For the week of June 25 - July 1, 2003

On patriots, patriotism and the Patriot Act

Commentary by DICK DORWORTH

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A few weeks ago the city of Philadelphia joined more than a hundred other United States local and state governments to call for the repeal of the USA Patriot Act. By a vote of 13-to-3, the Philadelphia City Council called for the Philadelphia area congressional delegation to "vigilantly monitor the implementation of the USA Patriot Act and to actively work to repeal the Act." Councilman Angel Ortiz, who introduced the resolution, said, "The real irony of the Patriot Act is that it’s just plain unpatriotic. The Constitution and the Declaration of Independence grant every American unalienable rights, and we’ve allowed the Patriot Act to erode those rights without question. And the worst of it is, if you dare to question the Patriot Act you’re immediately labeled unpatriotic."

It’s good to know there are at least 13 free and clear and courageous thinkers left in the city where it all began 227 years ago. These 13 are worthy descendants of those original free and clear and courageous thinkers who we think of as the founding fathers of America. It is tempting and perhaps appropriate to refer to all of them as "patriots," but that’s what all those Democrat and Republican legislators in Washington D.C. who voted in the Patriot Act call themselves.

Still, though the Patriot Act gives the concept and very name of patriotism a bad name and a foul odor, it is refreshing, encouraging and inspiring to see that in the symbolic and real birthplace of American democracy there are responsible and courageous people who see through such dangerous chicanery. More, they have stood their ground, pointed out the obvious---that the Patriot Act is "just plain unpatriotic"---and said, "NO! This is not what democracy is about. This is not what America is about. This is not what Americans are about."

And it is not unpatriotic to question and oppose the Patriot Act and the demagogues who wrap themselves in the flag behind it. Angel Ortiz said, "What could be more patriotic than standing up for the rights of citizens and taxpayers? And what could be more unpatriotic than to happily watch those rights trampled upon?"

On the other hand, politicians both Democrat and Republican in Washington and elsewhere are stumbling all over themselves (and all over your rights and freedoms and over Democracy itself) in a frenzy to establish an appearance of superior patriotic credentials. The Democrats, who have managed to devolve over the past 30 years or so into a party lacking brain, spine, heart or soul, are losing to the Republican Party which still has a brain. They do, of course, give a modern face to the timeless quip of Samuel Johnson: "Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel." (To which Ambrose Bierce famously added, "With all due respect…I beg to submit that it is the first.")

Clearly, to paraphrase George Orwell (of all people), "Some patriots are more patriotic than others."

George Washington, for whom the nation’s capital is named, said, "Guard against postures of pretended patriotism."

George could have been speaking of the USA Patriot Act, its imperious authors and the spineless legislators who rolled over and slipped it to the American people while their guard was down. The perpetrators of the USA Patriot Act--- like religious fundamentalists who see no evil in killing in the name of their particular god, like those who wage war in the name of peace, like those who limit the scope of democracy and the options of debate and the intelligence of discussion to "You’re either with us or against us"---have gone beyond assuming inflexible postures of pretended patriotism. They are statues of pretended patriotism.

They are the ones, some too well known to need re-mentioning, others less visible to public scrutiny, identifiable by their connections to the proceeds accruing from the war on terrorism and the war on Iraq, who bring to mind August Bebel’s observation that "In time of war the loudest patriots are the greatest profiteers."

Terry Tempest Williams, one of America’s best and most acclaimed writers, gave the commencement address for the University of Utah graduating class. After her speech, many in the audience stood and cheered. Others booed. U.S. Sen. Robert Bennett, who voted for the Patriot Act, and former Sen. Jake Garn, "looked down and did not applaud." Among other things, Williams said: "Democracy always favors conversation. How do we engage in conversation at a time when the definition of what it means to be a patriot is being narrowly defined? You are either with us or against us. Discussion is waged in absolutes, not ambiguities. Corporations have more access to power than people. We, the people. Fear has replaced discussion. Business practices have taken precedence over public process….do not accept the way things are. Question. Stand. Speak. Act. Patriots act---they are not handed a piece of paper called by that same name and asked to comply."

Yes, patriots act. They question, stand, speak and act. They do not roll over. They do not comply.

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