Patriotism: Tough Love of Country

Following the September 11 terror attacks there has been a lot of talk about a resurgence of patriotism. The evidence cited for this is the flying of millions of flags on houses, cars, and the like. It's always emotionally satisfying to see Americans flying Old Glory; but I think there is a lot more to patriotism than flag waving.

Our Funk and Wagnalls dictionary defines "patriot" as follows: "One who loves his country and zealously guards its welfare; esp., a defender of popular liberty." I'd like to submit as an example my Dad, who died Saturday night, April 20, of leukemia.

Jim Neuendorf did fly the flag on occasion. I don't remember ever seeing one on his car, but he was the most patriotic American I've ever known. He showed his love of America in the same way that he showed his love of his family and his church: with praise when possible, discipline when necessary. He practiced what is known as "tough love" in all three areas (Mom is still at it, of course; but this column is about Dad).

When any of us seven kids stepped out of line, Dad resisted the temptation to let it pass. He tried to nip the problem in the bud, because he knew that would be the best for us in the long run. He may have seemed severe at the time, but I know we are all better people as a result.

Back in the '60s, Dad saw that his country was on an unwholesome path: the government was growing by leaps and bounds, ignoring the restrictions built into the Constitution; more and more of our sovereignty was being ceded to the United Nations and other international bodies; and most Americans didn't seem to notice, or care about it when it was pointed out to them.

Dad's tough love response was to become active in the John Birch Society. As a member of that organization, he spent the rest of his life publicly defending the Constitution against encroachments by all three branches of government. I can personally testify that this is a frustrating activity, yet he persisted in it for over thirty years.

One common measure of patriotism is the willingness to take risks on behalf of our country. Yes, he joined the Army during World War II. As a recent high school graduate, he got in too late to see combat. Since he was also one of the least violent men I've known (he disapproved of my taste in movies), I thank God for that blessing.

I think it says more about Dad that he daily risked his standing with his friends and acquaintances by bringing up our nation's problems in conversation. He never let pass an opportunity to gently wake up an American. Every check sent out of his tool and die shop for many years contained some piece of literature. Writing was not something he enjoyed (I must have received those genes from Mom), yet he regularly wrote carefully crafted letters to his representative and to newspapers. Believe me, he would much rather have been out on the golf course.

Dad even risked his business and his livelihood to protect the Fourth Amendment to the Constitution, by protesting warrantless inspections of businesses by OSHA (federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration). He cared deeply about the welfare of his employees, and would never have allowed dangerous conditions in his shop. It would have been so much easier and cheaper to roll over for the bureaucrats; yet he insisted on a proper search warrant citing probable cause (which, of course, they could not produce).

Tough love is as good for our beloved country as it is for our children. My Dad understood that, and made the necessary sacrifices. In his memory, I hope to do the same. May his example inspire some of my readers as well.