance between Alex P. Keaton and his parents.
Class of 2002, we now disperse into a challenging, uncertain world different from the one in which we matriculated. We are faced with the responsibility of turning our inherited cynicism into a passion for improvement, towards protecting civil liberties at home and ensuring that the US is a benevolent actor on the world stage, fighting atrocity rather than committing it. Do we feel up to the task?
As Beatrice Hall, paraphrasing Voltaire, once wrote, "I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." Expression of anti-patriotic sentiment is a freedom that exists only because American men and women go to work each day and fight for it. And who knows, if we continue to take these blessed privileges for granted, we may wake up one morning and discover they've disappeared in the night.
Until then, kick back, turn up your Linkin Park CD, grab a double cheeseburger and super-sized Coke, and don't groan if the car in front of you sports more Stars 'n Stripes than the Kid Rock entourage tailgating at a Pistons-Raptors playoff game.
If you need me come May 23rd, seventh inning stretch, I'll be the idiot with the New York hat, singing along to "God Bless America" over the roar of "Yankees suck." I will do it because I can, and I know that this makes me fortunate, because I have that damn Yankee pride.
Nathaniel Swinburne is a graduating senior majoring in Computer Science
