WHAT HAPPENS when patriotism runs amuck? While the last month has shown that patriotism can bring out the best in Americans, it has also been seen to bring out the worst. It can make Americans betray their own principles; it can become something that incites anxiety, even fear - something it should never be. When patriotism runs amuck, it becomes something that divides rather than unites.
Of all places, the most overt example of out-of-control patriotism can be found in Wisconsin. In order to comply with a state law that requires a daily show of patriotism in public schools, the Madison School Board decided to eliminate saying the Pledge of Allegiance as an option. They wanted to avoid making students of different backgrounds uncomfortable; also, some parents were concerned about the religious aspect of the line containing "one nation, under God." Instead of having students recite the pledge, the board instead decided that schools would play an instrumental version of the Star-Spangled Banner every day. They felt it would be a more subtle form of patriotism and would ensure that students of all religions and backgrounds would feel comfortable in school.
Their decision was met with outrage. The school board received over 20,000 angry phone calls and e-mails, many from out of state. Some people suggested that the school board "move to Afghanistan;" others called the board's decision a "treasonous act." One woman wrote, "I am sick of weak individuals [like you] who are afraid to stand up to the minority voices in this country, and are afraid to tell them to 'get a life'" ("Pledge ban in Madison starts talk of recall drive," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 13). "If you can't pledge allegiance to this flag, then go somewhere else," one Madison resident said ("Madison schools' pledge ban sparks fury," Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, Oct. 9). Sadly, the Madison School Board caved into the tremendous pressure and reversed their position.
A school board member who originally is from Laos and voted against reciting the pledge has been receiving threats. He said, "I've never been so scared for my wife or my kids in all the years I've been here since 1978" ("Madison school to allow pledge," Associated Press, Oct. 16).
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Patriotism is out of control when normally reasonable people become a shouting mob that throws around words like "treason" when an instrumental version of the Star-Spangled Banner just isn't patriotic enough. Wherever Americans are acting like this, they need to take a step back: They need to remember who they are and look at what they're doing. If they do not, things that previously have been valued greatly in this country - principles like tolerance and acceptance - will go out the window in the face of this new, almost rabid brand of patriotism.
Americans always have been proud of their country being a "melting pot," but now people seem to be forgetting - or just not caring - that people who live in this country come from many different backgrounds. Multiculturalism, and the tolerance of differences that goes along with it, used to be hailed as a part of what makes America great. For generations, this has been the country that people looked to as a place where you can be whoever you are without fear of being punished for it. Now, it looks as if anyone who feels loyalty to their home countries or simply isn't gung-ho about America should go along with the crowd if they don't want trouble.
Now, kids in Madison - as well as in other regions where the Pledge of Allegiance is said in schools - will feel peer pressure to say the pledge even if it conflicts with their beliefs. Those who oppose the recitation of the pledge are worried that students who don't want to participate will be harassed. In conditions such as these, the pledge becomes forced; it becomes something ugly and artificial. Students may begin saying it not because they believe in the words, but because they are afraid of what will happen if they don't say them. It is doubtful that the author of the pledge meant for it to be that way.
The initial wave of patriotism was self-medicating, a way for the country to deal with the terrorist attacks. But when patriotism runs amuck, bad things happen. People who hold different beliefs are divided when they should be feeling close to each other. Americans begin robbing themselves of things they used to pride themselves on, like multiculturalism and tolerance. Americans should love their country, but not to the extent that they forget what it stands for.
(Laura Sahramaa is a Cavalier Daily associate editor. She can be reached at lsahramaa@cavalierdaily.com.)
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