Patriotism Is Loyalty to Differing Visions

I mentioned last week that, while considering myself the patriotic type, I don’t fly an American flag on the Fourth of July, don’t go to Fourth of July parades, would never wear a flag lapel pin or support legislation to ban flag-burning. It prompted me to ask why some of us are overt in our patriotic spirit and others aren’t.

Thanks for your thoughtful e-mail replies. Here’s a sampling (with sincere apologies for having to use excerpts):

Anne: I have great devotion to the ideals of the United States and great disgust at our failure to live up to them. I don’t get choked up by our national anthem. In fact, I can’t sing it. Bombs bursting in air are no topic for song .... I wish I lived in a nation that made a good try at the ideals of America.

Gene: Your column has provoked me. I have never been a flag-waver. I consider myself to be a patriot every day by walking the walk and talking the talk ....The flag is only a cloth symbol of our ideals. Destroying that cloth does not take away the ideals it represents.

Emmett (retired Air Force major): On the 4th, I will go to a parade and then on to the Wall South (memorial) in Pensacola. There I will have a beer and some quiet time with friends that aren’t with me anymore.... The parade is to honor those in uniform and the visit is to tell my friends they didn’t die in vain .... I find flying the flag somewhat showy. I find helping a trooper get home on leave much more rewarding.

Greg: The people I know like you have all been “too cool” to show outwardly any patriotism that they may have. From my observations, this is caused by a fundamental emotional disconnect from the personal sacrifice made by brave soldiers from the days of George Washington to the Pat Tillmans of today. The “too cool” also have a disconnection from the appreciation of the gift of freedom. In the depth of their being, they just take freedom for granted, like the Southern California sunshine.

Angelo: What a silly thing to do -- fight someone over flag-burning -- as if that truly demonstrates love for a country and its people.

Kimberly: When I hang my American flag outside every morning, I’m thanking the men and women who have given their lives for my freedom. It is a conscious act so that I never take them or my country for granted.

Guy (retired Army): Over 40 years ago, while stationed in West Germany, I attended an Independence Day celebration in Copenhagen. I asked a Danish soldier why the Danes observed an American holiday. His answer startled me: “We celebrate the independence of the country that saved us from Nazism.”

Joe (Marine reservist): I respect your opinion about patriotism. Why fly the flag on Independence Day and not other holidays or every day? At least you are not a hypocrite as hundreds of thousands of other Americans are. I consider myself a moderate Republican ... I wouldn’t feel it necessary to pummel somebody doing misdeeds to our national colors, but I would do something to stop it.

John: As an old conservative, it was great to be patriotic. Then we got the new type of Republicans in Congress and the White House

Kathy: I am a liberal daughter of a Navy man. I remember going to football games with my dad and stopping in the parking lot for the “Star-Spangled Banner” if we arrived late. Yet I feel ambivalent about displaying the flag because I don’t want people to think I am at all in favor of Dubya’s War.

Steve: Don’t worry. We right-wing fanatics will never compel you to salute the flag. Why are some of us flag-wavers and some not? That’s easy. Some of us are Republicans and some Democrats. Can a Democrat be patriotic? Sure. But why are they so uncomfortable demonstrating love for this country? Maybe you need to change the definition of patriotism.

Martin: One of my patriotic underpinnings is 22 years of service in the Marine Corps, including the Vietnam debacle. That’s enough patriotism for me, and I’ll be damned if I’ll remain silent while some chicken hawk like Karl Rove impugns my patriotism because I oppose the fascist regime he touts so well .... I guess I got lathered up on this score. Thanks for the provocation. I’ll have my 73rd birthday on July 4th, so please consider this e-mail as a celebratory joust from an old firecracker.

Nuky: I am a first-generation American, consider myself an American and proudly fly a flag outside my home and wear clothing with my flag proudly on my chest .... The 4th of July is the day we said we will not let anyone step on us anymore. It is the day we became who we are.

Peter: By reading your article it shows a lot about yourself. Get out of your house and mingle with the people a bit and don’t think for a moment that Jefferson and Adams would not wear a flag pin or raise the flag at their homes.

Name unknown: I put a small flag in my window for the three-day weekend. I did not always do so, mainly because I did not think it was important. That’s probably because I did not fully appreciate the importance of two things: gratitude and ritual.

Steven: I’m an ex-Marine and served in the first Gulf War and get goose bumps when I hear the national anthem at Dodger Stadium, but I don’t go to parades or fly a flag outside my house. The reason I feel fine not doing so is because I have already served my country and nearly gave my life doing so. So, the fact I don’t openly display my patriotism is because I’ve already given to my country and don’t feel the need to show my patriotism; it’s permanently ingrained.

Mary: I wave a flag sometimes on Independence Day for the same reason I put Christmas lights up in December -- neighborhood decor.

Dana Parsons’ column appears Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays. He can be reached at (714) 966-7821 or at dana.parsons@latimes.com. An archive of his recent columns is at www.latimes.com/parsons.