Who are the Summer Soldier and the Sunshine Patriot?
The term "Summer Soldier" and "Sunshine Patriot" are two phrases that are often used to describe certain individuals who exhibited a change in behavior during the American Revolution. The phrases were first coined by Thomas Paine in his pamphlet "The Crisis" in 1776.
Contents
Definition of the Phrases
A Summer Soldier refers to someone who fights only when the weather is good and the battle is close to their home. In other words, they are soldiers who are brave only during times of relative safety and comfort. Once the weather turns bad, the war becomes more grueling, and the danger draws closer, these summer soldiers often disappear or seek safer opportunities.
On the other hand, a Sunshine Patriot is someone who claims to be a patriot and advocate for liberty, but only when they are comfortable and not threatened personally. They are loud in their rhetoric and demand sacrifice from others, but when it comes to taking real risks, they suddenly develop amnesia or forget about their lofty ideals.
Thomas Paine’s Critique
Thomas Paine, the author of "The Crisis," criticized both the Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots in his pamphlet. He argued that these individuals were not genuine patriots but rather fair-weather friends who abandoned their principles as soon as things got tough.
Paine wrote, "Some few of each [summer soldier and sunshine patriot] remain, clog the councils, trouble the plans, and incur the odium of a time that they cannot help or serve. But the people at large are the [winter] patriots… for the crisis is to come when our strength, not our weakness, must be called forth." (emphasis added)
Examples of Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots
- British Loyalists: During the American Revolution, many British loyalists remained loyal to the British crown and continued to support British rule, even when faced with personal threats and dangers. They can be considered summer soldiers, as they fought only when it was safe and comfortable for them to do so.
- Anti-Federalists: After the American Revolution, the anti-federalists were opposed to the proposed Constitution and demanded more government powers and protection. While they were loud in their demands for protection and sacrifice, they did not take concrete actions to protect the newly formed government. They can be seen as sunshine patriots, as they claimed to be patriotic but only when it did not require them to make sacrifices.
- Social Justice Activists: Today, some social justice activists are often criticized for being sunshine patriots. They may rally around a cause and advocate loudly for change, but they do not take direct action to make a real difference. When faced with personal threats or difficulties, they may suddenly develop amnesia or lose their passion for the cause.
Consequences of Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots
The actions of Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots have significant consequences, including:
- Erasing progress: When people who claim to be patriotic abandon their principles, it erases the progress that has been made and encourages others to follow suit.
- Lack of trust: The actions of Summer Soldiers and Sunshine Patriots can erode trust between people and make it difficult for others to believe in the power of patriotism and revolution.
- Stability: When people who are supposed to stand for something are unwilling to make sacrifices, it undermines the stability of the government and the social fabric.
Conclusion
The phrases Summer Soldier and Sunshine Patriot remind us that patriotism is not just a matter of empty rhetoric but requires genuine courage, sacrifice, and conviction. True patriots understand that their principles must be put into action, even when it is difficult, and that the greatest acts of courage often require great sacrifice. As Thomas Paine wrote, "When you are a little easier than usual, you should still have some reserve force… When the crisis is past, we will take off the masks, and look at each other; for now we are ashamed of being found out in this play of fathers and brothers, and men, and patriots."
