I have seen too many occassions of flag-waiving recently. This is perhaps due to the Olympics (short-track in particular) or to 삼일절.
I've read the exchange of email-postings here regarding who is a patriot and who knows about racism. It was rather disturbing for me.
Let me make these two points right away: 1) I am not a patriot, and 2) I do not profess to know about the true impact of racism.
1) Why I am not a patriot, and why I am scared of one.
I believe a patriot is the one who loves his/her country. A nationalist is the one who believes that one's nation as the ultimate value in political actions. A racist is the one who believes in the superiority of his/her own race (or nationality) to the exclusion of all other race (or nationality). A fascist is the one believes in authoritarian imposition of racist or nationalist beliefs on others.
When a patriot begins to feel contempt for other races and nationalities, he/she becomes a nationalist. When a nationalist begins to feel self-righteous, he/she becomes a racist. When a racist puts his/her belief into practice, he/she becomes a fascist.
Some patriots have a deadly logic:
- I love my country
- Therefore, I hate (or despise) those who do not love my country.
- People who hate my country ususally belong to other races and nationalities.
- Therefore, (in general, in "most" circumstances) I hate people from other races and nationalities.
- It is right to love my country.
- Therefore, it is wrong not to love my country.
- Therefore, it is ok to correct what I believe is wrong with ridicule, sarcasm, humiliation, or even force.
I do NOT love my COUNTRY. "Country" is an abstraction that has no value or meaning for me. I was born in Korea. Now I hold an American citizenship. What would you say is MY country? My answer will depend on what you mean by "country," and I usually answer "both." I love Korea's people, culture, food, music, history, and especially the part of it which have become a part of me as I was growing up in Korea. I love America's people, culture, music (not so much the food^^), what what has become part of me as I grew older here.
Please don't focus on abstractions. They will turn around and bite you in the butt if you are not careful.
2) I do not know about racism.
I have been living in the States for more than 20 years. Of course, I have had my share of racism, both subtle and blatant. This, however, is nothing compared to what African-Americans still go through, and what our predecessors went through a few decades ago. I have also seen Koreans here discriminate (blatantly) against African-Americans, Vietnamese-Americans, Cambodian-Americans, and Chinese-Americans, and once again, my experience was nothing compared to what these nationalities experienced in the hands of Korean-Americans.
Racism does still exist. It's physical and bloody manifestations are taking place all over the globe. Its seeds are spread closer to home than one might imagine. It lurks in the heart of a patriot disguised as righteousness and sense of superiority.
When white Americans start waiving the Star-Spangled banner, I get scared living here in the States. Koreans waiving their own flag do not give me warm and fuzzy feeling either.
I am not a chrisitan, but sometimes, I think Jesus was right. Love your neighbors. If you cannot love your neighbors (who are concrete people), how can you profess to love a god, or a nation (a mere abstractions)? I've also heard that those who love abstractions only, usually hate people in general... Go figure.