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When terrorists exploded their one-way ticket to eternity
last September, they detonated a patriotic fervor unlike anything
the U.S. has seen in my six decades. Flags on cars, shop windows,
lapel pins, homes and bicycles have been more prevalent than
ever--flower arrangements, jelly beans, cakes, cookies, gemstones,
shirts, shorts, jackets, etc. People who never thought of
demonstrating their love of country suddenly became flag wavers
until flags were in short supply.
Grand as it is, I wonder if this is momentary, or can it
be sustained? Could this nation take its patriotism seriously
enough to realize that citizenship begins in a very local
and continuing way, with each of us working to make our communities
better, right where we are, and forging another "greatest
generation"? Sure, we support our president. Certainly,
we pray for our soldiers abroad. Of course, we believe in
freedom and democracy. But what about our own communities,
our own cities and states? Is our patriotism only national,
vague and broad, or does it translate into concern for a state
constitution, for high ethical principles among state and
local elected officials, for righteousness and justice in
civic affairs, fairness in taxation, and a demand for quality
in the mandatory education of our children?
In the aftermath of 9/11, patriotism inspired millions of
gifts to Red Cross, Salvation Army and a host of nongovernment
helping organizations, tacit acknowledgment that government
can never do it all. Even President Bush turned to the children
of America, from whom he collected over $1.5 million to help
the children of Afghanistan.
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