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ren hard Se ieee Aine a-ha tac) oe Lerner. oN ed ~ Fifesae We My old Webster's defines patriotism as _ love of country. devotion to the welfare . of one’s country ; the zealous support of a country’s authority and interest. Tolstoy. ] think, came the closest to declining patriotism when he wrote: Patriotism 18 unreascnable, not only because if runs counter to the first principles of Christ's teachings against egoism, but also because Humanity _ gains, by its own methods, everything for which patriotism seeks thus making patriotism superfluous. unnecessary and a hindrance. like a lamp by daylight. a mwa == 1 A government is good because or when itis established to form a more perfect union. te eStablish justice, to insure dymestic tranquility. to provide for the Zommon defense. to promote the general + weifare, and to secure the blessings of “1 diberty for everyone. And it is only good 4s long as it continues to maintain these “2 goals It was the goals that brought about the Constitution of our government. As I look out and see this country, I discover that these governmental goals Seemingly are only for the middie ciass and upper middle class of Americana. The red man, the black man, the yellow man, the brown man. and the poor white man are not given the same benefits But to get back to Webster's definition. It states that Jove of country is the thing: how unfortunate tha! love of the citizens for their fellow citizens is mot the definition. So often in any country, the love of that country is placed far above the love of the countrymen. which seems an inversion of priorities Devotion to the welfare of one's country is equally an unsatisfactory conclusion — even though it is one that ple think right and just Devotton to nd and its protection seems to be only a Page 2 . Jan. 22, 1972 ity ommuon of The Tiger edstonal buerd. » ¢ Open Column ay not forset them. thin disguise for materialism. It is un- fortunate that the dictionary and the people at large would consider patriotism as the devotion to the welfare of citizens But then, of course. the dic- tionary can only give the definitions of ideas asthe people have them And in the case of patriotism. Iam afraid it is all too correct. . Well. just consider the final part of the definition: zealous support of a country’s authority and interest Frightening. but true’ And it seems that this is the very type of patriotism rampant today... the same kind that was true in Hitiev’s Germany a8 the people changed Sarmething like “ATy my SUITCUl g iine, right or aaBes Ga wrong It makes the country god! { would think that one’s first allegiance iS not to a flag. not to a country, nol to a enintee ReMPeeidhl F, ¢) 95 ———e CONFIDENTIAL | would not go so far, since we have scen how slow. how frightened Humans and Humanity can be. I think it needs yet another arm to assist it. ; So we may be patriotic. But we may glory in our country only when there is one brotherhood. One brotherhood in the love of Humanity. A brotherhood that will transcend human, man-made, ar- bitrary boundaries of fag or country. —— Until we accept the colors of the world, the cultures of man and the economics of understanding. we may not be proud of our country We may not forget them to protect a legacy that forgets them. We may not forget them to protect our own goods. We may not forget them n the interest of 2 wozld image. We. in short, may hot forget them. j r Fr. Mike Kaney ALCAY, | Ohe Siger | Opinions erpressed on the educnal page ere those of the individual wriler, excepiing the lead editorna!l which expresses the ma jOT- political system, but to Humanity. If I covet flag. country and political system as my god of the first order, then I become like the Roman imperial Ceasars. my grain of incense is offered in one arena or the other. Patriotism is an evi! in the sense that it divides people into certain categories. It immediately shows how peoples of the world are different, are to be separated. Walls are built up around patriotisra, never torn down in its name. Now consider what Tolstoy wrote about Patriotism He sees Christ's injunction of dying to one’s self for the benefit of another. his many requesis that his followers cieave to nothing that is temporal as a counter to patriotism. It would indeed seem that publicly. ap- proved egoism should be just as evil as private, individual pride! 1 He also insists that patriotism is t £ | | CONFIDENTIAL superfluous in the light of Humanity. T L . 124044 ¥ ta editor-in-chiet Managing editor business manager Dick Marpootiien es dim Walser editorial page editor |" “Mare | Feinverg Rews editor 000 Ute Zim Forth . MPOTs aditoe 1” --Bob Thomason feature. editor 0007 tr eg John Bol! cirewlaton manager ‘Tom Priddy ads ering manager Pcie Aune: sat News editor oo vee hdl Altar chet Prc‘ogtapner a uke Fonr, acute sd oe --- Davia Walker vrectceeee.. EW Loui He mary Entered as § econd Classy Aratt Stanon, Cemn. 5, c. en 2071. 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