As an American, I have a natural–as well as a lifelong cultured–allegiance to my country. Besides serving in two military branches for eight years, I have read and been taught about what it took for this huge piece of continent on Earth to become what it is. Some of the historical references have been altered or become fuzzy with time, but there are things to be learned about the good and bad that shaped the nation we live in. Sometimes we can learn the most by what wasn’t said.
My search engine produces some interesting topics which can turn into deep rabbit holes of trivia; one such venture mentioned a popular phrase I sometimes heard from my own parents: “My country, right or wrong.” The words do seem like a boast of blind devotion which might be better left to extremists, and preferably from other places where such things are more accepted (think North Korea). My country when it is right, I can certainly go along with. My country when it is wrong is a different concept I can’t necessarily follow blindly without knowing why I should do so.
It turns out the phrase has a story to tell, and it came from a resource which has evolved into a fact provider* in search engine home pages, and which I stumbled upon by accident. I think that in an election year it’s good to tell the story behind this saying.
The original phrase was uttered some 200 years ago by Stephen Decatur, who was an officer in the United States Navy’s infancy, enlisting at age 19 and rising to the rank of Commodore. He offered a toast after a dinner sometime in 1816-1820, saying, “Our Country! In her intercourse with foreign nations may she always be in the right; but right or wrong, our country!”
The translation is that we are always America, with our good and bad characteristics. When we are acting with other countries, we do so hoping we do what is right, but always keeping in mind what we represent when we do it. This doesn’t suggest that we own up to our mistakes when we do wrong, and say that we apologize as a nation for the slight. It simply says that we are what we are in totality.
In 1872, the 13th Secretary of the Interior, Carl Schurz, made an amendment to the toast. “My country, right or wrong; if right, to be kept right; and if wrong, to be set right.” This from a German immigrant who served in the American Civil War (fighting at Gettysburg) and helped in the formation of the Conservative Republican Party. These were men^^ of some standing, trying to put patriotism into perspective.
So this is a legacy we should quote in its entirety, rather than misquote. The duty of an American is to keep right what is right and to correct wrongs. To simply state a support of anything “right or wrong” is like saying doing wrong doesn’t matter. It does, indeed.
My country; still growing after 248 years. Still trying to right wrongs, as well (we hope) this election year.
*(Resources: Cracked.com, Wikipedia)
^^(Carl Schurz’ widow went on to help form what we know as kindergarten for early learning youngsters; women did contribute to our nation.)
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