|synaptic disunion|

Tuesday, July 01, 2008

patriotism...

What does it mean to be a patriot? What does it mean to you? I'd suspect that for many Hannity and O'Reilly viewers, it would actually be the same definition of Jingoism. It wasn't so for people like Mark Twain, who said "Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it."

Somewhere in the cable news networks today, someone said "I don't think riding in a fighter plane and getting shot down is a qualification to be president." That sounds like the truth, and yet, cable news, in all it's glory and wisdom decided it was an issue. Do we elect war heroes based solely on their war records? Am I qualified to be Traffic Commissioner because I drive on roads, and was in a car accident once?

I'm wearing my Obama t-shirt today, because I wanted to donate to his campaign and show my support, in my limited way. I got a shirt for my efforts. So, does that make me a patriot? Or, as some people might think, does it make me un-American? There are many, one I met today, who's opinions and world-views are clouded by their own cynicism. The person I met today looked at me, and my shirt, like they were looking at something so completely disgusting and foreign it shook foundations of their world. How could someone call themselves an American and vote for "that guy?" was the vibe I got. A healthy cynicism is good, but, like a drug, it can be dangerous and debilitating.

In the picture at top, there are four American flags flying. These homeowners fly their flags as many days of the year as they can. There's a spot on the street where I took this picture, where you can see no less than nine flags at as many houses. For some reason, the day I took this picture, this fact was mildly unnerving. I'm still trying to nail down exactly why I was unnerved. We fly our flag also, but only on holidays. It's a faded real cloth flag that has a stain on it, and should probably be retired. But its our flag, and we like it. Does it make us any less patriotic than the people who've spent lots of money on poles, lighting, and giant flags to fly outside their homes every day of the year? I don't know, really. Maybe I should go ask twenty four hour cable news what I should think.

: toadman : at Tuesday, July 01, 2008 |