Author’s Note: In the media, and indeed general political discourse today, everyone seems to think there is only one correct opinion which coincidentally is practically always the one they hold themselves. So in this series I will be examining some hot button topics in political discourse today and argue the merits of both sides of the case—with Ricky arguing the more Republican position and naturally Dicky taking the Democrats’ side. My aim isn’t to proclaim that one side doesn’t necessarily have a stronger case than the other, or that there is something at all problematic with believing that your party has the superior argument, but rather to suggest that perhaps the fact that someone thinks differently than you doesn’t mean that they are automatically, unequivocally irredeemable and deserve to be ridiculed for their position. At the conclusion of the Constitutional Convention, Ben Franklin famously told a gaggle of citizens outside of Independence Hall that the United States would be “A republic, if you can keep it.” One crucial way that we can heed Franklin’s warning is to ensure that we do not eschew the sacred and crucial principle of mutual toleration—the idea that those with whom we disagree have the same right to take part in society as we do. Ideally, Ricky and Dicky will get you to question what you believe and better understand how someone can think differently than you, but given the tribal political climate now, I know that is a stretch. If you take away only one thing from this series, I hope it is this: you can think that someone is wrong, as long as you acknowledge that their being wrong is their right.
The issue on the table: With the 25th anniversary of Sept. 11 having just occurred and all the heightened talk since that fateful morning of patriotism and what it means to be pro-America, today we’ll examine what both Republicans and Democrats have to say to accusations that both of their sides have become increasingly less patriotic over recent years.
Ricky: The left seems to always have something to say about America and its numerous problems. Always complaining about some irrevocable damage that our country has done. Going from …
Dicky: Woah. Hold on. You’re starting to sound like the people in your party who say of America: “Love it or leave it.” The act of criticizing the government is an instinctive part of American life. Not to mention a right guaranteed by the First Amendment. You are suggesting that complaining about America is unpatriotic when that is so clearly not the case.
Ricky: I don’t think you have to love America in order to live here, but I think you should at least admit that it has done some pretty good things and that there is a reason why, every year, hundreds of thousands of people put themselves and their children through hell on earth to get to this country. No, you don’t have to like everything about it, but recently it seems to me like there’s very little integral to our national identity that you do like. You don’t like the Founding Fathers, you don’t like capitalism, you don’t like the Constitution? What is it that you do like?
Dicky: Oh, the Constitution. The Constitution which contains an Article II that says that whoever gets the majority of votes in the Electoral College wins. How did you guys honor the Constitution when you supported President Trump’s baseless lie that he won the 2020 election? The notion that a presidential candidate should concede to their opponent was one of the most sacred principles of our American system. How can you love America and believe that elections only count if your side wins?
Ricky: I take your point on that. Republicans must ensure that they get back to admitting when they lose. But Democrats have to remember that we’re the good guys. It is 25 years after Sept. 11 and we have people—people who are on your side—marching in the street in support of terrorist regimes and justifying acts of terror as mere “resistance.” They bemoan the irredeemable actions of our country, while neglecting to see the atrocities committed by these celebrated adversaries. You complain of the uncontrollable sexism that exists in America today, while praising autocratic regimes that treat women like second-class citizens. Too many on the left today are too embarrassed to be American; they feel as though it’s something to apologize for. That is far from patriotic.
Dicky: Who are you Ricky, to be lecturing me on patriotism? Aren’t you supposed to be the guys who tear up at the singing of the star spangled banner? Who mercilessly attacked President Obama for saluting with a cup of coffee in his hand? And God forbid someone disrespects the flag? Please. Our current president humps the flag. Is that not disrespectful? It was Republicans who during the 2016 campaign wore “‘I’d rather be a Russian than a Democrat’ t-shirt. President Trump believed Putin over his own intelligence agencies. Tell me, how is that patriotic?
Conclusion:
On this solemn anniversary, both the left and the right could stand to do some self reflection on how they really feel about our country. No one has to love America or wear rose colored glasses, but we should all try to have some perspective. America may not be the greatest country in the world; we have a checkered past, to say the least. We have done some awful things in our history, and we may still be doing awful things today. And yet we have also been the instrument of so much light in the world over our 250-year existence. So what does it mean to be patriotic? That is a question that can’t be fully answered. But I’d surmise that at least a part of the answer is acknowledging the bad, while still realizing and celebrating the good. And as usual, that lies somewhere in the middle of our polarized partisan politics.
