Patriotism is not a uniquely American fruit. It can be grown anywhere. It’s a fondness for the qualities, hopefully just the admirable qualities, of one’s own home.
Some time ago, I noted the fierce patriotic theme in the Korean series Mr. Sunshine as something Americans could identify with. They faced threats we did not and still live under a cloud that hasn’t quite reached us, but their fight for sovereignty, to live by their own laws as Koreans and not vassals to another country, still resonates with many Americans.
I’m looking at a translation of a 1000-year-old poem by Korean poet Yo Inlŏ, “Meditating on the Start of a New Era.”
“My candle burns a flame of jade,” he says with pride and describes combing his hair in a traditional fashion.
Would that we so might comb the State Free of her follies and her greed!
That’s the perennial question. How do we guard our country against the natural self-aggrandizing of our leaders? Our solders didn’t die in battle and training for battle for the petty projects and personal wealth of our politicians. They died for that jade flame, for the well-being of their families and neighbors.
Have a restful Memorial Day weekend.
Remakes: Steven D. Greydanus talks about the magic of Disney’s original Little Mermaid and how the remake shows the company’s shallowness.
Slang: Another batch of interesting words from Cian McCarthy on Twitter:
Get more American slang from the 19th century here, including Shoddyocracy and Tell a thumper.
New Novels: Englewood’s introduction to a few new novels released this month.
America: Have you ever read or sung all the verses of “My Country ‘Tis of Thee”? Here are two of the eight.
Our fathers’ God to Thee,
Author of Liberty,
To thee we sing,
Long may our land be bright
With Freedom’s holy light,
Protect us by thy might
Great God, our King.
Our glorious Land to-day,
‘Neath Education’s sway,
Soars upward still.
Its hills of learning fair,
Whose bounties all may share,
Behold them everywhere
On vale and hill!
Photo by Aditya Joshi on Unsplash