- An excerpt from the magazine UTNE Reader, which took it's article as an excerpt from the Friends Journal.
"Based on my life experience, studies, intellect, and conscience, I am led undeniably to the conviction that patriotism is immoral: It is selfish and irrational, hinders our judgment, divides the world, contributes to militarization, causes war, and contradicts the teachings of Jesus.
Patriotism is an attitude of favoritism toward "my country" and "my people." If egotism or pridefulness toward oneself is a vice, then patriotism or pridefulness toward one's particular country is likewise deplorable.
Patriotism clouds our judgement; it hinders objectivity and detracts from our ability to assess political situations rationally. Patriotism biases us toward our country's perspective, encumbering our desire and ability to consider outside perspectives. Patriotism breeds conformity and closed-mindedness. Furthermore, it makes us overly trusting of those in power over us, and susceptible to abuses of that power....
In kindergarten, I learned a mysterious morning chanting ritual in which one robotically pledges one's life to a flag and to one nation under God, "invisible" (as my child's mind heard it) with liberty and justice for all. Now I understand what I was saying. And I understand that people, and certainly Christians, should not pledge at all, certainly not to a material object (an idol), certainly not to one particular nation among many, and certainly not to something under God. I also know now that no kingdom save an invisible one could truly have liberty and justice for all....
Many of us are taught in school that "America is the greatest country in the world," while the darker aspects of our history are largely ignored or glossed over....
Patriotism is contrary to the teachings of Christ. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus declared, "You have heard it said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies."
~ Tony White
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