The National Anthem And The Pledge Of Allegiance

Nationalism is much in the news recently. In a campaign speech in Alabama, President Trump declared that kneeling during the National Anthem was unpatriotic. Those that agree with the president call people that kneel during the National Anthem and the Pledge of Allegiance “unpatriotic.” The people that have been kneeling say that it is a form of free speech and is protected by the First Amendment of the Bill of Rights. They call those that disagree with them: fanatics. Which is correct? Nationalism is the love for a country that is deepened by a common political viewpoint. Both extremes fall within this narrow description of nationalism. If we accept that nationalism is a continuum, then patriotic nationalism and fanatic nationalism lie at opposite ends of the spectrum. Patriotic nationalism is the feeling of pride that a citizen has for his or her country. One way that Americans show their pride is by not only flying flags on poles, but also displaying the flag on merchandise. Some items that we display the flag on include: paper plates used on the Fourth of July, clothing, and accessories for our cars. Similar to fanatic nationalism, patriotic nationalism incorporates the idea that your country is the best nation in the world. However, patriotic nationalists …show more content…
However, both have misinterpreted aspects of the Flag Code to their own benefit and to bolster their own point of view. Both sides declare their love of country and use the flag as a means to prove it. In a broad sense, nationalism is a concept that encompasses both patriotic and fanatic nationalism. Thankfully, our common political viewpoint is based upon The Constitution. The First Amendment to the Constitution protects both patriotic and fanatic nationalists’ freedom to use the flag as a means of