One Man's Traitor is Another's Patriot

The Mast Head of the Web Talk – Newfoundland and Labrador quotes American writer, George William Curtis, immortal words, "A man's country is not an area of land, mountains, rivers, and woods, but a principle. Patriotism is loyalty to that principle."

Regular readers of Web Talk will know that my online “handle” is Patriot. Perhaps it may be pretentious on my part to refer to myself in this way but I believe it to be true.

I am a Patriot to Newfoundland and Labrador if not to Canada.

On the other hand, rather than being viewed as a patriot, over the past several years I’ve all too often been branded by some “anonymous” federalists as a traitor. The term has been used to describe others who support and defend our homeland.

Over time such comments have given me pause for reflection and much soul searching as I’m sure it has for others. I’m happy to say that on my part those moments of self doubt have long since passed.

The reason is simple.

History is written by the victors, not the vanquished.

Take the example of the American Revolution. During that turbulent period Ben Franklin is quoted as saying, “We must hang together or we will surely hang separately”.

Today nobody questions the fact that Franklin, Jefferson and the like were indeed great American patriots, the fathers of their Nation even, not that I would put myself in their league, but the point is this: Why does history remember them the way it does?

Simply put, it’s because they won their struggle for freedom and dignity.

Had they lost the revolution and had America remained under the control of England those same men who are viewed as Patriots today would now be viewed as traitors. They would have been tried for treason and been executed, as Ben Franklin clearly understood.

Those same federalists who so often try to weaken the resolve of those among us yearning for a better future for Newfoundland and Labrador, whether inside or outside of Canada, use words like “crackpot”, “tin hat brigade” or the like to attack our beliefs.

They say we have no chance of making a difference and should “stop whining”.

They may honestly believe this. I don’t.

I don’t see speaking out as “whining”, far from it.

I see it as educating the masses.

I see it as ensuring that our concerns are not brushed silently under the Canadian carpet.

I see it as a necessary step, a first one perhaps, but a necessary step to a brighter future for our people.

Some time ago I read a novel, the title of which I no longer recall and is of no importance, but I do recall one particular passage from it. It describes the thoughts of an individual near the end of his days and goes something like this.

“…A tear formed in his eye. So many people counting on us but we failed. Yet did we fail?”

“Is it failure if you plant a seed which others nurture? Is it failure to have begun a thing which had daunted the best and bravest for decades? Is it failure to have called the attention of all humanity to the plight of your people?”

No, I don’t believe it is.

As Newfoundlanders and Labradorians there are lessons in those words and in the history of the American Revolution.

Failure only comes with never having tried in the first place.

The only difference between a Patriot and a traitor is their level of success.