Everett, Wash. Published: Wednesday, July 12, 2006
True patriotism isn't shown when we fail to speak or act
John Burbank / Syndicated Columnist
In his inaugural address of 1961, John F. Kennedy defined patriotism: "My fellow Americans: Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country."
In contrast to Kennedy's call to contribute to the common good, the current president tells us we can go to war and have a tax cut, too. He urges us to help our country by going shopping. And we do.
But patriotism is not about shopping or flag waving. We are patriotic when we volunteer in our kids' PTA, help out at the local food bank, coach our kids' soccer, landscape a neighborhood park, take some time to visit with a grieving friend or neighbor. We fall short as patriots when we choose to not act, not vote, not protest. We commit these failures collectively, as well as individually, when we resign ourselves or actively support political decisions that undermine the greater good and endanger our democracy.
In this anniversary month of our nation's independence, we can learn from three individuals who embody patriotism, sacrifice and conviction, who serve as role models for our children and ourselves.
One is Army Specialist Washington Santos. He is stationed down the road at Fort Lewis. He became a United States citizen, along with nearly 500 other people from 76 countries, at an Independence Day ceremony in Seattle. He is an immigrant from Brazil. Now he is serving his new country as a grunt willing to take on the dangers of combat, to protect our country. That's patriotism where it counts.
Another patriot, a friend named Joe Crump, died last weekend. Joe was the political director of the United Food and Commercial Workers union in Washington. While still in high school, Joe started work at a local grocery store. In his early 20s, he was voted in as president of his union. And from there on, he worked to defend the wages and benefits of his members, the folks who stock the shelves, check out your groceries and can tell you where to find the toothpaste.
As an African-American, Joe grew up in a country in which segregation was legal and racism accepted. He sensed the lingering undercurrents of racism, and he never let it get in the way of his effectiveness and organizing. He came to our state from Michigan a few years ago to help his union members create a political voice for themselves. And he did, in a big way. He got his members to translate their patriotic notion of universal health coverage into a do-able policy advancement. He was a patriot.
The third individual is also at Fort Lewis, only he is now accused of violating the Uniform Code of Military Justice. First Lt. Ehren Watada is a member of the Stryker force just deployed to Iraq. He refused to go. He believes that "the war in Iraq is not only morally wrong, but a horrible breach of American law."
This man is a patriot. He signed up for service after Sept. 11, 2001. He wanted to serve his country. And he is a patriot now as well, by calling attention to what he believes are violations of our Constitution and the Army's own Law of Land Warfare.
Watada offered to be assigned to Afghanistan, but that offer was dismissed. So he sits at Fort Lewis, subject to a possible eight years in prison, for speaking out against a war he believes is in violation of the norms of combat and law, as well as the ideals of justice on which our nation was founded. He is paying the consequences for voicing the beliefs and doubts of the majority of his fellow citizens and many of the men and women who are being sent to fight in Iraq.
An immigrant signing up to defend his country, even before he became a citizen ... an unassuming union leader who advocated for his members and for the entire workforce ... a volunteer for our armed forces who chose to speak out against this folly in Iraq ... As Americans, we need to search ourselves for what we can do for our country. Specialist Santos, Joe Crump and Lt. Watada have done just that.
