Is Patriotism the Cause of War?

Lauren Edwards

            A glance at an atlas provides a sterile, simplified picture of our world. The clear lines and different colors that mark our countries’ borders are a product of history, not of the complex cultural fabric that characterizes today’s international situation. The dichotomy that exists between our political borders and our intellectual and cultural boundaries is the source of much of today’s conflict. We tend to innately accept our own ideology as the correct one and fear other ideologies as destructive to our welfare. The assumption that we are right leads us to try and expand the borders of our beliefs, eventually resulting in a clash with other people equally convinced that their agenda is the correct one. Lasting peace cannot be obtained from any one country’s attempt to spread its own beliefs, religion, or political system. Only by advancing the borders of  knowledge and allaying fear, on both an individual and international level,  can true international  peace be obtained.

            In order for peace to be obtained between  nations or within large societies, the individuals within those societies must be willing to maintain peace. On the surface, this statement appears obvious. Few people pronounce themselves as proponents of violence or war. Yet when violence erupts, many people accept it as inevitable. Some people reject the idea of violence, but when confronted with the idea that violence may advance their personal goals, their  group’s  goals or their countries goals, they refuse to look for an alternate solution.  Other people simply fear violence to such an extent that they ignore it or passively support it when directed towards the source of their fear with the hope that it will never affect them or their family. In this way, violence has become the backbone of social order and the force behind politics for  generations.

            The narrow-mindedness that allows violence to flourish is often given an ambiguous, positively connotative name: patriotism. The word patriot evokes positive imagery of someone who loves their country and way of life; of someone who is brave enough to defend it. There are many people who fit this description and can indeed be labeled as true patriots. However, patriotism has been used in the past for sinister purposes. Politicians have used it as an excuse for violent, ambitious campaigns. Political dissent has been crushed by being labeled as unpatriotic behavior. Numerous corrupt, violent, fascist societies have been founded on the idea that if a person loves their country, they will unquestioningly accept the actions of their country’s leaders. This dark side of patriotism is to the detriment of democracy and peaceful society. Loving one’s country does not mean that one must support violence and injustice in order to advance its goals. There are many practical ways in which the individual can advance their knowledge and tolerance to avoid being duped by the dark side of patriotism and achieve non-violence in their life.

            Probably the most important step an individual can take in promoting non-violence is truly listening to other viewpoints. In today’s age of information and technology, most people are confronted with the ideas of someone they don’t agree with, but few people actually listen. Some people shut down and try to avoid all situations in which they might be forced to hear something uncomfortable. This is the thought process behind much of the censorship of art and literature in America and other nations. Other people argue with the speaker in their head while they are talking, effectively preventing any true absorption of information. By truly listening to others, one can dramatically expand their reservoir of knowledge and learn to empathize with other viewpoints. While a person will never agree with everything they hear - some people’s opinions are truly wrong or obscene - at least by listening to someone with a different viewpoint their opinion is no longer an unknown. This knowledge prevents someone from feeling threatened by an individual or group as a vague, unknown threat to their way of life or society. Ignorance is the basis of much fear, and fear is the weapon with which many false patriots operate.

            Fear is the source behind so much manipulation and violence that in order for the individual to obtain peace in their own life they must learn how to overcome  it. Listening to other viewpoints can help dissipate fears of the unknown. Consciously studying different cultures, religions, and belief systems can reinforce this effect. When faced with a threatening situation, it is important to study all possible aspects in order to avoid blindly striking out against it or blindly following someone who promises to eradicate it. Some situations truly are a threat and must be decisively solved. By acting out of knowledge instead of fear, however, the individual can eradicate the need for violence ninety-nine percent of the time and learn not to be outsmarted by many false patriots who hold up violence as the only option.

            Another way the individual can promote peace in their life is by avoiding blanket discrimination against other groups and societies. By assuming that another group is wrong or a threat, people destroy their ability to fully understand that group. This lack of understanding can lead people to lash out against that group unfairly, leading to unnecessary violence.

            On an international level, there are many ways countries can promote tolerance and create a citizenry that loves their country yet is well informed enough to be resistant to false patriotism.   As a member of a military family, I have lived in Japan, the United States, and Norway. While these countries are fundamentally different, they share similarities that I believe contribute to their ability to maintain organized, non-violent societies. Each of these countries has an active press disseminating information that’s available to its citizens. Reliable access to current information keeps the citizens informed and prevents them from feeling alienated by their political system. The press and other forms of free flowing information allow citizens of these countries to express discontent with their government in an organized and peaceful manner. Another mechanism common to these three countries is a fair and reliable justice system. Each has an effective police force and a fair system for trying criminals. Confidence in a justice system that persecutes criminals while simultaneously protecting the rights of the accused keeps most citizens from feeling the fear that would drive them to take the law into their own hands. Japan, the US, and Norway all have a system that allows for the organized exchange of ideas with the international community. They each belong to the United Nations and allow citizens from other countries to work or study within their borders. By allowing international influences inside their borders, these countries build knowledge and tolerance of other countries within their citizens. This tolerance encourages the use of compromise and diplomacy which is essential to the resolution of international disputes without violence.

            As an individual who strives to create and maintain peace, I plan to become a true patriot. While I love my country dearly, I believe that it is essential that I maintain awareness of the actions of its political leaders and question their actions if I believe the country is being steered into a course of unnecessary violence. I plan to travel to gain awareness of other cultures and belief systems, and to spread that awareness within my own culture to help combat the fear and ignorance that causes violence. After college, I plan to become a doctor. I plan to use my practice not to amass large sums of money, but to make my knowledge and skills available to as many people as possible. I plan to spend some of my time as a doctor with the organization Doctors Without Borders in order to provide quality healthcare to people living in different regions of the world who would not normally have access to it. By helping to eradicate sickness, I can help to eradicate much of the fear of suffering that makes people turn to violence.

            While few people esteem violence for its own sake, many people are willing to accept it in order to alleviate their fear or in order to aid the dissemination of their ideology. Some people continue to mask the true cause of their need for violence behind the idea of patriotism, creating the false choice between violence and the loss of national pride and way of life. This is not true patriotism. Patriotism is not the cause of war, its corruption is. John F. Kennedy was correct in stating “Without debate, without criticism, no administration and no country can succeed - and no republic can survive.” One who is truly devoted to the cause of peace is willing and informed enough to understand other peoples’ ideologies, reason from a position of knowledge instead of fear, and speak out against unnecessary acts of violence. That is the definition of a true patriot.