When I was seventeen, I had this conviction that my high school was better than yours. I held this cherished belief even though Vacaville kicked our asses in wrestling every year (metaphorically, because even though you drag your opponent’s elbow against his testicles, no kicking is allowed) and cross-town rival Armijo sent their best students to MIT and Stanford while we were shuffling ours off to state schools. Fortunately I’ve outgrown this childhood notion, and even though UCI has one of the coolest mascots (though not as cool as UCSC’s banana slugs), I identify myself more as human being first, and American, Japanese, Californian, and UC Irvinian secondish.
I think that having granddads who fought on opposite sides tempers any inclinations that I might have had towards jingoism (can’t answer for my brothers, though). That and national pride that irrationally promotes one country as morally and militarily superior to others seems no more mature than schoolyard braggadocio: “My mom (country) can kick your dad (country’s) ass!” What the world needs are humble nations (via humble citizenry) who are willing to learn from one another.
Don’t get me wrong. I like both of my countries of origin. I sometimes get all weepy singing the Star Spangled Banner (even if I don’t hold my hand over my heart during the pledge), but I feel the same when I hear Kimi ga Yo, Japan’s anthem with imperialist undertones. The battling samurai of the warring states period of Japan are as much a part of my heritage as Virginia tobacco planters, and I don’t disown the Yamato clan that pushed back the white-skinned Ainu to frozen Hokkaido any more than I cast off my Remy ancestors who followed the frontier from Ohio to Wisconsin to Kansas, probably displacing the Native American inhabitants, whose own ancestors came from Asia ages ago.
They have a rocky history, but I’d like to think that things are getting better over time (think of us as driving uphill in a clunker that keeps stalling). From the 20,000 meter perspective, both countries are good places to be in terms of prosperity and freedom (though other places often do better). I mean, you can get away with this in the US:
(It’s ironic to me that those who would proclaim the US as superlative in its freedoms would be among the first to deprive this man of his right to express himself.)
So, on this anniversary of the birth of the U. S. of A., I hope that the Americans reading this can temper their national pride with a little humility. Light fireworks, drink alcohol and express nationalism in responsible moderation.
