Dec
Tyr and Patriots
Tyr is the God of patriotism. He is the one who oversees fidelity to one’s nation, community, beliefs, friends and family. Tyr’s patriotism is a thoughtful one. His is not the knee-jerk parody of loyalty, but a genuine one that knows why it is faithful.
These days, people might be a bit confused by the term. Issues of the day are conflicting situations reflected by equally conflicting views. Take the Iraq War. Controversy surrounds it. Is it more patriotic to condemn the war or to support it? That is one of the many questions facing people today. Tyr’s kind of patriotism is a responsible one, and that includes confronting the tough questions.
Patriotism does not mean automatically agreeing with every government policy. Patriotism means believing in the nation and the people. The nation will thrive with good government and survive bad government. We got through Nixon and Watergate, we got through the failed presidency of Jimmy Carter, and we are getting through the shenanigans of George W. Bush. Our economy may have tanked, but that has happened before and we still came through. We are involved in an unpopular war, but the country has gotten through them before, too.
There are reasons to believe. This is a good time to think about why you believe. My reasons will be of little significance to you. Your reasons are the ones that count for you. Think about them. The best patriotism is the one that known why it believes.
