Reclamation Day

 Today is Reclamation Day. Conservatives have framed freedom, patriotism, and the American flag as concepts they own and that liberals despise. They do not own them and liberals do not despise them. As such, I want to offer some thoughts on why these ideas belong to all Americans.

Freedom first; let’s use the Covid-19 pandemic as a lens. We are in the midst of a global catastrophe that requires application of science and public health principles for control; these principles must be enacted in such a manner that everyone shares the responsibility for them, from the individual up to the national level. The use of masks is central for control of the pandemic and yet has engendered resistance from many Americans. The libertarian and conservative stance is that government has no right to limit their liberty by requiring that they wear a mask. By taking this position they pose a risk to themselves and a risk to others for coronavirus infection. 

There is an old saw that says “Your liberty to swing your fist ends where my nose begins.” It has been attributed to John Stuart Mill, Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. and Abraham Lincoln among others. In the time of Covid-19, it could be rephrased as “Your right to spray virus ends where my nose begins.” As Americans we have fundamental rights set down in the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. We live in a nation ruled by laws, however, and those laws constrain our freedoms by preventing us from doing harm to others and to ourselves. Murder is not allowed; this protects others. We are required to wear seatbelts while driving; this protects ourselves. The libertarians will say this is an infringement on their right not to wear seatbelts when driving; they oppose a “nanny” state. But wearing seatbelts means far fewer injuries and decreases the costs for medical care -- that is a societal benefit that protects everybody. There is much blather about such ideas leading to socialism but that is nonsense. If you want to live in a community you must adhere to the laws of the community. Your liberty to swing your fist ends where my nose begins.

Patriotism next. The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines patriotism as “love for or devotion to one’s country.” There has always been a streak of nativism that has put it as “America: love it or leave it.” I remember this as a theme of the right during the VietNam War. The message was don’t say anything bad about America because that means you hate it. Bulls**t. Love for America comes in many forms. Dissent has been in the DNA of this nation since its founding and before. One does not have to be a crude jingoist, chanting “USA! USA! USA!” or singing Lee Greenwood’s inane song “God Bless the USA” to be devoted to the ideas and the principles of the United States. While it is true that our nation has not always lived up to the stirring language of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, what separates the United States from many other countries is to continuously strive to meet them. Patriots acknowledge mistakes and move to correct them; jingoists use empty theatrics as a substitute for adherence to the ideals of our nation. 

Finally, the American flag. It is for all Americans. Some would denigrate it and burn it. I disagree with them but spent a career in the U.S. Navy protecting the Constitution from enemies foreign and domestic. The First Amendment protects political speech. That is the law. You are not being a patriot when you attack someone who thinks differently than you do about the American flag. You are being an ignorant jingoist with a small mind. 

So, today I reclaim the concept of freedom; in a community, there are limits on freedom to keep all persons safe. I reclaim the concept of patriotism; the jingoism of the far right is not patriotism. And I reclaim the American flag; it is the symbol of all of us but history has made some of us view it less positively. We will correct that after November 3rd.