The Politics of Patriotism
Patriotism is rightly an expression of humble aspiration and hope, not an aggressive arrogance. My favorite line in any patriotic hymn is the stanza in America the Beautiful, “America, America, God mend thine every flaw.” Surely we can share admiration for our country’s extraordinary achievements, appreciation for the sacrifices made to protect those achievements, and hope to improve in those areas where we fall short. Our motto as patriots should not be “America: Love it or Leave it,” but “America: Love it and Improve it.”
Colin Kaepernick knelt during the national anthem to protest police violence against African Americans, and was criticized by some for implicitly disrespecting veterans who fought for the flag. You may not even have noticed, but some members of the Campbell Hall choir mimicked Kaepernick’s gesture as they sang the national anthem at Homecoming; the whole front row of the choir knelt in a way that looked like simple performance staging rather than any kind of protest. I got word of possible kneeling earlier in the week and spoke to some of the students to discourage them gently from following through, from the perspective of the inclusive civic religion I describe above and also because “taking a knee” feels more and more like “taking the bait,” playing into the hands of those who would rather tweet invective at each other than engage in difficult dialogue.
I also acknowledged the complexities of the topic and the students’ right to protest non-violently, and my respect and love for them whatever they chose. Peaceful protest has a long and noble history in the church and in our country, and has its place in any community of inquiry. Punishing students for nonviolent acts of protest is not only a violation of their rights - it's also bad educational practice. We constantly preach self-reliance and taking responsibility to our students, so it would hardly make sense to discipline them for taking principled positions in good faith.
Other schools and institutions have been hugely distracted by this controversy; my hope is that we are better than that. Surely we may sing our hymns boldly and unironically and also acknowledge the compelling evidence that shows we are not yet a country with liberty and justice for all. We may be a proud and hopeful community, also acknowledging our flaws and asking for God’s help in trying to be better. What’s controversial about that?
Follow Julian on Twitter @cannonbull
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I also acknowledged the complexities of the topic and the students’ right to protest non-violently, and my respect and love for them whatever they chose. Peaceful protest has a long and noble history in the church and in our country, and has its place in any community of inquiry. Punishing students for nonviolent acts of protest is not only a violation of their rights - it's also bad educational practice. We constantly preach self-reliance and taking responsibility to our students, so it would hardly make sense to discipline them for taking principled positions in good faith.
Other schools and institutions have been hugely distracted by this controversy; my hope is that we are better than that. Surely we may sing our hymns boldly and unironically and also acknowledge the compelling evidence that shows we are not yet a country with liberty and justice for all. We may be a proud and hopeful community, also acknowledging our flaws and asking for God’s help in trying to be better. What’s controversial about that?
Follow Julian on Twitter @cannonbull
4533 Laurel Canyon Blvd., Studio City, CA 91607
Phone 818.980.7280
Phone 818.980.7280
Campbell Hall is an independent, Episcopal, K-12 all gender day school. We are a community of inquiry committed to academic excellence and to the nurturing of decent, loving, and responsible human beings.
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Campbell Hall admits students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs.
Campbell Hall admits students of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national, and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admission policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletics and other school-administered programs.
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