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Thoughts on the Fourth
15 years ago
Welcome to my thoughts! Watch your step!
While strolling through the garden that is the Recent Submissions page on FA, I happened across this interesting cartoon. Having a bit of a reflective bent (reflective bent what? Don't ask) today, I was intrigued by what the cartoonist is saying.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel," Samuel Johnson famously wrote back in 1775. He wasn't referring to what he termed true patriotism, which is love for one's country, but instead was referring to people who only paid lip service to the idea.
The modern concept of patriotism - at least, here in America - has managed to be bound almost inextricably with nationalism and even jingoism. This attitude arose during the 19th Century in America, which shows a true "pre-9/11" mindset.
The flaunting of yellow ribbons after Black Tuesday was originally touted as showing support for our armed forces, while neglecting to note that in most color symbologies yellow is the color most associated with cowardice and quarantine.
Patriotism isn't merely waving the flag and shouting slogans. It runs deeper than that, and includes a desire for the common good as well as the capacity for constructive criticism.
Yes, constructive criticism. "My country, right or wrong!" is an empty slogan here in the United States, because dissent is vital to the democratic process. You want change? You first have to find something wrong that needs changing - if our society was perfect, nothing would require change and everyone would be satisfied. Nations and institutions are built on people, and people are fallible.
(And don't give me that dreck about "Judeo-Christian values." Those were written by and are interpreted by people too, and are more honored in the breach anyway.)
Which leads me back to the cartoon. The generic canine opens the cartoon by declaiming that the Fourth is the day we celebrate our independence and express our love of country. Another character toots a vuvuzela in response.
The other three characters then tell him that they are not from America. Two are citizens of other nations, while the third is a recent immigrant. The first character's response is to snarl in the best nativist tradition, "Get the fuck out of my country."
It is possible that the cartoonist is being ironic here. I'm not sure, but the cartoon was certainly thought-provoking.
So, Happy Fourth of July, everyone. Love your country, and the diversity that makes it strong and resilient. Love it despite its flaws - or even because of its flaws, and remember that the Preamble to the Constitution states the purpose "to form a more perfect Union." The Founders knew that perfection is unattainable, but it gives you something to aim for.
So, Happy Fourth of July. Be careful with the fireworks.
"Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel," Samuel Johnson famously wrote back in 1775. He wasn't referring to what he termed true patriotism, which is love for one's country, but instead was referring to people who only paid lip service to the idea.
The modern concept of patriotism - at least, here in America - has managed to be bound almost inextricably with nationalism and even jingoism. This attitude arose during the 19th Century in America, which shows a true "pre-9/11" mindset.
The flaunting of yellow ribbons after Black Tuesday was originally touted as showing support for our armed forces, while neglecting to note that in most color symbologies yellow is the color most associated with cowardice and quarantine.
Patriotism isn't merely waving the flag and shouting slogans. It runs deeper than that, and includes a desire for the common good as well as the capacity for constructive criticism.
Yes, constructive criticism. "My country, right or wrong!" is an empty slogan here in the United States, because dissent is vital to the democratic process. You want change? You first have to find something wrong that needs changing - if our society was perfect, nothing would require change and everyone would be satisfied. Nations and institutions are built on people, and people are fallible.
(And don't give me that dreck about "Judeo-Christian values." Those were written by and are interpreted by people too, and are more honored in the breach anyway.)
Which leads me back to the cartoon. The generic canine opens the cartoon by declaiming that the Fourth is the day we celebrate our independence and express our love of country. Another character toots a vuvuzela in response.
The other three characters then tell him that they are not from America. Two are citizens of other nations, while the third is a recent immigrant. The first character's response is to snarl in the best nativist tradition, "Get the fuck out of my country."
It is possible that the cartoonist is being ironic here. I'm not sure, but the cartoon was certainly thought-provoking.
So, Happy Fourth of July, everyone. Love your country, and the diversity that makes it strong and resilient. Love it despite its flaws - or even because of its flaws, and remember that the Preamble to the Constitution states the purpose "to form a more perfect Union." The Founders knew that perfection is unattainable, but it gives you something to aim for.
So, Happy Fourth of July. Be careful with the fireworks.
The wiki articles on the subject offer some insights:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow_ribbon
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yellow#In_culture
It would seem that the few negative connotations (cowardice, quarantine) are far outweighed by the many positive uses... ;)
And a happy 4th to you! Already set off a couple rockets in the backyard last night, as my neighborhood got an early start. :)
Anyway.
Happy Fourth! I've been hearing the snap of fireworks for the past week. Of course, we're supposed to have about a 70% chance of rain today, so many people are just getting it out of their systems early.
By the way, have you seen this today?
Which reminded me of Sows, actually. Made me laugh.
Hell, you of all people should know that you can't save 'em all, so it's better (albeit far colder) to concentrate on the ones worth saving...
But I think I've found a healthy way to think of it. I do love my country, it is where I was born and raised. It has given me room to become who I am and resources to pursue happiness. So how could I not love it? Imperfect as it is, with many voices I totally disagree with, I still love it.
"You have to love a nation that celebrates its independence every July 4, not with a parade of guns, tanks, and soldiers who file by the White House in a show of strength and muscle, but with family picnics where kids throw Frisbees, the potato salad gets iffy, and the flies die from happiness. You may think you have overeaten, but it is patriotism."~Erma Bombeck
I don't think we are a Representative Democracy anymore. more a Bureaucratic Oligarchy with the CEO's of big corps calling the shots for us. And I resent the heck out of it. Representatives and Senators should no longer be for sale or lease, and any of them caught taking money from a Corporation, even in their own district, should be escorted to Jail for the remainder of their term.
Ain't ever gonna happen, but it's something I'd like to see.
The effect of Big Money has been felt in US politics for a long time (I think Jefferson, our 3rd President, complained about it), and Eisenhower warned us very openly about the Military-Industrial Complex. I agree that the Anti-Trust Act needs its teeth back, along with a few other things.
For example, most people pay FICA taxes for Social Security. People making $108,600 a year or more, however, Don't. Many large corporations haven't paid any taxes in thirty years. If that were rectified, we probably wouldn't be in the fix we're in now (lump in the repeal of most federal banking regulations since 2000 along with that).
There's a lot of things I would very much like to see. Unfortunately, in order to accomplish them you'd have to resort to dictatorial tactics, which would be using poison to counteract a poison.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QldU_HKEHd4
There is a balance, and it must be upheld.
I do believe that patriotism is very important and that more people should practice it. Even if they are just shouting pro US slogans or waving around an little American flag. This isn't true by the book patriotism sure, but nothing in life is by the book. The book is boring, fuck the book, its something that just guides you in the direction you should go, it's up to you to make it your own. So you make the definition of patriotism your own. To me its a mix of supporting your country no matter what and doing whats within your ability to do best for it. But still its all in ones own beliefs. This is one of those topics that could go on forever, so in short thanks for the little discussion to get the gears turning. But if you think about everything in life you'll miss whats important.
constructive to add to the
conversation, mind.