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Show Emery County Progress Caste Da'e. Utah Tuesday November 20. 2001 9A OPINION Patriotism and War By JACOB G HOfiNBERGEfl In ev ery war, controversies over patriotism inevitably arise. Most everyone would agree that patriotism involves the loyalty that a person has toward his country. But there are two conflicting concepts arising out of the application of that principle. One concept dictates that a citizen has a duty to make an independent, reasoned judgment of whether the actions of his own government are in the best interest of his country. Obviously, that is a subjective matter people might have different standards and might reach different conclusions from the same set of facts. But what matters is not that there be unanimity of beliefs but rather that the citizens decide for themselves whether a particular governmental course of action is in the best interest of their country. Therefore, this concept of patriotism requires the citizenry to stay abreast of events. It might even require them to study difficult and complex subjects such as history, politics, and economics so that they will be better equipped to arrive at the best judgment Under this view of patriotism, citizens who support a particular war as well as those who oppose it are all behaving patriotically because they have each reached an indepen- because they made an independent judgment that such a course of action would not be in the best interest of the American people. They were behaving patriotically But what if President Clinton had decided to bomb Afghanistan after those early attacks? Would those same Americans have then opposed the bombing? If so, they would have been behaving patriotically In the wake of the September 1 1 attacks, most Americans have presumably arrived at a new, independent conclusion that the bombing of Afghanistan is now in the best interest of our country They might reason, for example, that the bombing is the only way to permanently stop the terrorists. They are behaving patriotically. What if President Bush had derided against bombing Afghanistan? Would Americans who are supporting the bombing today have LETTERS TO THE EDITOR All Kids Are Beautiful Support Boy Scouts as Americans, need to support the Boy Scouts of I have a granddaughter who is one of the most beautiful people in the world today. She is a strong, loving and caring person, even though she has had many things to overcome already in her life. She is going to make it. She is an educated, self thinking, fun loving person who is going to help many others in her lifetime. We, America and all of the scouting volunteers who give of their time and talents to nurture love for God and Country in our youth. I know of no other organization that gives opportunity and experience in service, brotherhood and leadership as does scouting The values taught by scouting are very sorely needed in our society today Ray Grange and Dave Emery among others, should be commended for the days of service they provided in building the Order of the Arrow Camp and bridge to access it. That is just one example of their continuing contributions to the future of America We face many different situa- tions in this area People with a lot of problems, who need a lot of help and support and encouragement to overcome them. All our beautiful children need help and direction. I have met a lot of great people trying to do just that. I'm going to help and encourage as many as I can. I hope more will try to help them, too. We must look past the faults Danny Curtla Orangeville and see the needs. Dont ever forget about love and understanding. Work together and try' to sohethe problems if you really care. I'd like to see good things happen, wrongs made right, people get well. - Donna Otters trom Castle Dale opposed the presidents decision not to bomb? If so, they would have been behaving patriotically It is entirely possible, however, that a person who opposed the bombing of Afghanistan after the first three terrorist attacks might arrive at the same judgment as before that despite the September 1 1 attacks, it would still not be in the best interest of the country to bomb Afghanistan. Fbr example, he might conclude that such a course of action is likely to dent, albeit different, decision about what course of action is produce more terrorism in the best interest of their rather than less. Standing his country. ground and opposing the president, he is behaving Throughout history, however, there have been those patriotically Who then is behaving who have argued in favor of a different notion of patriotism unpatriotically in the current one that entails an uncondicrisis? Those people who tional support of ones governendorsed their governments ment duringwartime. Obvidecision not to bomb Afghanistan after the earlier attacks ously this type of patriotism and their governments does not require the citizen to do any study or engage in any derision to bomb Afghanistan after the September 1 1 attacks All is that reasoning process. expected is, Support your simply because they consider government duringwartime. I it their duty to support believe that this is a false whatever actions their government takes, and not because notion of genuine patriotism and one that every American they arrived at an independent should reject. Not only does it judgment in favor of the involve an abrogation of governments decisions. individual responsibility on Surrendering personal the part of the citizen, it also responsibility to their public has enabled governments officials, they jeopardize not but to lead only their own throughout history also that of our country their citizenry to ruin. It is a fairly safe assumpHow do these different tion that most Americans love concepts of patriotism apply in the current crisis? their country, which sometimes requires them to oppose Consider the terrorist their government. That is not attacks on the U.S. embassies in Kenya and Tanzania in 1999 something to bemoan; it is and on the USS Cole last year. something to celebrate! After U.S. government officials were all, isnt it that concept of (and are) convinced that patriotism that we commemorate eveiy Fourth of July a Osama bin Laden and his associates were behind patriotism that drove a small those attacks and that they had band of British citizens to been planned from terrorist oppose their government because they loved their camps located in Afghanistan. As far as I know, no Americountry? (Hornberger is founder and president of The cans called for bombing Future ofFreedom Afghanistan after those attacks. Why? Presumably well-bei- Qwe the gifjt tkcit QeQwm aM yeat dong aiuj oft mew subsciiption oft you oft someone special on youft Cittistmas 92ist. (Qit Centlfjlcates pftoiiided) youft A pottlon of yout subsctiption ptico uft be donated to: uAngefi 9iee o h Canbon County oti cPtoject fimety Cdaus ng '.St i J--jr . da -- - ?, fr ic-- : f Tj- NT W - r Economy ?: ' ' I: A - Ca cj ot stop by me Sun (Advocate maif the 2mcty County comenient fotm Mow oti togtess offices, . Qecetted tTtom: Name: Address: St: City:. 9$ Name: 3oft: Address: City: Super Special Dinner Complete Salmon $109S Banquet Room Available for Holiday Bookings Order your Thanksgiving pies now!! 86 East 100 South 637-550- 0 Mail check to Sun Advocate, 845 East Main, Price, UT 84501 ' Card " : Signature: Sun Advocate - 637-073- 2 Emery County Progress 1 year subscription $37.00 1 year subscription $22.00 381 2431 -- Call for Information about In state and out of state gift subscriptions oft |