Defining Patriotism Down

Something to think about the next time you see someone being labelled as "unpatriotic".

Winter, 1780

Soldiers of the Pennsylvania Line, a unit of Washington's Continental Army, are camped near Morristown, New Jersey. They had endured tremendous hardship due to inadequate clothing and provisions. On December 16th their commander wrote:

"...we are reduced to dry bread and beef for our food, and to cold water for our drink. Neither officers or soldiers have received a single drop of spirituous liquors from the public magazines since the 10th of October last, except one gill per man some time in November, this, together with the old worn out coats and tattered linen overalls, and what was once a poor substitute for a blanket (now divided among three soldiers), is but very wretched living and shelter against the winter's piercing cold, drifting snows and chilling sleets."

"Our soldiery are not devoid of reasoning faculties, nor are they callous to the first feelings of nature, they have now served their country with fidelity for near five years, poorly clothed, badly fed and worse paid; of the last article, trifling as it is, they have not seen a paper dollar in the way of pay for near twelve months."

By this time, many men of the Pennsylvania line had served three years and were expecting to be discharged. Then word spread that their terms of enlistment "for three years or the duration of the war" were being interpreted by the officers as whichever event occurred last.

Given the lack of pay, the physical hardships, and the prospect of being in the army for the duration of the war, on New Years Day, 1781, the men mutinied.

Their plan was to march to Philadelphia and present their greivances to the Continental Congress, which was then in session.

On January 7th, the soldiers apprehended a British agent and his guide. The British, sensing an opportunity to try and persuade the mutineers to defect, had sent these envoys to offer the mutineers back pay in hard cash (continental paper currency was of little value) should they join the British side. The mutineers not only rejected the offer, they immediately arrested the agents as spies.

Also on the 7th, President Joseph Reed, representing the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania, arrived to meet and negotiate with the leaders of the mutiny. The following day, an agreement was reached.

Discharges were offered to all soldiers who had been retained beyond their enlistments or coerced into reenlistment. If a soldier's enlistment papers were unavailable, he was allowed to simply to give an oath attesting to his time served. Clothing and pay was being sent to Trenton for distribution once the mutiny ended.

The two Britsh agents were turned over to the mutineers' erstwhile commanders. They were later hanged.

The men of the Pennsylvania Line remained loyal to the patriot cause. Many would continue to fight in the Continental Army until the end of the war.

Since September 11, 2001, the concept of patriotism has been redefined by many Republicans to mean unquestioned acquience to whatever actions the current administration chooses to take. Those who disagree are branded as unpatriotic or worse. This is a perversion of the principles upon which this nation was founded.

The danger of possible future terrorist attacks is real and very frightenting. And it may be necessary for citizens to sacrifice certain rights in exchange for additional security. However, this should not be decided unilaterally by any President. To raise an objection is not unpatriotic. It is, in fact, loyalty to the patriot cause.

The Decparation of Independence states "We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed,."

Think about the phrase "...deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed"

Do you recall the governed giving their consent to the warrantless wiretapping of U.S. citizens?

Do you recall the governed giving their consent to the establishment of secret prisons overseas?

The governed have never had the opportunity to give (or withhold) their consent for these policies. Until that occurs, the legitimacy of these actions is open to fair debate.

The American Revolution was not fought for a flag or a piece of paper. It was fought to establish a democratic system of government. Those who feel that any criticism of the current administration is unpatriotic or traitorous would do well to read the documents upon which this nation was founded. They can be found at the National Archives website.

For a detailed history of the mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line see:
Charles S. Yordy, III: The Pennsylvania Line Mutiny, its Origins and Patriotism

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