Unfortunately, most of the readings this term I have been somewhat familiar with the topics of. However, the passionate patriotism I feel, mixed with the immense hatred for the evils of our collective past often leads to a cognitive dissonance like no others. How can I hate a nation that gave my family a place to escape the Nazis? How can I love a nation that participated in slavery? How can I hate a nation that is one of the surprisingly few democracies in the world? How can I love one that overthrew democracies in Latin America? How can I hate the nation of Abraham Lincoln? How can I love the nation of Ronald Reagan? How can I hate a nation founded on the principles of liberty, justice, and equality? How can I love a nation that has ignored these values time and time again? My answer is that I can’t. Loving and hating nations is a naive approach. I can love liberty. I can hate tyranny. America can sometimes be despicable and sometimes be admirable.
However, grappling with the complexities of history is core to being able to love America on the 4th of July and every BBQ cookout and hate America every time you see a modern Republican in power or visit Cleveland. If you don’t know what you love, don’t know what you hate, or don’t know what there is to love and hate– you descend into foolishness. If you do not know about Prince Phillip and Queen Anne’s War you cannot rightly love our nation. You cannot avoid coming to terms with these horrific atrocities and have an opinion. If you do not come to terms with the greatness that is the Declaration of Independence you cannot rightly hate America, for you do not know what it is.
This is the same for all other topics of history. To love or hate Winston Churchill, Susan B. Anthony, Fredrick Douglass, Joan of Arc, or even Metacomet of Pocanoet (AKA King Philip)– you must know them. History is not a collection of biographies of great men and women, but it does involve them. History is everything that ever happened and everything is messy. There are no heroes, or villains without redeemable traits. We must know people, nations, concepts– to know our role in them and us. To do better, we must know what mistakes were made before.
Hi Adin!
After reading your post I am reminded of writer and civil rights’ activist James Baldwin, who once said, “I love America more than any other country in this world, and, exactly for this reason, I insist on the right to criticize her perpetually.” I think it is important that when we critically engage with something, we do it because we want to make it better. The history of the U.S. and its relations with Native communities is particularly dark and fraught with conflict and violence. It can be very difficult to grapple with these historical narratives. At the same time, we must view these histories as narratives of survival and persistence, which can be a source of empowerment.
And by the way, Cleveland deserves some love!