US Memorial Day marked by excessive patriotism

For people who are unaware of the excessive patriotism in the United States today, this past Memorial Day weekend has served as a good reminder.

In Brooklyn, New York, on Monday, thousands of military veterans, boy scouts, marching bands and supporters advanced to the John Paul Jones Park to take part in the 145th Kings County Memorial Day Parade. The Stars and Stripes were everywhere, outside windows, on cars, pants and even on women's headwear.

"Thank you for your service," one woman onlooker shouted to several veterans in the parade.

It was just one of a dozen Memorial Day parades held across New York's five boroughs and around the region. All across the US, hundreds of parades were staged this past weekend, in addition to many other ceremonies, such as laying wreaths at the graves of fallen soldiers and holding concerts featuring patriotic songs and music.

President Barack Obama attended the traditional wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery. He then headed to the Vietnam War Memorial to deliver his patriotic speech on the 50th anniversary of the war.

Just days before Memorial Day, both Obama and Vice-President Joe Biden had given patriotic speeches when they addressed graduates at the US Air Force Academy and West Point, respectively.

Patriotism has already become a presidential campaign topic. That is probably why Mitt Romney, the Republican hopeful for president, also busied himself in San Diego, laying wreaths and making patriotic and inflammatory remarks, pointing fingers at countries such as Russia and China.

In fact, the kind of patriotism shown on Memorial Day is expected to peak on the Fourth of July, Independence Day, when US patriotic sentiment is on full display.

Compared with most countries, the US is almost always near the top in the rankings of patriotism, according to various studies. A USA Today/Gallup poll about two years ago showed that the overall percentage of US citizens describing themselves as "extremely patriotic" was higher than at any point in the survey's history, including in the months after the Sept 11, 2001, attacks. A total of 74 percent of US citizens said they were "extremely" or "very" patriotic.

Knowing and unknowingly, patriotism has permeated American life. And patriotism rises when the US is in conflict or war with another country. Right after Obama announced that Osama bin Laden had been killed a year ago, jubilant students rushed into the streets of Washington DC at midnight, waving US flags and chanting "USA". In 2003, some US citizens launched a "boycott French goods" campaign in 2003 after France opposed the US invasion of Iraq. French fries were once renamed "freedom fries".

Domestically, Utah state legislation requires schools to instruct students on the history of the US flag. Online, there are tests for US citizens to find out whether they are "patriotic" or "unpatriotic". Hollywood movies, such as Top Gun and Saving Private Ryan, have served as effective ways to instill patriotism among US citizens.

Given the close link between patriotism and war, the fact that the US has constantly engaged in wars may shed light on the excessive patriotism.

The news that 1,780 expatriates gave up their nationality at US embassies last year, compared with only 235 in 2008, may be one of the few stories that hurts the US patriotic mood.

A Pew Center survey last November showed that nearly half (48 percent) say the US is the greatest country in the world. Another 42 percent say it is one of the greatest countries in the world.

George Orwell, the British novelist and journalist, defined patriotism as the "devotion to a particular place and a particular way of life, which one believes to be the best in the world but has no wish to force on other people. Patriotism is of its nature defensive, both militarily and culturally".

He described nationalism as "inseparable from the desire for power", implying that nationalism is the feeling that your way of life, country or ethnic group is superior to others, and such feeling can lead a country to impose their way of life on others.

While most US citizens hardly talk about nationalism in their country, the excessive patriotism exhibited in US society clearly needs a new definition.

chenweihua@chinadaily.com.cn