On "False Patriotism"
Oct. 9th, 2007 08:05 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
patgundThe latest tempest in a teacup seems to be the "Ooo Noes! Obama thinks wearing a (made in China) US Flag Lapel Pin doesn't show real patriotism! He must hate America!"
Now I don't really care for Obama running much, I think he doesn't have nearly enough experience to be an effective president. That being said....
Maybe it's ignorance. Maybe Obama doesn't know the right way to wear a (made in China) US Flag Lapel Pin? Maybe he could look at these mugshots of Sen. Larry Craig, Ex-Rep Tom Delay, or this sentencing picture of Ex-Rep Duke Cunningham for the proper way to wear a lapel pin.
And it's interesting to note at the same time Sean Hannity was lambasting Obama for not wearing a (made in China) US Flag Lapel Pin, he wasn't wearing one either.
Seriously though, Obama has a point. True patriotism isn't worn on a lapel or stuck on a car. It's worn on one's heart, and shown in how one lives up to the examples of what one's country should mean. Like the people who think that sticking a (made in China) yellow ribbon magnet on their car to show "support for the troops", (and then doing absolutely nothing else to support or help them in anyway), far too many people think that displaying the outward signs of patriotism, and ignoring what it really means to be a patriot is somehow enough.
Literally, it's the least you can do. And that's not a complement.
Real patriotism is living up to the ideals of one's country, no matter what that country might be. If one is, in their heart of hearts, living up to those ideals, then it doesn't matter what they're wearing or what's on their car. And if they aren't living up to those ideals, there aren't enough lapel pins or bumper stickers in the world to hide that fact.
Now I don't really care for Obama running much, I think he doesn't have nearly enough experience to be an effective president. That being said....
Maybe it's ignorance. Maybe Obama doesn't know the right way to wear a (made in China) US Flag Lapel Pin? Maybe he could look at these mugshots of Sen. Larry Craig, Ex-Rep Tom Delay, or this sentencing picture of Ex-Rep Duke Cunningham for the proper way to wear a lapel pin.
And it's interesting to note at the same time Sean Hannity was lambasting Obama for not wearing a (made in China) US Flag Lapel Pin, he wasn't wearing one either.
Seriously though, Obama has a point. True patriotism isn't worn on a lapel or stuck on a car. It's worn on one's heart, and shown in how one lives up to the examples of what one's country should mean. Like the people who think that sticking a (made in China) yellow ribbon magnet on their car to show "support for the troops", (and then doing absolutely nothing else to support or help them in anyway), far too many people think that displaying the outward signs of patriotism, and ignoring what it really means to be a patriot is somehow enough.
Literally, it's the least you can do. And that's not a complement.
Real patriotism is living up to the ideals of one's country, no matter what that country might be. If one is, in their heart of hearts, living up to those ideals, then it doesn't matter what they're wearing or what's on their car. And if they aren't living up to those ideals, there aren't enough lapel pins or bumper stickers in the world to hide that fact.
