There’s been a concerted effort to conflate the two in the US for decades, for example someone’s “support the troops” bumper sticker isn’t patriotism, it’s manufacturing consent for a nationalistic, hawkish foreign policy.
Like I said though, there is a difference, and it’s worth explaining.
I agree on all points, I just understand where that other person is coming from because when you’re told that America is patriotic when it’s actually just nationalism in red, white, and blue, it’s hard to spot the difference.
Like, I can be proud of my state for what they’ve done to help people, but I wouldn’t call it patriotism. I still see the government as the policies and actions of individuals with power, and that is something that should never be fully trusted lest we face the consequences that we are currently seeing as a possible near future from the actions of the party of Trump. I don’t care about America; I care about her people and what those individuals have accomplished alone and together. To quote a silly sci-fi movie series, “My loyalty is to the people. To democracy!”
There’s been a concerted effort to conflate the two in the US for decades, for example someone’s “support the troops” bumper sticker isn’t patriotism, it’s manufacturing consent for a nationalistic, hawkish foreign policy.
Like I said though, there is a difference, and it’s worth explaining.
I agree on all points, I just understand where that other person is coming from because when you’re told that America is patriotic when it’s actually just nationalism in red, white, and blue, it’s hard to spot the difference.
Like, I can be proud of my state for what they’ve done to help people, but I wouldn’t call it patriotism. I still see the government as the policies and actions of individuals with power, and that is something that should never be fully trusted lest we face the consequences that we are currently seeing as a possible near future from the actions of the party of Trump. I don’t care about America; I care about her people and what those individuals have accomplished alone and together. To quote a silly sci-fi movie series, “My loyalty is to the people. To democracy!”