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Patriotism definitely needs to be encouraged, but the leftist zest for totalitarian control and oppression also needs to be shown for the danger it is by teaching about its historical failures and the current ways it ruins lives.
People like that? Revoke their citizenship and deport them.
Opinion
15Opinion
The irony is that liberalism is not inherently a "patriotic" political philosophy. That includes what Americans call conservatism. The question is an excellent one, but it misunderstands the taxonomy of political philosophy.
To start, there is some confusion - developed over long historical experience - over what the terms "conservative" and "liberal" mean. This conducing to a degree of miscommunication at a fundamental level.
For example, what Americans call conservative is, historically speaking, not conservatism but is, rather, classical liberalism. "That government is best which governs least," and all the rest. To which is added a strand of social traditionalism rooted in the Protestant Reformation - itself the birthplace of the Enlightenment and thus of classical liberalism.
What Americans call "liberalism" is actually "radical" liberalism. "Radical," here not meaning as we use the term today, i. e., extremist, but rather as the ancient Greeks used it, meaning "to the root of." The radical liberals agreeing with the classical liberals that liberty is the purpose of government and politics, but arguing that differences in wealth and power in society make that liberty problematic. Thus they argue for a transformative welfare state, administered by a popularly elected, but presumably disinterested, government that will compensate for the disparities of wealth and power in society and thereby maximize freedom.
In terms of American conservatism, they draw from the economic theories of Adam Smith. A classical liberal of the Scottish Enlightenment, Smith is considered the father of free market economics and is a touchstone of American conservatism.
This being the same Adam Smith who famously said, "The merchant has no country." That is that a merchant will buy and sell to whomever he needs to make his company profitable. Suffice to say this having some significant implications for patriotic sentiments.
Indeed, and I say this as a Republican, why the GOP is having some difficulty drawing lines with regard to trading with China. In the wake of the American victory in the Cold War, both parties came to the conclusion that exposing other countries to liberty and free trade would, in time, convert those countries into friendly and democratic societies with whom favorable and profitable relations could be established.
It has not so worked out. China coming from an ancient culture, now overlaid by a quasi-Marxist political philosophy, has been content to use free market economics to tie itself into a relationship with the West. A relationship that Americans have been horrified to learn, is as binding upon themselves as it has been upon China. This being seen in things like the "microchip shortage" and the COVID pandemic.
To be sure, "radical liberalism" - that is, what Americans call "liberalism" - is more prone to a sort of self-defeating "anti-patriotism," for lack of a better term, such as we are now seeing. It fancies itself more humane and, because it is premised on the idea that social arrangements are transitory and can be shaped and re-shaped according to political will, tends to view the country - any country - as a mere moment and place in time.
Thus, suffice to say, it does not engender patriotism. One is not, after all, patriotic about a mere stop on the road to universal human perfection. In that sense, American conservatism, being less radical, is thus, in the context of the American political debate, more patriotic.
CONT.
Judging people differently based on national origin or the color of their skin. Insisting on legalizing ethnic discrimination in hiring and housing practices. Designating certain forms of speech as "hateful" and therefore illegal- depending on the skin color of the people using them. Tearing down statues because you don't agree with the politics of those they depict. That the sort of thing you're talking about?
Because whatever those policies may be, they sure as hell aren't liberal. They may have been adopted by the more left-leaning party in the country, even to the horrifying degree that they have, here, but that doesn't change the basic notion of what liberalism represents. I'll admit that the political Left in this country has lost its mind, but I said the same about the Right twenty years ago and meant it, too. Taking people's guns away and then removing their police protections used to be a THREAT, rather than a campaign promise, and I'll admit it's worse than demanding that they vow obedience to a rag on a stick, but let's not lose our sense of perspective and simply praise everything they blame- that's exactly how the Left got into this situation to begin with.
