“For me patriotism is more than fidelity to a place on the map. It’s respect for values, a way of thinking”
(Barack Obama)
Many Chileans will wonder if we really need to rescue some attitudes and displays of patriotism in the midst of the political, economic and health crisis we face. Although the answer would seem obvious, for many Chileans it is not, let alone in the polarization environment in which we are living. For me, at least, the need to preserve and encourage patriotism is not only fundamental, but it is also substantial and inseparable from the duty of loyalty and identity that each of us has with the country to which we belong. Thus, patriotism becomes a virtue or value that is not reserved exclusively for martyrs or heroes. It’s a citizen virtue.
However, the atmosphere of confrontation prevailing in Chilean politics has caused this virtue to be questioned by some political sectors, being that it is a good and necessary issue for a young nation like ours. Although this questioning is as old as the black thread, the truth is in times of polarization when patriotism, as a virtue, conflicts with other values we may have. And this has led to patriotism not being without challenges, depending on the perspective used. Today, boutique left-wing movements, along with the red set, and far-right ones threaten to weaken patriotic virtues, as most Chileans understand them. see.
For a certain left caviar, one that belongs to the political, economic and social elite that has become citizens of the world, the sense of belonging to a country, is diluted by a kind of belonging to an idea of global humanity. It is globalization and multilateralism. The idea of working in international NGOs and embracing causes such as the environment, migration and others, are part of this phenomenon. The role of patriotic citizens, that is, identified with a country of origin, is gradually minimized or diluted. The idea, and in some cases fashion, of being global citizens displaces the duty of loyalty and identity that we have with our country, family, etc. I have several examples of Chilean politicians in this category, but my patriotic sense prevents me from exposing them.
At the other end, we find nationalism, which in recent years has become a powerful – and questioned – force for political identity around the world, but which differs from patriotism. Although they are often linked and given a common root, nationalism rests in the nation/territory as the sole source of their identity. This implies developing a kind of false moral superiority against those who may pose some degree of threat to national identity. From that, it is very easy for nationalists to start seeing enemies everywhere. Does that sound familiar? Charles de Gaulle stated that “patriotism is when love for your own people is the first thing; nationalism, when hatred for others is the first thing.”
For a large majority of Chileans who do not identify with extreme globalization or transcendence of nationalism, but, with true patriotism, our duty of loyalty and identity with Chile, comes from our past, from our history, from our family history, from national history, from our traditions, customs and values. This story – personal, family and national – is shaping and forming the character or ethos of a country. And that is precisely patriotism: a virtue that constitutes our destiny as a nation.
In view of the next constituent process, we can say that constitutions are not only to solve the problems of the past in the country, but also to lay the foundations for future coexistence among Chileans and to generate progress in the country. Being convinced of the tremendous contribution made by the 1980 Constitution to the development of our country over the past 40 years, I insist that it is not necessary to throw everything overboard and start from a blank sheet to improve the current Constitution. As citizens and patriots, we must collect the best of our traditions and values, along with re-greeding the importance and recognition of our constitutional duties as Chileans.
The content poured into this opinion column is the sole responsibility of its author, and does not necessarily reflect the editorial line or position of El Mostrador.
