We are tree workers. We knock down trees for wood by beating them with these sticks. The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free Market Odyssey.

While one still traverses the land of the living, learning will never end.  This has been proved true in Kenya where there is not only Free Primary School Education (FPE), but education for all before 2015. The teacher?  Dr. Alfred Mutua, chief Government spokesperson. Wielding audio, visual, tactile and very soon olfactory and gastronomic aids, the tutor is coaching Kenyans to sing the Mantra “I am proud to be Kenyan.” This lesson has seen the cleaning of some streets, painting of road sections, planting of trees and youth boogies.

Public spirit gives a nation’s people a common purpose and rallies them to support government in times of crisis.  However, it becomes dangerous when politicians, government agencies and “special interests” manipulate it consequently giving rise to slogans and simplifications that disguise policies and mask tendencies that brew crises.  When this happens, patriotism stimulates virulent nationalism, prevents fruitful policy debates and carelessly drives a nation to destruction.

In my high school days, my head teacher would ensure that whenever we had a football match, drama or music festivals, a section of the school – the cheering squad- accompanied the performing teams.  Its task in football? To cheer the team to the extent of defending the players even if they injured their rivals.  In music? To clap so hard and ululate thereby creating an impression that the performance was excellent.  Many an adjudicator succumbed to this snare. To us, this was “patriotism.” But was it?

When Idi Amin chased Asians from Uganda, it was in the name of “patriotism.” When Hitler snuffed out Jewish life in gas chambers, it was in the name of patriotism.  When Israel is using excessive force against Lebanon, it is patriotism. When the Hezbollah are hitting back, it is patriotism. When Mugabe seizes land and gives it to black citizens, it is patriotism. When Dr. Mutua paints the city streets today, it is patriotism.  When road developers demolish the painted road tomorrow, it is patriotism. Who draws the demarcation line between what patriotism is or is not? 

One of the greatest mistakes made in discussing patriotism is to think that it means support for one’s government.  Governments are made up of human beings and human beings err.  Howard Zinn, Historian and author of A People’s History of the United States remarks:

“While some people think that dissent is unpatriotic, I would argue that dissent is the highest form of patriotism.  In fact, if patriotism means being true to the principles for which your country is supposed to stand, then certainly the right to dissent is one of those principles.”

This was evident during the Tiananmen Massacre.  The Chinese government had to bring soldiers from outside provinces because the local People’s Liberation Army was somewhat sympathetic to the protest.  The locally stationed 38^th Army had no ammunition.  It was they who were said to torch their own vehicles on various streets, as they abandoned them to join the protesting students and workers.  They dared defy “contrary Patriotism.”

Patriotism is not waiting for one tribe to exterminate another, then offering the exterminators refugee status.  It is not waiting for innocent lives to be lost only for you to come and write an epitaph on their graves or hold a memorial.  It is not depriving the politically incorrect of social amenities. It is not making unjustified wars. It is not misleading the nation.  It is not labeling land “Jewish land” or “Arab land.” Land cannot be owned by religious, ethnic groups or nation – states. Land can only be owned by individuals and voluntary association of individuals. Patriotism is not declaring one a saint when he agrees with you but demonize him overnight when he questions your values and worldview.

Back to the classroom Dr. Mutua. One demonstration is worth a thousand illustrations.  Let the government be smaller and sleeker. Let voluntary exchange take place. Don’t make criminals out of peaceful citizens.  Let justice be blind and impartial to superficial qualities.  Let it work uniformly, predictably and fast for all.  Let citizens keep more of what they earn.  Thin the red tape to starting and operating business. Ensure respect of property rights and protect citizens against predators.

In the maximum speed and minimum delay, citizens will be proud to be Kenyans long before they are asked to.