Unity. Patriotism.

Since Sept. 11, 2001, these words have been thrown around to describe the American people and seemingly every American act at home and abroad.

But exactly what has “patriotism” produced in the three years since that attack? The most obvious is streets full of flags, as depicted by a commercial that aired constantly this past spring. In the ad, a street corner goes from quiet and empty to streaming with American flags flying in the wind to illustrate the post-attack transformation, while the voiceover booms that the attack has “brought us together,” stronger than ever before.

Although it’s great to see the colors of our nation more often, the only real tangible results of this widely acclaimed unity have been changed sceneries and more jobs for overseas American-flag makers. Most American flags are not made in America.

When I think of patriotism, I think of voting — exercising the right people have died for throughout the history of the United States. I think of that struggle — the right to be heard and considered equal under the law — and realize it did not end with the American Revolution. Black slaves and white abolitionists died for it in the late 19th century. Women suffragists were jailed and ostracized for it in the early 20th century. Civil rights activists felt the sting of water hoses and guard dogs less than 40 years ago for the right to vote. To be heard. Voting would be an act of patriotism.

Yet, the acts of Sept. 11 did not make it any easier for us to convince people that they should take three minutes out of their busy lives to register to vote. During one of my many pre-election days as an annoying New Voters Project volunteer, one guy told me that “if he were any more apathetic, he’d be lethargic.” Though quite articulate, he wasn’t the first to express the view, and he unfortunately won’t be the last.

The 2004 election, the first presidential election following the attack, saw no significant surge in voter turnout. But, supposedly, when I see the American flag plastered everywhere, I am supposed to have proof that patriotism is at an all-time high.

Patriotism. Unity.

I have often wondered why the unity displayed by other, “rogue,” nations is dubbed as “nationalism.” “Nationalism” is to blame for the crimes of Adolf Hitler; people united as a country, proud of their heritage, to rebuild after the damage of World War I. “Nationalism” is the culprit in Cuba, where Fidel Castro took rule with widespread support in 1959. Today, some Iraqis feel a sense of nationalism that urges them to retaliate against U.S. forces and Sunday’s first “democratic” elections for the nation.

The American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language defines “nationalism” as “1. Devotion to the interests or culture of one’s nation. 2. The belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals.” The same dictionary defines “patriotism” as “Love of and devotion to one’s country.” What essential quality forms the distinction between their “nationalism” and our “patriotism?” The fact that we are Americans? Using a different word certainly does not insure the purity of our motives.

What we, and the leadership of our nation, fail to understand is that the attacks of Sept. 11 were not a conventional attack on American soil. They were attacks against our values, against the rights that we believe to be inalienable.

If we believe that the rights to life, liberty and dignity exist for all humankind, the attacks of Sept. 11 were an attack on humanity. Thus, Americans should unite with humanity, not just with other Americans, in response. The “belief that nations will benefit from acting independently rather than collectively, emphasizing national rather than international goals” is outdated.