Patriotism

"The highest form of patriotism is irreverence." --Mark Twain

As we approach the Independence Day festivities, it might be productive to think a little about patriotism.  For many Americans patriotism is going to Home Depot and purchasing a flag for the front porch.  For others, it is standing in Busch Stadium holding your red Cardinal's cap as you sing "Oh, say can you see by the dawn's early light . . ."  Others celebrate their patriotism with a parade, a picnic, or an old-fashioned fireworks display over the Mississippi River.


These are all outward displays of patriotic fervor.  They are valid ways of showing allegiance to the United States, but I think it is important to note that patriotism is also about our thoughts and ideals.  It is about what we individually bring to the patriotic table.  It's about what is inside.


As Americans, one of the most important things we can bring to Independence Day is independence.  Free people have to have to same attitude that led to our independence.  American patriotism has never been to a person or a party.  Americans have always loathed the adulation of Hitler's followers and the followers of other dictators.  Our loyalty has never been to George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Franklin Roosevelt, Ronald Reagan, or Barack Obama.  We pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.


In this regard Mark Twain is right.  Irreverence is the highest form of patriotism.  Americans should hate political campaigns as they are currently conducted.  We should demand that less attention be placed on what kind of ice cream the candidate prefers and more attention on the candidate's views and policies.  We should value our humorists and comedians who make us laugh at politicians.  Stupid political behavior should always be laughed into oblivion.  No person in American government should be respected any more than the respect he or she has earned.  Laughter makes us all equal in America.


In a government of, by, and for the people, irreverence is absolutely essential.  On this July 4 holiday, let's have more good, old-fashioned American irreverence.  Let's laugh at the political circus coming to town.  Let's laugh at the huge political egos in Washington.  Let's turn our laughter on both the Democrats and Republicans.  Let's laugh next week. It protects us all.

Just the Facts

"First get your facts straight; then you may distort them as much as you please."  -Mark Twain

Yesterday, I started my Mark Twain appearances at the Mark Twain Museum.  I will be there through Labor Day from Monday to Friday at 2:30 pm.  Each day, I say a few words, make myself available for photographs, and answer questions.  This is all in character.  As an actor, off-stage work is the most challenging, but it is also a lot of fun.  I never know what will happen.

Last summer, a lady asked, "Could you tell me about your death Mr. Clemens?"  As Mark Twain, I replied, "You tell me about your death, and I will tell you about mine."  We all laughed.  A man one day asked, "Where are you buried?"  I replied, "I am buried and suffer under a whole world of nonsense.  It is absolutely suffocating." 

In the middle of one Q and A, a man raised his hand and said, "I understand you were a deserter during the Civil War."  I was amazed.  In Twain's own words I explained that Sam Clemens never joined the army but was a member of a local Missouri militia unit called Marion Rangers.  When the unit disbanded, he went west with his brother Orion.  Facts are facts and really not open to rearrangement.

This exchange took me back to Mr. Clemens statement on facts and how we play fast and loose with the facts.  It seems to me that most of us today form our beliefs first, then we search for facts to support our beliefs.  In politics both Democrats and Republicans seem to be on a mission to find any supporting evidence to bolster their politics.  This spring a teenager informed me that to her facts are very confusing.  Perhaps, facts are inconvenient for all of us.

Perhaps all of us should get our facts straight.  At least we should consider the facts because sooner or later we may have to face the facts.