By Bishop Michael Goings

In the sixties, Mr. Herbert Crawford, in his usual fashion, would traverse the grounds of Gordon Elementary School.  He went everywhere ringing his cowbell, signaling that it was 8:00 a.m. and time for every student to stop whatever they were doing and go straight to their homeroom class.  Back then, each class would begin the school day with a time of devotion.  Morning devotion would begin with a prayer, followed by the reading of a scripture.  It would end by the entire class reciting the “Pledge of Allegiance” to the flag.  This daily reciting helped to instill within me fidelity and patriotism for this nation from an early age.  This belief of patriotism was further enhanced in May of 1975, when I joined the Army.  Recent events, especially the case against Edward Snowden, have alarmed me to the need to comment on patriotism.  I am of the opinion that if you are a citizen of America or any other country, then you owe that particular country your loyalty and support.  This is definitely true when being patriotic does not contradict or clash with your conscious or conviction of ethics and morality.

Imperfections Do Not Justify Unpatriotic Activities
Many people who are involved in unpatriotic rhetoric and causes cite the flaws and faults of our nation as a justification to their unpatriotic ways.  Simply put, they believe that because America is not perfect, they have a right to say and do things that will harm this country.  All of my life, as an African-American, I had to live in a system of discrimination, inequality, and racism.  Admittedly, things have gotten a lot better since my childhood and much progress has been made in spite of the fact that we still have a way to go.  Nevertheless, the defects of the system do not give me the right to be unpatriotic.  With all of her faults and imperfections in the areas of race relations, political polarization, abandoning of moral standards and etc., America is still the greatest country and best place to live on planet earth.  Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., in spite of being targeted and censored by the F.B.I. and being victimized by many racial slurs and threats on his life, remained a patriotic American.  It is appalling to read of people like Snowden who criticize our government for some practices that may be questionable and seek asylum from a government that has a history of oppressing and censoring its citizens.  If what he did, in regard to what some are calling an act of treason against America was right, then let him attempt that in his new country of choice.

Religious Conviction Does Not Justify Unpatriotic Activities
To be perfectly honest with you, I have always had a problem with citizens of America who enjoy all of her hard fought freedoms, rights, benefits, and opportunities, yet are unwilling to serve in the military, which help to preserve and protect these constitutional promises.  I am not condemning those whose religious convictions dictate that they be conscientious objectors.  I am merely sharing my belief and opinion about the matter.  I am steeped in Judeo-Christian beliefs and practices.  Also, in nearly forty years of studying the “Good Book,” I have not found a forbiddance to bearing arms or serving in the military.  I take my relationship with God seriously; it is the most treasured thing in my life.  However, as important as it is to me, it does not demand nor dictate that I become unpatriotic.  In all sincerity, quite the opposite is true.  I believe that the Bible teaches that I must be loyal to God, my family, my church, and my country (in that order).  The bottom line is this:  People who are true to God will be patriotic and true to this nation as well.

A Thin Line Between Whistle-Blowing and Treason
When does a whistle-blower become a traitor?  I am of the opinion that when one had been entrusted into the position of having to deal with secret and classified material, as Snowden, he had a responsibility to keep his mouth shut, especially if it involved matters of national security.  Having served in a unit in the army that required me to get top secret clearance, I was well aware of the importance of loyalty and silence.  Regardless of the nature of what my unit was assigned to do, I took a pledge not to be taken lightly.  Whatever covert operation I was involved in, it had to remain a secret until it was officially declassified.  Anyone, whether military or civilian, who took a pledge and had to deal with sensitive and classified information regarding national security, could be considered a whistle-blower by disclosing that information.  This type of whistle-blowing is not only an unpatriotic act, but treason as well.  The Revolutionary War has long since been fought and won, but the spirit of Benedict Arnold lives on through Edward Snowden and others of his treacherous character.  Such people are unpatriotic and traitors who deserve our disdain and not our praise.