4 ms·
Joe McCarthy says Hi. Did you forget about the horrifying legacy of both literal and figurative witch trials? How about the US only very recently abandoning th
by inopinatus 6y ago
Joe McCarthy says Hi. Did you forget about the horrifying legacy of both literal and figurative witch trials? How about the US only very recently abandoning the idea that one person could own another?
The idea that patriotism is a necessity makes me nauseous, particularly given the ghastly scars of full-on repression and brutality the US wears on its face for anyone with the temerity to speak the wrong opinion.
Frankly I struggle to comprehend any other interpretation of history. Unless, of course, one is some kind of revisionist shitbird with blind spots up the wazoo.
The infantile whinge about “Eurocentrism” is characteristic of the kind of petty-minded, reflexive, and ultimately inaccurate dismissal of outsiders I’ve come to expect from authoritarian demagogues and the wannabe bullies that defend them.
All of which is to say, the fact that in the US, it’s possible to criticise the government, occurs despite the ludicrous brainwash theatrics, not because of them; and until very recently, only for a few.
- blub 6y agoPatriotism is loyalty to one's country, a perfectly normal and perfectly rational sentiment. If that makes you sick, take a pill and get over it.
- inopinatus 6y agoDulce et decorum est, eh? That old Lie.
- blub 6y agoBeing born somewhere and being a citizen gives you certain rights but also responsibilities. Not being loyal to your country means that you're not taking care of your responsibilities, so it would be fair that you should not enjoy the rights of citizenship. Those that dislike patriotism so much should provide the ultimate proof of their beliefs and renounce their citizenship. They shall surely be celebrated by all countries for transcending nationality and patriotism, right until they want to cross a border or demand something when they'll be told to GTFO back to where they came from.
- inopinatus 6y agoUgh. That “renounce your citizenship then” jibe speaks volumes about the revulsion felt by authoritarians for nonconformists. It is bigotry 101, and repeating it labels you personally. Fortunately, I’m perfectly capable of discharging my civic responsibilities without having to believe in some animistic delusion, any more than I need a church to supply a moral compass. My loyalty belongs to people, not places, and to cultures, not scriptures.
- deleted 6y ago[deleted]
- AnimalMuppet 6y agoYour loyalty belongs to people? No doubt that's why you called them "revisionist shitbirds" a few posts upthread.
- inopinatus 6y agoI merely leave that as a tripwire for anyone willing to reveal their hidden inner fascist.
- blub 6y agoIn the end nations are the quintessential form of human political organization and they rest upon the ideas of shared history, culture and patriotism. Your attempts at equating patriotism with chauvinism and aggressive nationalism don't provoke revulsion, they just cause confusion as to what could move you to assert such absurdities. Words have clear meanings. You could save everyone some time by being precise instead of launching into pointless crusades.
- inopinatus 6y ago> nations are the quintessential form of human political organization That is false, hubristic, tautological, and lacking in either foresight or historical perspective. Nations in their current mode of the nation-state have barely existed for a couple of centuries. Like every other construct of mankind, they will be replaced. > they rest upon the ideas of shared history, culture and patriotism They rest on borders demarcated by political and ethnic violence, and institutions whose primary functions are to perpetuate their own existence, maintain a ruling class, and quell the populace. > You could save everyone some time by being precise instead of launching into pointless crusades You don't have to respond, but I don't take instructions to shut up from someone perpetuating abusive dogma.
- ceilingcorner 6y agoI'm sorry, but if you reply in such a hostile manner, I really have no interest in a discussion. You don't seem open to actually discussing anything and would rather pontificate for upvotes. My suggestion: read more history books and learn to appreciate the sacrifices that your forebears made so that you have the privilege of having your current opinion. A lot of people died for you to to be able to have the freedom to write unappreciative, snarky comments on the Internet. America certainly isn't perfect, but even a cursory reading of history will show you that the alternatives were far, far, worse. Unless you think Soviet Russia, Nazi Germany, Imperial Japan, or the Confederate States would have been better moral leaders?
- inopinatus 6y agoAh yes, that worthless old argument. No, wait, two worthless arguments: one, that we cannot be grateful without being patriotic; two, that the alternative is Nazis and Commies. Both are, of course, without a shred of evidence, common sense, or reason. They come from a place that recognises only binary divisions of humanity. Us, and them. Oh, and that false assumption that the people who salute flags get to make the moral judgements. Since I don’t have privileged white settler ancestry but come from a long line of the stateless and persecuted, my answer is that you can shove such false dichotomies up Satan’s privilege-assuming backside, because the only thing that experience reveals is that all patriotism is tyrannical.
- syril 6y agoKnew it