Paul Kusuda’s column
Patriotism is not just a word
Patriotism is not just a word
By Paul H. Kusuda
Part 1 of 2
My wife Atsuko, as a retired high school librarian, continues to read a variety of books and
magazines. She reads a lot! I read less since I’m a couch potato who watches TV
programs, football and baseball games, “who dun its,” newscasts, talk shows, etc. As an
early birthday present, few months early, she gave me a copy of former Wisconsin Senator
Russ Feingold’s book WHILE AMERICA SLEEPS. Referring to President Bush’s decision to
order our armed forces make a pre-emptive strike on Iraq in March 2003, he wrote on Page
84: “It seemed almost unpatriotic to oppose our president’s judgment so soon after the
brutal attack on our nation. Yet many Americans found the case for war confusing and not
terribly persuasive because of the inconsistency and dishonesty of the arguments being
made for it…[W]hen the administration moves back and forth from one argument to another,
it undercuts the credibility of the case and the belief in its urgency. I believe this practice of
Part 1 of 2
My wife Atsuko, as a retired high school librarian, continues to read a variety of books and
magazines. She reads a lot! I read less since I’m a couch potato who watches TV
programs, football and baseball games, “who dun its,” newscasts, talk shows, etc. As an
early birthday present, few months early, she gave me a copy of former Wisconsin Senator
Russ Feingold’s book WHILE AMERICA SLEEPS. Referring to President Bush’s decision to
order our armed forces make a pre-emptive strike on Iraq in March 2003, he wrote on Page
84: “It seemed almost unpatriotic to oppose our president’s judgment so soon after the
brutal attack on our nation. Yet many Americans found the case for war confusing and not
terribly persuasive because of the inconsistency and dishonesty of the arguments being
made for it…[W]hen the administration moves back and forth from one argument to another,
it undercuts the credibility of the case and the belief in its urgency. I believe this practice of
shifting justifications has much to do with the troubling phenomenon of many Americans questioning the administration’s
motives in insisting on action at this time…”
Reading those words dredged up a not-too-pleasant memory. It also prodded me into a difficult area of writing; I felt like
delving into the morass of self reflection to understand something I consider important. Soon after the U.S. announced it
would go after Saddam Hussein, I attended the regularly-scheduled (ungodly hour of 7:00 a.m. on Tuesdays) breakfast
meeting of a dozen or so men, members of our local church. After our usual bantering good-natured talk, we discussed
the administration’s decision to send troops into Iraq. With the successful military efforts of Desert Storm, there seemed
to be little reason to invade Iraq.
Nationally, there was talk of weapons of mass destruction of which Iraqi officials denied existence. There was also talk of
Al Qaeda, how badly Saddam Hussein treated the Iraqi, and about the Kuwaiti prisoners of war. The rationale for
incursion was varied, but the over-all attitude felt by many Americans was “If you aren’t with us, you’re against us!” Any
suggestion of questioning the hastily-made decision was practically forbidden. Too many of us, like sheep, did minimal
thinking and followed the official line.
I could not support the presidential decision and so expressed myself. Presidents are not infallible; they are, after all
human beings. Positions they take must of necessity consider the political climate, but they must also meet the test of
public good. In this instance, despite the lack of information obviously available to President George W. Bush, I believed
our country should not have decided to invade Iraq again as in the time of his father, President H. W. Bush. Elder
President Bush had decided, after Iraq was defeated, there was no justification to rid the world of Saddam Hussein even
though Hussein was not especially likable.
One other person at the breakfast get-together said, “For the first time in my life, I’m ashamed of my country.” He felt as I
did that the incursion was not “right.” Another person pointedly said I was unpatriotic for voicing my opinion. He reflected
the “My country, right or wrong” attitude. He obviously disagreed with both the other person and me; however, I was the
only person targeted as being unpatriotic. His assertion was not opposed by the others; they tacitly accepted his
allegation and probably felt that it was not too searing. However, it cut deeply, undoubtedly because all my life I
considered myself a patriotic citizen.
