Johnny Cash, he of the homey gravelly voice, is perfect for patriotic recitation. Very moving. Others of the same vein come to mind, the sincere, avuncular actor/politician Ronal Reagan, the equally-sincere movie hero of “Saving Private Ryan,” Tom Hanks. Lee Greenwood might also fit the description, although he never served in the military, having received a draft deferment about 1960 because he became a father at age 17. I think also of proven heroes, like John McCain whose patriotism never waned through 6 years of torture and deprivation in the Hanoi Hilton. Let us never loose sight of the real meaning of America, its founders’ vision embodied in the Declaration and Constitution.
I don’t remember a time when there were so many false patriots in power. George Orwell famously said, “Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are used in so many different ways that they are no longer able to be controlled… Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism is inseparable from the desire for power.” Notable exemplars of this include our current president and his Secretary of War.
Johnny Cash, he of the homey gravelly voice, is perfect for patriotic recitation. Very moving. Others of the same vein come to mind, the sincere, avuncular actor/politician Ronal Reagan, the equally-sincere movie hero of “Saving Private Ryan,” Tom Hanks. Lee Greenwood might also fit the description, although he never served in the military, having received a draft deferment about 1960 because he became a father at age 17. I think also of proven heroes, like John McCain whose patriotism never waned through 6 years of torture and deprivation in the Hanoi Hilton. Let us never loose sight of the real meaning of America, its founders’ vision embodied in the Declaration and Constitution.
I don’t remember a time when there were so many false patriots in power. George Orwell famously said, “Nationalism is not to be confused with patriotism. Both words are used in so many different ways that they are no longer able to be controlled… Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally. Nationalism is inseparable from the desire for power.” Notable exemplars of this include our current president and his Secretary of War.