Rev. Cwirla's Blogosphere

We seem to be awash in symbolic gestures of patriotism these days. Pickets picketing. Horns honking. Rednecks rolling over Dixie Chicks CDs. Yellow ribbons knotted 'round old oak trees, at least the ones not being bulldozed to make way for a freeway. Anti-French protesters pouring French wine down the drain and munching on Freedom Toast and Freedom Fries. All in the name of patriotism.

Symbolic gestures are our way of participating in something without actually doing anything. We can wear a colored ribbon or dump a 1998 Beaujolais down the drain or munch on freedom fries and feel as though we're doing our duty to God and country. We can salve our guilt at not being in harm's way while we watch our nation's young men and women risk their lives on the nightly news. Television has a way of amplifying our sense of helplessness. We want to do something besides ring our hands, so we invent symbolic gestures.

It was different before television. World War II was a participatory event on the home front. It was also a declared war, but never mind the constitutional details. Rosie learned the art of riveting. People rationed, recycled, saved, planted "victory gardens." War meant all hands on the national deck. When the troops came home, we had parades and confetti, and we welcomed them as heroes. Not like Vietnam. Let's hope we learned something.

Today, we gripe about $2 a gallon gas going into our SUVs. Lacking anything constructive to do, we assuage our angst with silly symbolic gestures. Freedom toast.

I'm not talking about the flag. The flag isn't silly, though what people do with it sometimes is. When traveling abroad, my eyes are drawn to the old Stars & Stripes, even if it flies over some dubious ventures at times. I will admit to a lump in the throat when they raise the American flag at the Olympics and play the Star Spangled Banner, especially when we beat the French or the Russians. I only wish that people who wave the symbol of our nation would consult the US Flag Code on how to use it correctly. And please, it's fifty stars and thirteen stripes. No peace symbols or doves. And you're supposed to take it down at night unless it's lit.

Freedom fries and toast are something else. A silly symbolic slap at the French, who deserve a more substantial diplomatic kick in the hindquarters than dropping their name from salted fried potatoes and soggy pan-fried white bread. Truth be told, the French, who are always concerned for their image, are probably relieved not to have their name associated with such delicacies.

When it comes to patriotism, I prefer something with a bit more tooth than freedom fries. Call it "Biblical patriotism." Biblical patriotism consists of four things: obedience, honor, prayer, and taxes. Check out Romans chapter 13. Concrete stuff. Not a symbolic gesture in sight.

Obedience means obeying the laws of our land, like stopping before you turn right on a red light or actually traveling 65 mph when the sign says "Speed Limit - 65." Want to be a patriot? Try obeying the traffic laws and driving like a member of civilized society. Obedience to the state is always conditional obedience, of course. "We must obey God rather than men." That leaves ample room for conscientious objection, if your conscience is so inclined, just be prepared to take your lumps if you break the law.

Honor means respecting the person for the sake of the office, something in short supply in our country since the Nixon days. Don't diss the president or anyone else in authority. Even when he diddles with interns or engages in wars you don't like. Honor doesn't rule out lawful dissent. This country has dissent woven into its constitutional fabric. It's called the 1st amendment. Just show respect for those in authority while you're busy dissenting. It'll serve all of us well in the long run. Just ask the Dixie Chicks.

Prayer is more than patriotic. It's a Christian's priestly duty to pray for kings, rulers, and all in authority. They need all the prayer they can get. Patriotic prayer is not "God bless America," but "God bless America and all the nations of the world" and "Lord have mercy upon us poor sinners for Jesus' sake." These days, it would be good to pray for our troops and for their safe return when the dust settles. Pray for peace. And don't forget to pray for our enemies, too. Yeah, like it or not, it's what Jesus would do.

For my money, paying taxes is one of the greatest acts of patriotism I know. Our annual national rendering to Caesar is nothing short of the 9th man-made wonder of the world. If only we could get rid of withholding and had to cut a check every April 15, we'd have a genuine act of patriotic heroism on our hands. There was nothing symbolic about the figure at the bottom line of my 1040 form this year.

As long as I'm on the subject, if you want something more than a symbolic gesture of support for our government's war effort, you might include an extra C-note or two with your 1040. It sounds like they could use a little extra cash.

As for me and my house, I'm going to open a nice Bordeaux from the cellar, toast the nation, and give my wife a freedom kiss.

WM Cwirla, 2003