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The Shapes of Patriotism By Msgr. George G. Higgins The Yard Stick August 28, 2000  Norman Podhoretz, longtime editor of the influential monthly Commentary, began his political odyssey as a "radical" of sorts, but a decade later, switched permanently to what now is known as the neoconservative camp. Ever since his "conversion," he has engaged in a relentless and often pugnacious battle against his former comrades.  Podhoretz's most recent book, "My Love Affair With America: The Cautionary Tale of a Cheerful Conservative" (Free Press, New York), is similar to his earlier memoirs in giving no quarter to unredeemed "radicals" and "liberals"; he deems them anti-American or at least lacking in proper respect for the land of the free and home of the brave. Surprisingly, however, he now has discovered that some conservatives and, worse still, some of his neoconservative brothers in arms also are dangerously close to being "enemies of America." This is largely an internecine New York family quarrel, for many of those on Podhoretz's new list of alleged anti-Americans are neighbors of his in Gotham.  Podhoretz's own brand of patriotism, lyrically expressed in "My Love Affair With America," is unconditional, allowing for few if any ifs, ands or buts. I say this not to make light of his patriotism, but to note that his "love affair with America" comes close to blind infatuation. As a patriot myself, I share his disdain for Americans who have contempt for their country. But it ought to be possible to defend the country and glory in its achievements without becoming, or at least seeming to be, chauvinistic.  Podhoretz traces his brand of patriotism to family roots. I will do the same. His roots were in Brooklyn. Mine were remotely in Springfield, Ill., where Abraham Lincoln lived before going to the White House and where he is entombed in a magnificent mausoleum. Springfield is a patriotic city. As a boy, I spent many a Fourth of July listening with pride as one of my uncles stood on the front porch of my immigrant grandmother's home and, with gusto, read aloud the Declaration of Independence to the enthusiastic applause of a cheering crowd of family members and neighbors.  I might add that my uncle and his working-class brothers, including my father, were patriots with a strong social conscience. Solid trade unionists, they thought the United States faced a number of serious economic problems which, in their view, conservatives were failing to address.  I have many other memories of patriotic observances from my youth. But this having been said, I blush to recall that during my lifetime almost all U.S. presidents in their State of the Union addresses -- carried live to millions of listeners and viewers in other countries -- have been superpatriotic almost to the point of at least sounding chauvinistic.  Our presidents seem to think that we expect them to say -- or at least will tolerate their saying -- that Americans are the greatest people in the history of the world bar none, and that the United States is, always has been and always will be the world's greatest country. After one State of the Union address some years ago, the Wall Street Journal published an essay by a distinguished university professor who, in a fictional State of the Union message, set forth in grim detail the many social and economic problems facing the United States and called upon Americans to make whatever sacrifices necessary to resolve them.  I don't expect to live long enough to hear a U.S. president make such an honest and unflattering speech, but, with all due respect to Podhoretz, one can hope for a little more modesty and less triumphalism.   Papal Social Encyclicals   Other Catholic Social Teachings General Articles of Interest  Catholic Worker Connection Msgr. George Higgins  Home Page E-Mail: Fr. Sinclair Oubre