I keep trying to reconcile myself with this new wave of patriotism. It is good to be proud of what you are, and going abroad revealed nothing if not my Americanism. But there is a fine tension between patriotism and nationalism. Nationalism can push beyond patriotism, when there�s enough raw emotion to sustain hate, bigotry and superiority complexes. I am so afraid that America will come to this. I studied nationalism last semester and learned that a narrow-minded view of what is right and what is good can be extremely deadly. I went abroad and felt the sting of anti-American wisecracks and debates stemming from the U.S.�s �selfish� policies. Becoming even more centered on our own country can�t be positive.

Maybe because I am so afraid of nationalism, I didn�t feel the urge to put up an American flag after the attacks. It is a symbol of who we are, and a symbol of pride, but suddenly in the context of attack it seemed intrinsically divisive, a reminder of the world�s borders. And more than anything, I wanted to feel the world unite against this terrorism which killed people from many nations. I cried every time I heard about people in other countries holding vigils or moments of silence. Because with that support, that unity, which the U.S. has rarely or never been a part of before, we just might be able to win.

So today I tried to reconcile myself with the American flag. Flag stickers were handed out at the football game. And as I put it on, I thought, what does this mean? United we stand. But what do we stand for? Is this in remembrance of the victims, a cry against terrorism? I am hoping yes, I am hoping that it means we will fight for the freedom of the world because of this attack on American soil. But I also hope all this flag-waving isn�t a move toward excessive nationalism, away from a unity with the rest of the world that we so desperately need. And I hope it doesn�t mean blindly following the U.S. government and confusing that with patriotism. Because we should never blindly follow. That�s what our country is based on: The freedom to think, to choose, to speak our minds and command our own souls. Checks and balances are a fundamental part of our system of government, each side analyzing and then criticizing or helping the other based on sound judgements. That means everyone --everyone-- must keep watch. Because down in lower Manhattan, the air is heavy with the dust of 6,000 people�s bones. Anything less than the highest of aims and purest of ideals would not do them justice.

More on this by Katha Pollitt in The Nation.

9/29/2001 05:13:59 PM

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