More on Patriotism Versus Nationalism

Col David Hackworth, no chickenhawk, on Loyalty to the Country Always:

It seems that in America it’s unpatriotic to ask, “Was this war necessary?” Today, a highly organized right-wing juggernaut is quick to attack anyone who protests Washington’s war plans, calling these truth-seekers un-American and traitorous.

Many of us have chosen to shut up and look the other way out of dread of being accused of not supporting our country and our troops. Anyone expressing the slightest dissent is warned: “It's our way or the highway. If you don't like where the country’s going, then move to Germany or France.”

I heard and read plenty of that type of rhetoric myself. If you weren't for the war then you were participating in the murder of Iraqi children or you were a Saddam sympathizer or you were anti-American or some other hyper-emotional charge. Quite a bit of it was on conservative and so-called libertarian blogs by the way. Most interestingly enough, the loudest mouths seemed to be those who never donned a uniform and were too busy sitting on their fat asses to take care of the troops that are dying for their causes.

Doubting Americans seem too cowed to sound off and question these self-proclaimed patriots – the majority of whom dodged combat service during past conflicts as diligently as most of us are avoiding Hong Kong and Toronto today.

In spite of their residence in a very hot place, demagogue Joe McCarthy and the rabid members of his Committee on Un-American Activities – which did such appalling damage to our country’s integrity in the 1950s – must be gloating over the Hawks Club following in their footsteps, wrapped as they were in the American flag.

The Colonel said a mouthful. Those who don't like it are free to take their own advice…