My Patriotism #4
It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
George Washington
Letter to Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island
August 21, 1790
President George Washington wrote a letter to Moses Seixas, the sexton of the Touro Synagogue, America's oldest temple in Newport, Rhode Island, in response to a letter from Seixas that expressed hope that the new government would "give bigotry...no sanction, persecution...no assistance..." and would grant to all "Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine."
Washington and his fellow Founding Fathers would be dismayed to see where we are in 2019. Tolerance is a rare commodity. Racism is rampant. Many are not deemed "equal." And, most shocking to our first president, our 45th president, Donald Trump, promotes divisions amongst races and religions within our nation for his own gain. Even worse, many Congresspeople put their party ahead of the American people, enabling Trump to continue his rhetoric without consequence.
In 2008, Naomi Wolf wrote in the Huffington Post, "Over the past four decades, patriotism was often defined as uncritical support for U.S. policies–such as the Vietnam War-era bumper sticker MY COUNTRY, RIGHT OR WRONG. Patriotism was also branded as support for U.S. militarism, whatever the context or conflict or cost. Sometimes patriotism was identified with “Christian America” and sometimes even as direct evangelism in the context of statecraft. Finally patriotism was rebranded as the active silencing of dissent."
"America, love it or leave it" was first popularized by newspaper columnist, Walter Winchell as a defense of McCarthyism in the 1940s and 1950s. It was used again in the 1960s and 1970s to counter protesters of the Vietnam War. It appeared again in the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003 when many questioned President George W. Bush's decision to attack. When France also questioned the rationale for the war, members of Congress branded french fries as "freedom fries." There was no room for opposition. And, now it is being used again as a call against the political positions of four Congresswomen of color, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
President Trump tweeted, "So interesting to see 'Progressive' Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world...now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run." Even though all are American legislators and citizens (and have every right to state their opinions and policy positions), he went on to say, if they don't like America, they should go back to where they came from (even though three out of the four were born in this country).
"Patriotism" used to quell opposition to policies of the American government is a false patriotism. In fact, dissent is one of the foundations of the Constitution. Rather than accept America as it is –or leave, I refuse to cede my love of this country to those who promote narrow-minded visions. Instead of "America, love it or leave it," I believe in "America, love it and change it for the better."
Words are being used as weapons. They are used as political shorthand and angry epitaphs, without context, in an effort to mislead voters. These six posters promote a more inclusive notion of love of country. As seen by the text in each, patriotism means many things to people, none of which is blind allegiance to any politician or group of people. We are a nation of immigrants. And, patriotism should always be invoked with broad strokes.
The people in the background of each poster are (from left to right): Jeanine Pirro, Fox News commentator, Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's political advisor, Sean Hannity, Fox News personality and Trump confidant, and the president himself. There are six posters in this series. View all of them. And, use them. High resolution downloads are free.
See the rest of the posters from the Chamomile Tea Party! Digital high res downloads are free here (click the down arrow on the lower right side of the image). Other options are available. And join our Facebook group.
Follow the history of the last eight years of our country's political intransigence through a six-part exhibit of these posters on Google Arts & Culture.
My Patriotism #4
It is now no more that toleration is spoken of, as if it was by the indulgence of one class of people, that another enjoyed the exercise of their inherent natural rights. For happily the Government of the United States, which gives to bigotry no sanction, to persecution no assistance requires only that they who live under its protection should demean themselves as good citizens, in giving it on all occasions their effectual support.
George Washington
Letter to Hebrew Congregation of Newport, Rhode Island
August 21, 1790
President George Washington wrote a letter to Moses Seixas, the sexton of the Touro Synagogue, America's oldest temple in Newport, Rhode Island, in response to a letter from Seixas that expressed hope that the new government would "give bigotry...no sanction, persecution...no assistance..." and would grant to all "Liberty of conscience, and immunities of Citizenship: deeming every one, of whatever Nation, tongue, or language equal parts of the great governmental Machine."
Washington and his fellow Founding Fathers would be dismayed to see where we are in 2019. Tolerance is a rare commodity. Racism is rampant. Many are not deemed "equal." And, most shocking to our first president, our 45th president, Donald Trump, promotes divisions amongst races and religions within our nation for his own gain. Even worse, many Congresspeople put their party ahead of the American people, enabling Trump to continue his rhetoric without consequence.
In 2008, Naomi Wolf wrote in the Huffington Post, "Over the past four decades, patriotism was often defined as uncritical support for U.S. policies–such as the Vietnam War-era bumper sticker MY COUNTRY, RIGHT OR WRONG. Patriotism was also branded as support for U.S. militarism, whatever the context or conflict or cost. Sometimes patriotism was identified with “Christian America” and sometimes even as direct evangelism in the context of statecraft. Finally patriotism was rebranded as the active silencing of dissent."
"America, love it or leave it" was first popularized by newspaper columnist, Walter Winchell as a defense of McCarthyism in the 1940s and 1950s. It was used again in the 1960s and 1970s to counter protesters of the Vietnam War. It appeared again in the lead-up to the Iraq War in 2003 when many questioned President George W. Bush's decision to attack. When France also questioned the rationale for the war, members of Congress branded french fries as "freedom fries." There was no room for opposition. And, now it is being used again as a call against the political positions of four Congresswomen of color, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York, Ilhan Omar of Minnesota, Ayanna Pressley of Massachusetts and Rashida Tlaib of Michigan.
President Trump tweeted, "So interesting to see 'Progressive' Democrat Congresswomen, who originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world...now loudly and viciously telling the people of the United States, the greatest and most powerful Nation on earth, how our government is to be run." Even though all are American legislators and citizens (and have every right to state their opinions and policy positions), he went on to say, if they don't like America, they should go back to where they came from (even though three out of the four were born in this country).
"Patriotism" used to quell opposition to policies of the American government is a false patriotism. In fact, dissent is one of the foundations of the Constitution. Rather than accept America as it is –or leave, I refuse to cede my love of this country to those who promote narrow-minded visions. Instead of "America, love it or leave it," I believe in "America, love it and change it for the better."
Words are being used as weapons. They are used as political shorthand and angry epitaphs, without context, in an effort to mislead voters. These six posters promote a more inclusive notion of love of country. As seen by the text in each, patriotism means many things to people, none of which is blind allegiance to any politician or group of people. We are a nation of immigrants. And, patriotism should always be invoked with broad strokes.
The people in the background of each poster are (from left to right): Jeanine Pirro, Fox News commentator, Stephen Miller, Donald Trump's political advisor, Sean Hannity, Fox News personality and Trump confidant, and the president himself. There are six posters in this series. View all of them. And, use them. High resolution downloads are free.
See the rest of the posters from the Chamomile Tea Party! Digital high res downloads are free here (click the down arrow on the lower right side of the image). Other options are available. And join our Facebook group.
Follow the history of the last eight years of our country's political intransigence through a six-part exhibit of these posters on Google Arts & Culture.