Louis Roney: The freedom of independence

“Patriotism,” said James Boswell, Samuel Johnson’s amanuensis, “is the last refuge of a scoundrel.” However, I believe patriotism is a requisite of any man worth his salt.

Human beings may be undeniably beasts at heart. And except for the beasts who gather together to support the common good, perhaps we would all kill each other off.

The word “good” is inseparably linked to the preservation of the race and the morality that we higher animals cherish and preserve. I have always been an ardent dog lover, and my experience has made me often trust dogs more than I trust my fellow human beings. Dogs’ natures make them want to be loved, and they do lots of little things to let you know it.

The present condition of “American patriotism” – as referred to by a number of the cheap punks who inhabit our television waves these days – calls for attention by everyone who, in his or her heart, truly loves this country.

I am continually amazed at the anti-American sentiments, either overt or craftily disguised, which raise my hackles. I cannot forget the enormous generosity that our mighty country has showered on others, most of whom have shown little appreciation and seem only too ready to bite the hand that fed them.

The other day b.w. read me the following quote:

”We are taxed on our bread and wine, in our incomes, on our land and on our property, not only by base creatures who do not deserve the name of men, but for foreign nations, complaisant nations who will bow to us and accept our largesse and promise us to assist in the keeping of the peace — these mendicant nations who will destroy us when we show a moment of weakness or our treasury is bare, and surely it is becoming bare! … When a government is powerful it is destructive, extravagant and violent; it is a usurer which takes the bread from innocent mouths and deprives honorable men of their substance, for votes with which to perpetuate itself.”

This quote is from Roman philosopher and statesman Cicero more than 2,000 years ago. (106-43 B.C.)

George Santayana wrote: “Those who do not read history are doomed to repeat it,”— i.e. the stupid will go on being stupid! (Today?)

My father fought in France in WWI, and when I voluntarily joined the U.S. Navy the day after Pearl Harbor, my father dropped all he was doing and managed to become a Naval officer in WWII despite being considerably over aged. Being the son of such a father could I do less than risk my life for my country?

My four years as a Navy gunnery officer took me to the North Atlantic against the Germans, and to the South Pacific against the Japanese. When it was all over and I put my civvies back on, and looked at the red, white, and blue waving above New York skyscrapers, I was glad to have helped to give those flags the freedom in which they waved. On today’s radio, an announcer reminds us that there are ever fewer WWII veterans alive, and I am proud to be one of that generation still cooking! Patriotism seems “out of fashion” these days. Anti-Americanism is, I hear, being taught to little kids in grammar school, and most university faculties are reputedly so far Left, they squeak!

As for me, I shall continue to cherish “patriotism,” and am sorry that, at 92, I am now too old and too blind, to be once more of service!

About Roney: Harvard’42—Distinguished Prof, Em.—UCF 2004 Fla. Alliance for the Arts award (Assisted by beautiful wife Joy Roney)