‘Guard against the impostors of pretend patriotism.’

This month marks five years since the passing of my husband, Clemens Erdahl. A man of many titles — husband, father, civil rights activist, and defense attorney — he dedicated his life to equal justice and fairness for all.

Just a week before he passed, Clemens began writing a reflection on America's challenges, particularly drawing from George Washington's Farewell Address. He warned against the dangers of division, voter suppression, and ethnic cleansing. His unfinished article, quoting Washington’s caution to "guard against the impostors of pretend patriotism," reminds us of the ongoing struggle for justice and the importance of unity, especially in the face of rising bigotry and discrimination.

Although these words were penned five years ago, they ring even more true today.

— -Roxanne Erdahl

It is tempting in the short run for the Republicans to embrace the concept of ethnic cleansing being promoted by the white supremacist faction headed by President Donald Trump. After all, it appears ethnic cleansing and voter suppression are the only ways to thwart the long run ascendancy of a non-white majority. But such a misplaced temporary flirtation is against the long arc of the Grand Old Party.

The early Republican Leaders, Lincoln and Grant, literally fought for the proposition conceived in liberty and dedicated to the proposition that all men are created equal. Millions died as proof that a nation so conceived and so dedicated could long endure.

It is not surprising that Mr. Trump could be drawn into such a false flame, because bigotry is in his family’s history, if not his DNA. His grandfather, Fredrich Drumpf was German. But his father Fred Trump changed their name and denied his ethnic heritage claiming he was of Scandinavian descent, as did Donald for many years. It is documented that Fred Trump attended Klan and Nazi rallies in the 1930s. He taught his son to discriminate against people of color in their government subsidized housing units. Surely Donald Trump is the most racist president in over a century and the only one adjudicated as such.

If we as a nation proceed down this slippery slope of ethnic and religious cleansing by forcefully removing immigrants of color, we will follow in a sad trail of reviled nations including, the Third Reich, Greater Serbia and Russia with their anti-Jewish programs. Already detention camps in this country are bursting with long time immigrants from Africa, the Caribbean, and Latin America. The Private Prison Industrial Complex is reaping the unconscionable profits for the pain and suffering of tens of thousands, who have worked hard, paid taxes and social security into this nation coffers only to be detained and deported because they are of a different color or religion.

I am sure Jesus would condemn not only the concentration camps of the many families, including children, but the profit reaped by those who hold them captive.

“I was hungry, you gave me food.

“I was naked, and you gave me clothing.

I was prisoned, and you visited me. “

This nationalist tendency is not new. In 1850s the “know nothing” party officially called the American Party was composed of white protesters who opposed immigration by Roman Catholics, Scottish and southern Europeans.

From the 1880s through the 1920s there was a strong anti-German immigration movement in some parts of this country. The Bennett Law passed in Wisconsin and the Edwards Law in Illinois, sought to close German language schools, at a time when many in the Midwest went to rural one room schoolhouses. These anti German laws were eventually overthrown.

However, this anti German immigrants movement was revived during World War I. Following World War I, nativists in the 1920s were opposed to immigration of Catholics, Jews and Southern Europeans. This led to the passage of the Emergency Quota Act of 1921 and the Immigration Act of 1924. The major focus was to prevent workers emigrating from Italy and Poland.

So, America has been tempted before to turn its back from the intentions of its founding fathers. But the words of the Father of our Country George Washing ring out clear and above the voices of our current demagogues.

This is where his writing ends. I am not sure what Clemens was going to quote. There was only a link to Washington’s Farewell address.

Synopsis of George Washington’s 1796 Farewell Address

In his Farewell Address of 1796, George Washington offered profound advice and warnings as he stepped down from the presidency, shaping the future of the young American republic. His speech was a thoughtful reflection on unity, governance, and the moral responsibilities of citizens and leaders alike.

Washington urged the American people to prioritize national unity above all. He cautioned against political factions and regional divisions, emphasizing that the strength of the nation depended on collective identity and harmony. Washington also warned of the dangers posed by political parties, which he believed would lead to division, corruption, and the erosion of democratic principles.

Another key message in the address was a call for neutrality in foreign affairs. Washington advised against forming permanent alliances with foreign nations, warning that entanglements in external conflicts could compromise America’s independence and security. He encouraged a policy of neutrality to avoid becoming embroiled in unnecessary wars or conflicts.

Furthermore, Washington stressed the importance of upholding the Constitution and the rule of law, warning that the erosion of moral values and civic virtue could weaken the nation's foundation. He believed that a strong commitment to justice, virtue, and respect for the rights of others was essential for the survival of the republic.

Washington’s final counsel was a plea for future generations to resist the “impostors of pretend patriotism” and to remain vigilant against any forces that sought to undermine the unity, freedoms, and principles upon which America was founded.

Clemens Erdahl was given the John Adams Award in 2019. This is an award given once a year to to individuals who have spent their career devoted to the constitutional guarantee that, in criminal prosecutions, the accused is entitled to competent representation.