I don't see the connection. I am usually considered fairly liberal though I am an independent and tend to be more of a centrist on most issues (many liberals have told me I am conservative) and I am as patriotic as they come. While I did not serve in the military I made several attempts to enlist and was turned down by three branches of the military. I celebrate patriotic holidays and fly the American flag. I honor my father who was a veteran of the Korean War and I honor his father who was a vet of WWI. I honor my ancestors who came before them fighting in the Spanish American War, Civil War, War of 1812 and especially my 29 ancestors who fought in the American Revolution. I am particularly mindful of my ancestor from Massachusetts who voted to ratify the constitution as a legislator in his state as well as two of my ancestors who actually signed the declaration of independence. I consider myself extremely patriotic. Political affiliation does not negate patriotism. I live in a predominantly Black neighborhood. Tonight, every block had it's own nearly professional fireworks display. From 8pm to midnight there was not a second that went by that you could not hear the constant explosions overhead. My precinct had the highest voter turn out in the county. Patriotism is defined not by who you vote for but by the act of voting itself. Patriotism is defined by how devoted you are to your country not how you show that devotion. Patriotism is not defined by your devotion to a president but by your devotion to the people of your country.
Stop being ridiculous.
That said, the excessively overt embracement of the flag by the right has led to the flag becoming political.
Seriously, when you get "patriots" attempting insurrection, that's oxymoronic.
Here's an article about the flag now causing disunity. It's not the liberals who did this, but the conservatives - especially since their Tea Party horseshit.
www.nytimes.com/.../...-politics-polarization.html
TITLE: A Fourth of July Symbol of Unity That May No Longer Unite
"...
Politicians of both parties have long sought to wrap themselves in the flag. But something may be changing: Today, flying the flag from the back of a pickup truck or over a lawn is increasingly seen as a clue, albeit an imperfect one, to a person’s political affiliation in a deeply divided nation.
Supporters of former President Donald J. Trump have embraced the flag so fervently — at his rallies, across conservative media and even during the Jan. 6 assault on the Capitol — that many liberals like Mr. Treiber worry that the left has all but ceded the national emblem to the right.
What was once a unifying symbol — there is a star on it for each state, after all — is now alienating to some, its stripes now fault lines between people who kneel while “The Star-Spangled Banner” plays and those for whom not pledging allegiance is an affront.
And it has made the celebration of the Fourth of July, of patriotic bunting and cakes with blueberries and strawberries arranged into Old Glory, into another cleft in a country that seems no longer quite so indivisible, under a flag threatening to fray.
..."
Um it’s because the Fourth of July wasn’t independence for everyone. Only independence for a select few, I don’t care if you celebrate it but it’s stupid to get mad over peoples own values, beliefs, and opinions just because you think yours are somehow morally superior despite being flawed and historically inaccurate. The founding fathers weren’t good people, all of which to varying degrees.
What does that have to do with liberalism?
https://mises.org/library/what-classical-liberalism
Americans are typically whiners and tend to not be proud of America but live everyday like an American.
If you don't like America no one is telling you that you have to live here. Go live in a country that alines with what you want.
Nationalism is a bad thing. It is responsible for some of the worst crimes in all of history. We need to move beyond it and consider ourselves one species
There is a difference between patriotism & nationalism.
I bet you that 90% of the anti-American shit on social media is not coming from Americans. Just look at the jackass on this thread that lectured you on patriotism.
He's most likely from the UK.
Oh great, another stupid ass cultural war bullshit question
A lot of things people do with the flag is actually against the US flag code 🤷🏼♀️
Of all the issues facing the country, from the national debt, to the economy, and covid, is this really what conservatives / trumptards are whining about? Lol, Who gives a fuck. Are you going to cry about dr. seuss or mr potato head next? 😂
feel this!!!
https://www.youtube.com/embed/M1wLtAXDgqg President Biden couldn't have been more patriotic with the American people and he showed it on this day
If the right wing was actually half of the stuff that the communist left claims we would round them up, torture them, rape them, kill them and then rape them again
People need to understand the difference between patriotism and nationalism.
If that's the way you want to phrase it, yes.
Yes, patriotism is a GOOD thing.
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