Capatrioalism

[japhy]

Note: I am just as incensed about the terrorist attack we experienced a few days ago. I just go about my patriotism differently than many people I've seen.

I went out with a couple of my fraternity brothers last night to get some pizza. We met two other brothers there. We'd both driven through a sobriety checkpoint, but their encounter was funnier. The police officer asked where they'd been, and they said "at an apartment with some friends". The officer asked, "have you had anything to drink?" to which the driver responded, "no, I gave blood on Tuesday, so I can't drink for a week." At this, the officer said "oh, go on through." Immediately, though, another cop said "hey, where's your flag?" Ryan (the brother) didn't know what to say. The first officer said "that's ok, he gave blood."

What a weird dialogue. Perhaps it was a patriotism checkpoint instead.

Sigh. These flags. I'm not sure I understand their point. Are we preaching to the choir here? Do I honestly need a flag to ensure my fellow Americans that I am patriotic and will not tolerate terrorism? Do I need to have a flag on my car to show that I know what happened? I think the country as a whole is more patriotic than we've been in a very long time. But why? Because we were attacked, and we know that we don't stand a chance as a nation divided.

I think this a knee-jerk reaction to our situation. We know we should be patriotic, so we become it. Or at least act that way for a while. I'm not saying I'm not patriotic -- I was in the Navy ROTC program my first year of college. I'm proud of our armed forces, and the sacrifices they make, and the things they do for us. I'll wear a "Go Navy!" hat, or my US Navy shirt, or wave a flag at a parade, and I'll mean it.

I know people that get pissed off when someone burns a dollar in protest of the US or of capitalism in general. Personally, I put my patriotic stock in stuff a little less material. I think we confuse patriotism and capitalism (hence the title of this meditation) in this country.

I think it's a bit hypocritical of us to behave this way. I'm not saying it's bad for us to be patriotic, I'm just saying it irritates me how "fake" or "planned" our patriotism seems around times like these.

Sorry if I've offended anyone, but I'm serious about what I've written. I'm not saying you (the reader) act this way, but I'm saying I know people who do.

_____________________________________________________
Jeff[japhy]Pinyan: Perl, regex, and perl hacker.
s++=END;++y(;-P)}y js++=;shajsj<++y(p-q)}?print:??;

[footpad]

I agree with you. We are a nation of individuals, each having unique (or at least different) ideas about patriotism, nationalism, and civic duty--as well as how to express those values.

Each of us expresses our support (or lack thereof) for what happens around us in different ways. And we should allow people the freedom to do so unhindered by our preconceptions or ideals--provided, of course, that those expressions do not prevent others from doing the same.

In the same way that I've argued previously about how our fellow PerlMonks should not judge others' motives before inquiring about said motives, I believe we should be as flexible in our daily activities. When someone cuts us off on the freeway, we assume they're morons who don't know how to drive well. Yet, we don't know. There may be a spider in the car. There may be an emergency at the end of their trip. Or, they may just be morons. However, that's not our call to make.

It concerns me when we feel that others should express their values the same ways that we do. To some degree, that strikes me as the same sort of intolerance that led to slavery, discrimination, Japanese internment, The Holocaust, and other crimes against humanity.

I don't mean this to sound Amerocentric; I'm simply quoting examples from the history most familiar to me. Of the various themes I've seen in my studies of history, none recurs so often as man's capacity for cruelty against his neighbors, regardless of motive, politics, or creed. That cruelty and the ambitions, lust, and greed that fuels it are the real enemy.

I believe, though can't completely confirm, that these ideas are true for everyone one the planet. Each of us, every handle, name, face, and statistic refers to a living, breathing, and (presumeably) thinking individual with a life experience as real ours is to us. Remember that as you read the names (or numbers) involved in this and in other terrorist attacks.

What I decry most about the recent attacks is the complete disregard--and violent theft--of that dynamic life experience for everyone hurt in those attacks. Not only the people who died, but those that survived (at Ground Zero, at the Pentagon, or anywhere else). I am not niave enough to think we shall ever agree on everything, but I do believe that we should allow others to live their lives, too.

As individuals, we also need to take care not to take our frustrations out on those that did not participate in those attacks. For example, someone tried to arson a local mosque. The local news has reported hateful comments left on answering machines at other locations, as well as intimidation of Arabic Americans. That is wrong. Odds are that these people are just as hurt, angry, and hungry for revenge as you. If you must express your rage, then do so in a way that helps the recovery and the hunt for justice. Donate blood (as many have), give money to the effort, spend time helping educate others about the dangers of complacency, of ignorance, and of intolerance.

Do not perpetuate the cycle of violence. Do not deprive another individual of the rights you value. And, above all else, do not assume you know what someone else is thinking or doing to help.

(Sorry for the rant; I just got started and, well, you know...)

--f

[stefp]

I am not sure anymore if it is a quality or not if you balance all the outcomes, but America fuel is mythology. Faith in mythologies can move mountains. Probably mythology works for the good if the "high priest" is inspired and honest.

Example: the myth of new frontier has created America, a country where everyone is deemed to be a potential entreprenor, and many are indeed. This is quite an accomplishment. But what worries me is that most american actions are done in complete ignorance of the rest of the world. They have waited for the native culture to be almost completely wiped out to get interested in it. I am not judging here: every human action, be it by an individual or a group (here a nation) are colored in various shades of grey, so was the making of America.

