Measuring A Candidate's Patriotism
From Military Service to Flag Pins, What Makes a Patriot?
Sep 16, 2008
The subject of a given presidential candidate's patriotism is one that arises each presidential election, but patriotism is far from a new issue. For some, having a combat record may make one candidate more patriotic than one who lacks military service, while for another, the willingness to fly Old Glory from the front porch is indicator enough of an enduring love of country.
Still, when the microphones and cameras stop recording, and when all the political stumping comes to a close, how is patriotism truly measured? Well, per Dr. Larry Burriss, a First Amendment scholar and journalism professor at Middle Tennessee State University, election-time questions about patriotism, in many respects, may be traced back to July 14, 1798, the date when Congress passed the Sedition Act.
The Sedition Act: Roots in Civil War-Era Journalism
"The Sedition Act made it a crime to publish false, malicious and scandalous news stories about the government," Burriss said in a telephone interview. "Under the act, more than a dozen people were arrested, and most of them spent time in jail."
Moreover, Burriss added, "During the Civil War, Gen. (William Tecumseh) Sherman arrested a number of reporters and threatened to hang a couple, because he didn't like the news stories they were writing. ... (And) in World War I, a number of states had laws outlining what was, and was not, patriotic speech ... and a couple of people were lynched, because they were not showing enough support for the war."
And the Oscar for Anti-War Sentiment Goes to ...
Fast forward a few decades-specifically, to July 14, 1972, some 174 years to the day that the Sedition Act was passed-and history shows that actress Jane Fonda was criticized by the U.S. State Department for making anti-war statements, Burriss noted.
Today, meanwhile, "Those who are not sufficiently supportive of the war in Iraq and Afghanistan are often criticized as not being patriotic," observed Burriss, who holds both Ph.D. and J.D. degrees. "But just like those who are vocal in their opposition to the war, those who are in favor have the right to speak out and criticize those with whom they disagree."
Proof of Patriotism: Always a Presidential Issue
With the right to freedom of speech duly noted, in Burriss's view, those who choose to speak out-no matter the topic-easily take "most patriotic" honors over those who have "knee-jerk reactions"' for or against something-or worse yet, those who opt to sit idly by and say nothing.
"People who criticize have at least given some thought to what they are criticizing," he reasoned. "It really doesn't take much dedication, thought or fervor to do nothing. It's easy to sit on the sidelines and simply criticize those who are in favor or opposed to current policies, whether we're talking about the war, the economy, health care or environmental issues."
Conclusion
In short, patriotism is best measured by how involved one is in the public process of the public's business, not whether one wears a flag pin, Burriss concluded.
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