Environmentalism: A New Patriotism for the Environment
Ronit Sutaria
Professor Morrison
English 101
29 September 2017
Environmentalism: A New Patriotism for the Environment
In the essay, “Green Guilt,” by Stephen Asma, the author discusses how taking environmentalism as a religion can affect the safety of the environment. Seeing today's condition about the day by day degradation of the environment, Asma’s point of view to take environmentalism as a religion can change the way people act with the environment. People still think that they are being watched by god: “There are still those who believe that god is watching them and judging them, so their feelings of guilt and moral indignation are couched in the traditional theological furniture” (27). The Same rule applies with the environmentalism as a religion people will always think they are being seen so they will think twice before doing any harm to the environment. Asma says that “Like every other ism, has the potential for dogmatic zeal and obsession” (29) means there is passion and sacrifice in every religion for the people that they will not go against it same way in environmentalism. Michael Eric Dyson would completely agree with the Asma’s claim about making environmentalism as a religion because in his essay, “Understanding Black Patriotism,” Dyson discusses how blacks are patriotic about their country America. “Patriotism is the affirmation of one’s country in light of its best values, including the attempt to correct it when it’s in error” (54). It’s their unconditional love towards the country. Blacks have also shed their blood in the war and for the protection of their country. Dyson would agree with Asma because every “ism” has the dogmatic and obsessive nature.
In the essay, “Understanding Black Patriotism,” Dyson discusses Blacks love for the country, “Mainstream America has shown little understanding lately of the patriotism that a lot of black people practice. Black love of country is often far more robust and complicated than the lapel-pin nationalism some citizens swear by” (52). Dyson argues that even the white people(Americans) will also fall back for showing their love and sacrifices for the country but blacks would never. Blacks have an unconditional and undying love for their country where they are born. Black’s will also shed their blood in the war for the protection and betterment of the country. Dyson makes his arguments, even stronger: “Barack Obama hinted at this when he declared in Montana a few weeks ago, "I love this country not because it's perfect but because we've always been able to move it closer to perfection” (52). By stating this Dyson wants to discuss that America is not only about being white, it’s a diverse country and blacks and white have to move together for the progress of their country. They should unite together to make a perfect diverse nation.” Because through revolution and slavery ... generations of Americans have shown their love of country by struggling and sacrificing and risking their lives to bring us that much closer to our founding promise" (52). So as Asma suggested that every “ism” has the dogmatic and obsessive nature Dyson would completely agree with her because even “Black Patriotism” is black’s passion and scarifies for their country.
In the article, “Black America Knows What Real Patriotism Looks Like,” by Danielle C. Belton, the author writes that no one in this world has the choice to decide the country in which they will be born or in which culture they will be born: “You don’t get to choose your parents. Or your country. My parents, like millions of other black people, were just here, descendants of Africans brought here against their will” (qtd. in “Black America Knows What Real Patriotism Looks Like”). Belton argues even though it’s not in our hand to decide the country then why there is racial discrimination on the base of color and culture. Belton argues why always the patriotism of black toward their country is put on the question. She says, “Our homeowner’s association would place little, cheap American flags on each lawn, and every year, ours ended up in the trash” (qtd. in Belton). Keeping flags in a home doesn’t justify that your patriotism for the country. She discusses president Barack Obama, who is half-white and was raised by his white grandparents was not brought in the culture where it says that love this country then also he had an unconditional love for America even though he was no white. The patriotism of a black American is the patriotism of someone who loves America even though America has not loved that person. Black people love America and they are ready to go through anything for the country. They have given their lives for the betterment and protection of America even when they were not supposed to do, Belton says, “We’ve shed blood overseas in wars where our participation was not wanted” (qtd. in Belton). She says that America is their country and they love their country and they we will fight for it.