In the WTC case, I am very worried that, for sake of a retaliation, America will eventually bomb citizens who have suffered various masters, the talibans beeing the last ones. I am also worried that this "war" is a diversion to forget about internal "wars" America is incapable or unwilling to fight: against guns and drugs.

Wanting to make a case, when searching numbers I supposed that the expected WTC casualties would be roughly equivalent to one year of gun casualties. How naive I was.

According America own government agency, the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS), cited by the Violence Policy Center: In 1997 more than 32,000 Americans were killed with firearms. Probably this is bad taste to suppose that not all americans are born equal, and that a great proportion of these casualties are blacks and latinos. I did not check out this specific assertion.

If I got it right. the incapacity to deal with one's own unacceptable pulsions leads to attribute them to other individual(s). In Freudian terms, this psychological mechanism is called projection. A nation being composed of inviduals, I suppose that the concept can be transposed to nations. This is probably an explication for integrism: one's own nation is Good and some other is picked to represent Evil. And like a witch, it must be burned.

Interistingly enough , in the French military jargon projection is the military operation that consists in sending an armed force in a remote operation "theater".

A side note: Freud taking a boat to America boasted to Jung that they will bring the plague. But the "plague" was really brought by Jung himself, his spiritual son. This "plague" was the spiritual concept of individuation that the always pragmatic americans mutated to the industry of self-improvement. Freud's intuition about the reenaction by Jung of the murder of the father was quite right!!

Final remark: in the name of freedom, ESR confuses gnu and gun. Sorry I could not resist the pun and (Sorry for the rant; I just got started and, well, you know...). Also I am working my English, so feel free to /msg me my mistakes.

-- stefp

[Anonymous Monk]

Actually, we need to get rid of cars before guns or drugs. 43,501 deaths in 1998. The USA already has "a war on drugs", and many think we shouldn't (for some widely differing reasons). And a huge number of Americans see absolutely no need for a war on guns (many see a need for just the opposite).

I guess my point is that I just can't see why you'd put guns and drugs at the top of the list and I really can't see Americans turning to terrorist bashing to hide from those two particular things. I can see some zeal being directed at the tragedy in part to distract from things like racism, corruption, intollerance, ...

I think you are displaying a lack of insight into the USA, which is a bit ironic given part of your rant.

[rchiav]

I understand your view but I don't agree with it as a whole. Though this may be a dissenting opinion, it's not an argumenative one.

First, I'll state what I agree with. I agree that some people are not genuine in their flag waving. I agree that what the cop said was a little disturbing. I agree that we need to tolorate people who burn a dollar or a flag. My reason for that is that tolorating those actions are, in a way, supporting our freedom.

What I don't agree with is the implication that a good percentage don't mean it. That people are now patriotic only because they feel like they should be.

I think our nation, rather our people, have become so accustomed to the freedoms we have and the quality of life that we're allowed to live that they take it for granted. From this, a good number of people have focused their sense of national pride on our economy. So in that regard, I also agree with you that we have much more economic pride than national pride.

The transistion, or the leap of logic that I don't feel bridges the gap is that because people didn't have a concious sense of patriotism before Tuesday, they aren't genuine about it now.

My thoughts on why this doesn't bridge the gap are varried. First, how many people do you know who have had a significant event happen in their life that refocused their thinking on what's important? dragonchild posted a node about how this event has caused significant changes for him. I belive that when we become so accustomed to to things like our freedom, safety, and life itself, we tend to not appreciate, or activley support the institutions that have given us these things. In dragonchild's case, it was the institution of family that was once again appreciated. And for many Americain's, I belive that they have been refocused on the belief of Nation.

I can't speak for everyone, but here's how it has changed my thinking. Before Tuesday, I was concerend about the economy and other things that now seem somewhat insignificant. Sure, I love this country. But did I think about showing my patriotism every day? No. Did I really appreciate what luxuries I've been afforded by living here? No. Do I now? Most of my waking moments have involved some slight nausia over the tremendous scope of the events on Tuesday. They've also included a great appreation of the lifestyle I've been allowed to live, a more true empathy for others living abroad who've been subjected to this on a more consistant basis, and a strong sense of patriotism which supports our Nation in whatever needs to be done going forward.

It's not that I didn't belive in our country. It's not that I wasn't a patriot. The fact is that I didn't have to think about it. Things have been good. Too good maybe. We didn't have to think about threats like this or what protection our coutry has provided us within our boarders. But as we all know too well now, we aren't as safe as we've felt. And I think many Americain's have, as I have, refocused on the love of their country and stand behind our goverment. I'm proud of our armed services. I'm proud of those who have helped in NYC and in Washingon. I'm proud of those who it seems prevented the 4th plane from crashing into another building. And I'm proud of this country for comming together.

I feel almost helpless because I can't do more to help. I've volunteered to go to NYC to help set up a lot of computer systems again, though there were more volunteers than needed at my company and I wasn't chosen. I'd guess for a lot of Americains, they feel just as helpless. If that means putting a flag up in their car is the only way they feel like they can contribute, that's fine with me.

And though I don't think it was right for that cop to ask where the flag was, I only chalk it up to misplaced good intentions. My belief in our country and our people makes me belive that most Americain's truely belive in our country and are now forced to deal with it on a daily basis. Though there's most definately people as you've described, I don't belive that most Americains are disingenious about their current flag waving. Their love of country has been supressed, but not completly forgotten.

Rich

And to add a quotable quote -
“I’m not going to fire a $2 million missile at a $10 empty tent and hit a camel in the butt. It’s going to be decisive.” - George W. Bush