UU patriotism is more than  symbolic.  It doesn't take much time to salute the flag, pledge allegiance or to thank a veteran for their service. Patriotism needs to be a 365 day a year activity.  We are patriotic in this sense when we write letters to the editor, lobby for legislation that serves the common good, work for the candidates of our choice, volunteer as an election judge or witness.  We need to  make room for  symbolic expressions of patriotism but never use them to substitute for  life-long service to the common good.

I doubt that many UUs practice  patriotism as loyalty beyond question.  In the last eight years, we've seen where such thoughtless loyalty leads: a trillion dollar war in Iraq and $700 billion welfare plan for Wall Street Bankers.  As Unitarian Universalists we are pledged to 'the free and responsible search for truth and meaning' (UU Principle #4).  How can the common good be served by lies, half-truths and wishful thinking? 

We must never use our patriotism as an excuse to suspend our ethics.  No just cause is served by lying, cheating, stealing, torturing or killing.  We must never settle for the 'know nothing' patriotism of 'my country right or wrong.'  We are called by both Jesus and Socrates to  seek truth which sets us free.  If you don't understand why torture is always wrong, ask a veteran who's been a P.O.W. to explain it to you.  What we do to others who are vulnerable  will be visited upon our sons and daughters with a vengeance.

Personalties in politics change every 2 - 10 years.  Political parties shift their principles every generation or two.   UU patriotism needs to be grounded on something more durable than the shifting sands of personalities and parties.  Otherwise patriotism becomes just another passing fad.

UU patriotism is grounded in deep, abiding principles.  We honor the 'inherent worth and dignity of every person'  (1st UU Principle) and have labored for over 200 years to extend voting rights to all citizens, abolish slavery, establish public education and public libraries.  We have worked for human treatment for prisoners and the mentally ill, healthcare on the battle-fields and universal health care.  We also honor the universal 'web of life of which we are part' (7th UU Principle)  If you look for the roots of the ecological movement in America, you will find Unitarians like Jefferson, Emerson and Thoreau well-represented.

UU patriotism is rooted in service to others,  Sometimes this is narrowed to 'military service', but those who serve as nurses and doctors, who work in the peace-corps, the job-corps or the teachers corps are also serving their country and the common good.  We continue this service whenever we gather food for food-shelves, donate to charity, or work with those born into poverty a way up and out.

Patriotism often begins with a passionate love of a particular place: a village, city, state or nation.  It may be hard for us to believe that cities once fought wars to gain political or economic advantage.  Perhaps our great-grandchildren will wonder why we sometimes sanctioned wars between nations.  Our 7th UU principle reminds us that all the places that we love are connected into a larger fabric of life.  When we love a particular place or community we are implicitly loving the larger communities of humankind and all life on earth.  We need to be agents for universalizing the patriotic love of place so that these fierce passions can be used to heal divisions rather than perpetuate them.