My self-assessment as a patriotic American was especially keen because as a Japanese American, I took pride in being
a U.S. citizen. That status was denied my parents who were born in Japan and were by law excluded from becoming
naturalized U.S. citizens. (In 1952, when Congress passed and the President signed the law enabling Japanese aliens to
motives in insisting on action at this time…”
Reading those words dredged up a not-too-pleasant memory. It also prodded me into a difficult area of writing; I felt like
delving into the morass of self reflection to understand something I consider important. Soon after the U.S. announced it
would go after Saddam Hussein, I attended the regularly-scheduled (ungodly hour of 7:00 a.m. on Tuesdays) breakfast
meeting of a dozen or so men, members of our local church. After our usual bantering good-natured talk, we discussed
the administration’s decision to send troops into Iraq. With the successful military efforts of Desert Storm, there seemed
to be little reason to invade Iraq.
Nationally, there was talk of weapons of mass destruction of which Iraqi officials denied existence. There was also talk of
Al Qaeda, how badly Saddam Hussein treated the Iraqi, and about the Kuwaiti prisoners of war. The rationale for
incursion was varied, but the over-all attitude felt by many Americans was “If you aren’t with us, you’re against us!” Any
suggestion of questioning the hastily-made decision was practically forbidden. Too many of us, like sheep, did minimal
thinking and followed the official line.
I could not support the presidential decision and so expressed myself. Presidents are not infallible; they are, after all
human beings. Positions they take must of necessity consider the political climate, but they must also meet the test of
public good. In this instance, despite the lack of information obviously available to President George W. Bush, I believed
our country should not have decided to invade Iraq again as in the time of his father, President H. W. Bush. Elder
President Bush had decided, after Iraq was defeated, there was no justification to rid the world of Saddam Hussein even
though Hussein was not especially likable.
One other person at the breakfast get-together said, “For the first time in my life, I’m ashamed of my country.” He felt as I
did that the incursion was not “right.” Another person pointedly said I was unpatriotic for voicing my opinion. He reflected
the “My country, right or wrong” attitude. He obviously disagreed with both the other person and me; however, I was the
only person targeted as being unpatriotic. His assertion was not opposed by the others; they tacitly accepted his
allegation and probably felt that it was not too searing. However, it cut deeply, undoubtedly because all my life I
considered myself a patriotic citizen.
My self-assessment as a patriotic American was especially keen because as a Japanese American, I took pride in being
a U.S. citizen. That status was denied my parents who were born in Japan and were by law excluded from becoming
naturalized U.S. citizens. (In 1952, when Congress passed and the President signed the law enabling Japanese aliens to
apply for naturalization, both of my parents
took short citizenship courses, passed
examinations, became naturalized U.S.
citizens, and voted for the re-election of
Dwight D. Eisenhower.)
Patriotism is not just a word; it’s a gut
feeling. To be an American should not be
taken lightly or without thought. It is a part
of living. Even when the hue and cry is
“Buy America!” one’s focus should not be
on flag-waving but on out-sourcing,
moving industries out of the U.S., and
foreign trade as they affect domestic
economics. Patriotism is a precious
commodity to be cherished, not
something to hide behind or to be
brandished to cover up distasteful or
empty-headed thinking. I wonder how
many of us has ever even wondered about
our own level of patriotism. How much
would we knowingly give up for our
country?
Next month, this discussion about
patriotism will be concluded with a
personal perspective of the topic.
took short citizenship courses, passed
examinations, became naturalized U.S.
citizens, and voted for the re-election of
Dwight D. Eisenhower.)
Patriotism is not just a word; it’s a gut
feeling. To be an American should not be
taken lightly or without thought. It is a part
of living. Even when the hue and cry is
“Buy America!” one’s focus should not be
on flag-waving but on out-sourcing,
moving industries out of the U.S., and
foreign trade as they affect domestic
economics. Patriotism is a precious
commodity to be cherished, not
something to hide behind or to be
brandished to cover up distasteful or
empty-headed thinking. I wonder how
many of us has ever even wondered about
our own level of patriotism. How much
would we knowingly give up for our
country?
Next month, this discussion about
patriotism will be concluded with a
personal perspective of the topic.