The Pledge of Nationalism

It has often been asked: are we a nation of laws, or a nation of men?

The answer: every democratic nation is a nation of men. There may be nations where the majority of citizens believe in the Rule of Law, and these nations may call themselves "a nation of laws" - but the laws still reflect what is popular. The Bill of Rights is an elegant document, but it has not sufficed to protect the rights of citizens. No document can. No paper, regardless of how eloquent or powerful, can protect the individual or minority from the will of the mob.

Two centuries after the creation of the United States of America, many American citizens feel that government at all levels is out of control. Taxes are high. Regulations are arbitrary. Special interests fight vicious battles in the halls of power for larger shares of government pie. Moral interests wage war in Congress and on the streets in an attempt to control the future cultural evolution of our society.

People ask: what happened? Where did we go wrong?

It would seem that the citizens of America grew complacent. The people, naturally proud of the great land that they had built, became convinced that they lived in the greatest country on Earth. They taught their children to believe this. The children grew up believing, so often failed to notice when the very things that had made their country great began to disappear under the heel of big government. The attitude of "My country, right or wrong!" made the people all too willing to trade more and more of their liberty for the politicians' false promises of fairness, equality, or security.

This is what happens when individuals pledge allegiance to flags, rather than to the principles behind them.