|
May Editorial 2002 |
Eight months after the September 11 attacks, America still seems to face dangers. The terror from abroad seem to have decreased in the face of heightened security, but threats from within our own country have rapidly replaced them. Overwhelming nationalism has deluged across the United States, engulfing many American fears, hates and prejudices in the headwaters. Everywhere one may look one sees American flags and 'God Bless America' signs to evidence the wave of nationalism. Among the riptides of pro-American ideals run the waters of anti-everything-not-American-ism, in short jingoism. Case in point: an El Segundo student was recently punished for not standing in salute to the American flag. No specific reason was given for his punishment, leaving one to wonder if the student is to be considered un-American and punished solely for that. However, this country was built on the backs of similar dissenters. Does anyone have the right to stifle this democratic exercise? The student himself declares his patriotism, but even if he were not patriotic he should still be allowed to express his own views. For any citizen of the United States to prevent another American from self-expression is more undemocratic and more un-American than any protest could ever be.
In the months and years following that black Tuesday, Americans must be careful they do not become helplessly caught up in the currents of super-nationalism and that they do not forget the hate and prejudice caused by previous waves of nationalism in America's history. We must not forget that many of the foreigners who make up the fabric of American unity were once hated and feared because much of what they were accustomed to was considered un-American at the time. We must not forget the troubles of the union workers who were labeled as communists just because they wanted better working conditions. We must not allow the floodwaters of hate in the form of excessive nationalism to inundate democratic appeals.