Those closest to me are well aware of my great love affair with sleep and morning rituals of green tea and meditation. In general, I rarely make commitments “before the double digits” to preserve my delicate balance, however, this morning I simply could not resist the invitation to attend the Optimist’s Breakfast on the topic of – “What does patriotism mean to me?”
Symbolically, Optimist’s Breakfasts are held only on Friday the 13ths as a pooh-pooh to the myth of impending doom related to the number 13. The Metabolic Studio at Farmlab sponsors these jubilant, creative, and thought-provoking community gatherings labeled “Burning Man meets City Hall” by writer and actor Richard Montoya. Since describing what Farmlab is could easily be a very lengthy discussion, I will summarize it as, “part progressive think tank, part art studio, and part alternative performance space, unexpectedly located in an industrial section of Los Angeles”. If you appreciate originality, community, and live in LA you need to get there soon! Find out more here
http://farmlab.org/2006/12/what-is-farmlab_11.html.
On this cold and rainy Friday the 13th, over 100 artists, community leaders, philanthropists, politicians, big thinkers, and a high school class from Topanga, California gathered to consider the issue of patriotism and munch on bacon & eggs (which were very tasty, btw). The first couple of speakers were local politicians (the usual suspects…), and despite their clear commitment to local issues and love of Los Angeles, their rather convoluted ramblings on patriotism left me rather unmoved. (Although, I am sorry about the “most handsome guy at Marshall High” that died while serving in the Korean war circa 1973.) My mind (and heart) perked up right about the time Lauren Bon (the force behind Farmlab and the magnificent “Not a Cornfield” project) invited the sleepy and chilled guests to perform the Hokey Pokey in the spirit of shared optimism. Everything was up hill from “put your left hand in...”
Once the artists took the podium, the rather tired and seemingly obligatory pronouncements of “patriotism” by politicians transformed into intense, emotional, and uplifting personal stories of the PROCESS of becoming patriotic. Perhaps politicians have an inherent disadvantage discussing patriotism since the approved definitions of the term are so narrow. As a daughter of immigrants, I was touched by President of Otis College Samuel Hoi’s story of being born in Hong Kong, under foreign rule, which left him with a British passport with the “Country of Birth” section left blank. This bureaucratic colonial byproduct left a mark on a young mind unsure of his place in a shifting landscape. Samuel spoke about the gratitude and relief he felt becoming an American citizen, but eloquently shared that his love for his adopted homeland was cemented in the midst of the of September 11, 2001 tragedy.
The regal air of Tongva tribe sage, cultural activist, and environmental educator, Cindi Alvitre literally transformed the gathering with her powerful, ceremonial greeting declared in her native tongue. Her concept of patriotism had little to do with the flag waving or baseball-playing, but with a primal connection to the land. In keeping with her indigenous beliefs and values, patriotism to Cindi translates into honoring and protecting the soil beneath her feet. She boldly declared her loyalty to the land not the socio-political system. Her environmental view of patriotism seemed to provide the most holistic definition of the question,
how can we claim to love our country while literally destroying its foundation? Diverse comments from artists, community leaders, and citizens some in accented English, some in local dialects, made it clear that patriotism is a beautifully complex and deeply personal emotion not a rote, vacuous declaration made for political gain. Emotional references to the Tiananmen Square massacre, civil rights rallies, and several mentions of Michelle Obama’s much publicized comment about “being proud of her country for the first time” illustrated that like all love affairs, the affection for one’s country is fluid and based on mutual respect.
The Merriam Webster’s dictionary simply defines patriotism as love for or devotion to one's country, however, the true meaning is highly dependent on context and philosophy. The classic version of patriotism developed by the Greeks was based on an ethical theory of altruism and benevolence, not on the tribal affiliations often expressed in nationalism. When speaking of moral duty towards others, the issue of application is a tricky one. Does our altruism (or patriotism) extend only to the borders of land, culture, religion, gender, and ethnicity, or does it apply equally to all humans?
My thoughts? Well, Ms. Cosmopolite doesn’t carry around a globe for nothing!
The love of one's country is a splendid thing. But why should love stop at the border?
- Pablo Casals
Until Next Time,
Ms. Cosmopolite
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