Loyalty — to friends, family, even a nation — is often viewed as a quality that requires absolute, unwavering support. It is true that a commitment to approval is at times indispensable to making faithful actions and decisions, but just as much as a relationship based on loyalty requires this support, it also can only maintain itself and develop with constructive criticism and skepticism.

    From the revolutions that moved the United States from an unjust nation to a more accepting, progressive one, to daily actions and decisions made out of ultimate love for others, true loyalty is demonstrated not exclusively through support, but through continued criticism and assessment.

    It was loyalty to their country — the desire for a more tolerant, forward-looking national society, one that would uphold the ideals of freedom and equality upon which it was founded - that spurred United States citizens to fight against many of the laws discriminating against women and blacks during the Civil Rights Movement and Women’s Rights Movement. Certainly, activists, protestors, and suffragists not only questioned much of what the majority of the nation accepted, but completely abandoned, ridiculed, and outright rejected it, choosing instead to work for a nation of justice, opportunity, and fair treatment. Had the American people accepted and unconditionally supported their country’s discriminatory ideals, no such reforms or movements would have taken place, and institutional systems of oppression could very well still be in effect.

    Ultimately, the abolition of slavery, the granting the right to vote to women, and the doing-away with racist laws opened countless opportunities and benefitted the country by making it a more accepting global power and a positive example on the world stage. Evidently, loyalty does not always lend itself to unconditional support.

    Similarly, the notion that to be a loyal friend, relative, or coworker demands unshakeable support is detrimental to the development of character; in fact, constructive criticism is essential for a relationship to be strong and mutually beneficial. Of course, betraying, deserting, or lying to another is in almost all cases counterintuitive, but evaluation and critique are at the very least a healthy factor in any relationship and at best, life-changing or even life-saving.

    For example, discouraging someone from making a bad or impulsive decision, pointing out irrational or insensitive behavior, or pushing someone to take a risk that may turn out to be a valuable lesson or experience ultimately helps that person learn, develop, and flourish, though it is often easier simply to nod and agree with his initial decision. These actions may not always be directly supportive of another person’s decisions or judgments, but they do further the sense of mutual betterment, love, and care in the relationship between two loyal people.

    As evidenced on a large scale by national movements and on a small scale by day-to-day interactions between friends and family, steadfast championship does not always enforce a loyal relationship.