The New Patriotism

Published on 09/24/2001 Daily Egyptian (SIUC)

My computer caught not one but two viruses this past week. Social diseases of the twenty-first century. Neither was particularly virulent, though, and my anti-virus software caught them and put them electronic glass jars for me. They're still sitting there on my computer - the start of my own little electronic biological warfare stockpile. One of the viruses came in attached to someone's biology paper. The good news is he has just over two weeks to repair the file or rewrite the paper. The bad news is it looks like a C- paper at best. The virus may have been the best part of the paper.

Patriotism is sweeping the country like a rash, a new sort of social disease. I sometimes find it amusing, sometimes a little amazing. Myself, I have been patriotic all my life. I was raised to respect the flag and to love my country. Spending the better part of my adult life in the military reinforced it. Every morning on military bases and ships the national anthem is played over loud speakers while the base flag is raised. Everyone who hears the music stops what they are doing until the music stops and the flag is raised. Most of my friends are veterans, and for them patriotism and respect for the flag are as natural as breathing air. Maybe it is for the rest of the country, too. It just took a tragedy to remind them.

This new-found patriotism has a darker side to it, though. A few people, unable to buy a flag (or unwilling to part with the money) have been stealing flags from other homes and businesses. How does that thinking work?

"Gee, Wal-Mart still doesn't have any flags and I don't want everyone to think I'm un-American. I know! I'll rip the flag down from that house down the street and fly it! After all, I much more American than they are!"

I can empathize with Tina Wright, the graduate student who had her flag stolen. Tina was flying a flag that had belonged to her late grandfather. More than just a symbol of patriotism, I would guess it was a way of honoring her grandfather every day she flew it. Of course the thief had no way of knowing this. He probably just saw an opportunity to have something he hadn't earned.

Like her, my flag has sentimental value. It was presented to me as token of thanks when I left the military after 20 years of service. I find myself torn some days between flying it and protecting it. Patriotism wins out, day after day. If Tina didn't have that same internal struggle, I'm sure she will after this.

Tina, you have my sympathy, and I really hope that after your letter ran Thursday the flag was returned, neatly folded, to your front porch.

To the latter-day patriot who thought stealing her flag would increase his or her sense of patriotism - please give it back. Fold it neatly, place it in a box or a plastic bag to protect it, and sneak it back onto her porch. Flying a stolen flag doesn't make you a patriot, just an ass.