Can July 4 Spark a Better You?

July 03, 2008 - Ben G. Frank , Jewish Exponent Feature

"Many people are apparently undisturbed by patriotism. They either embrace or reject it automatically," writes Stephen Nathanson in his book, Patriotism, Morality and Peace.

While most people agree that patriotism means loving, supporting and defending one's country, many disagree on how they can best perform such services. There are those who say that the government speaks for the country, and that citizens therefore should actively support all government policies and actions. Others maintain that a true patriot should speak out if convinced that the country is following an unjust course of action.

Clearly, the last half-century has witnessed serious questioning about the nature of patriotism and its effect on individuals.

"There are deep divisions in American culture about patriotism," notes Nathanson.

So, on this July 4, Independence Day, we put this question to health practitioners: "Is patriotism good for your health?"

We also asked, "Do those who accept 'government truths' or do those who question government or its policies feel better about themselves?"

"A lot depends on your own personality, health and vulnerability," states Paul Fink, professor of psychiatry at Temple University's School of Medicine and chairman of the Youth Homicide Committee for the City of Philadelphia.

"A great deal depends on how angry you get," he adds, citing many who are distressed today, especially liberals, at the direction the country appears to be taking. "They don't know how to reconcile the war [in Iraq] with how to be an American."

Still, he is unsure if this distress has actually affected mental health.

"Anyone who blindly does anything suffers from a degree of compulsive thinking and is probably made anxious by doubt, questioning and wonderment. Blind loyalty to one's government might indicate a need to follow the leader -- a fear of being out of step and general anxiety," observes Henry Paul, an author (Is My Teenager Okay?) and psychiatrist in private practice in New York City.

"On the other hand," continues Paul, "while questioning those in power might stem from a healthy belief in questioning, it can sometimes simply be part of a defiant and rebellious personality."

He cites elements of the extreme "political left" who question everything "to the point of absurdity, including [government] overthrow," as well as those "who blindly follow a party line because their parents said, 'Always vote for this party.' "

"It's all about the level of mental health of the individual. Everything in moderation. It's not a matter of black or white," says Paul.

'A Strong Belief System'
For his part, Jonathan Berent, a performance-anxiety specialist (www.socialanxiety.com), says that he feels patriotism is a good thing if you have a strong identity with your country.

The "more you trust, the more you have better health," he says.

Yehuda Nir, a professor of psychiatry at Cornell University Medical Center in New York and the author of The Lost Childhood, which deals with his Holocaust experiences, says that he believes America is "a very special country -- a country that cares for other countries."

To defend one's country is indeed "a good form of patriotism," stresses this psychiatrist, who also in his book describes the Polish uprising in 1944 in Warsaw, in which he took part at age 14.

Richard Frances, clinical professor of psychiatry at New York University Medical School and first president of the American Academy of Addiction Psychiatry, points out that "for some people who believe in 'God and country,' patriotism is a tremendous help to their mental health. They are people who usually have a strong belief system."

All seem to agree with Frances that extremism is "a danger for one's mental health or even the mental health of an entire nation."

Frances points out that to follow a fanatic leader with blind patriotism can be damaging. He cites the Germans, who did just that from 1933 to 1945.

Frances cites Israel as a good example of a group of mentally healthy people who, when it comes to patriotism, are still capable of speaking their own minds.

Several of those interviewed agree that veterans are the most patriotic.

"But when veterans feel betrayed by the country that they have made sacrifices for, it can lead them to increased depression and post-traumatic stress disorders. They feel hopeless and helpless regarding what they have done," says Francis.

That's why today, he adds, "we should value the veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, whether we agree or not" with the point of those wars.