On this week's episode of Chasing Elephants, listen to Brent Crowe, Ph.D. talk about Patriotic Ethos at SLU 201 2024. 

Brent defines these words: 

PATRIOTISM: The term patriotism, “coming from a Latin root pater, ‘father,’ patriotism is zeal or enthusiasm for the fatherland, that is, the country of one’s birth or adoption.*” This enthusiasm encompasses the feelings of gratitude and a vision of what is best for the country. Therefore, the patriot is devoted to the highest and most noble ideals of her or his nation. 

ETHOS : A Greek word meaning “character” and the English word “ethic” is also derived from ethos. Therefore, ethos represents the moral or ethical character of an individual who is conveying her or his beliefs and aspirations. The dictionary defines ethos as the characteristic spirit of a culture, era, or community as manifested in its beliefs and aspirations. 

Some Key Points: 

1. A Patriotic Ethos is informed by obvious and understandable truths: We hold these truths to be self-evident. 

2. Patriotism is grounded in equality of all persons: that all men are created equal. 

3. A Patriotic Ethos is motivated by divine blessing: that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights. 

4. Patriotism is guided by the highest ideals of what a nation should aspire to be: that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. 

5. Patriots seek to hold their country accountable to a better version of itself: whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government. 

6. The patriot is patient with her or his government: Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes. 

*R. K. Harrison, ed., Encyclopedia of Biblical and Christian Ethics (Nashville: Thomas Nelson, 1987), 303. 

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