Opinion: Criticizing your nation? Patriot or anti-American?
Some people seem to be very sensitive about any criticism of our nation that we love, especially in front of children. They think criticism of the nation teaches children to hate their nation and stop being patriotic. Apparently, these people have never read the prophets in the Bible. In a word, the prophets make scathing criticisms of their nation and make promises of doom and destruction. Of course, the prophets also make promises of a glorious future. This combination of criticism and promises of good to come after repentance is well known to readers of the Bible. It is also the American democratic way.
It is clear that prophets criticize their nation, not because they hate it, but because they love it and want it to fulfill the call of the nation to “do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with God” (Micah 6:8). A pattern of continuous change toward the good is what the prophets desire. The prophets’ vision of changing toward the good is a major part of the legacy of America, which includes criticism of the nation, like the prophets. As a matter of fact, that has been a pattern in the history of America as we have changed for the better, however haltingly. It hasn’t been easy and people have suffered to bring about change. Nevertheless, the democratic system we have was set up in order to reflect the will of the people to make change toward greater “liberty and justice for all.”
The important lesson to teach our children and youth is that America has a history of continuous change and it has not always been easy and without painful struggle. There are many interesting and inspiring stories to tell children, young people, and the world about the struggle to make our country a continuously improving one. It is the story of democracy.
Of course, our democracy and any real democracy is full of different opinions, and the nation established free speech and a free press to express the various opinions. We have also had different political parties from our earliest days as a nation, just as Great Britain, the country from which we learned much. We fought them in the Revolution and fought them again in the War of 1812, but ended up adopting many of their political ways and institutions. An interesting repetition of the pattern of enemies becoming friends is seen in our relationship with Vietnam. We fought a terrible war against them, a war which they essentially won, as we did against Great Britain, a war we won. Now we are good friends with both Vietnam and Great Britain.
Looking again to our past, our enemies in World War II (Italy, Germany, and Japan) are now our friends and our friends in World War II (Russia and China) are now nations that we consider opponents. These kinds of changes on the international level are important for our children and youth to know, as well as much more about changes in the world. All of this is important because America has become a model for the world with people from almost every nation of the world having become citizens of America or aspiring citizens. America has become an example of democracy for the world and self-criticism is an important characteristic of a democracy to be learned, especially by countries that don’t allow criticism of those in power (as Russia and China.) Because we are made up of human beings, we can count on the fact that there will always be aspects of our national life that need correction and improvements.
Probably the best place to start to look for improvement through criticism from loyal opposition is in the area of wealth generation and distribution. Even in regulated capitalism, the misuse of wealth is probably the most common area for injustice and corruption in our society. Money and political power are the two major sources of influence for good and evil.
It is extremely important that our children and youth, and also other nations, realize that America is a nation that has prepared itself for continuous self-correction through our Constitution and our institutions. This can only be done by people being able to criticize those with power both in and out of government, particularly those who control great amounts of wealth and have political power.
Obviously, self-criticism through free speech, a free press, free assembly, and an independent judiciary are essential for all democracies.
Rev. Robert L. Montgomery, who holds a Ph.D. in social scientific studies of religion, lives in Black Mountain.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Montgomery: Criticizing your nation? Patriot or anti-American?
