Many Americans are not as "patriotic" as they used to be...?

[kentuck]

Or is it, they just don't give a shit?

They don't really care about politics or what happens to our country. They have more important things to worry about.

They don't waste their time voting for the politicians. They are all the same. They are crooks.

If the survival of our country depended on these folks, then sayonara USA. You may think these folks are stupid but they think you are stupid.

This is not to say that there is not enough nationalism and flag-waving going around. But you will not find half the citizens that know what the hell you are talking about. There's a new Batman movie they want to rent and they plan on going to the gun show this weekend and see if they can find a good price on an AR-15....After all, you never know when you might have to defend yourself from this evil government...

[Me.]

1. I Think They're Worn Out By It

The constant drum beating, jingoistic, exceptionalism, chest thumping, finger pointing... you're not one of us if...of it all.

[No Elephants]

2. IMO, too many Americans are becoming scarily nationalistic.

Boston's Fourth of July celebration this year was almost frightening.

And we are all but worshipping uniforms. Military, police, firefighters.

Anyone in a uniform, preferably with a weapon, is automatically getting reverence.

And some of it takes on an ugly, divisive quality, which is not at all patriotic.

Take these lyrics from an allegedly patriotic song:

Lyrics to Where The Stars And Stripes And Eagle Fly :
Well if you ask me where I come from
Here's what I tell everyone
I was born by God's dear grace
In an extraordinary place
Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly

It's a big 'ol land with countless dreams
Happiness ain't out of reach
Hard work pays off the way it should
Yeah, I've seen enough to know that we've got it good
Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly

<snip>

I pledge allegiance to this flag
And if that bothers you, well that's too bad
But if you got pride and you're proud you do
Hey, we could use some more like me and you
Where the stars and stripes and the eagle fly

Jingoism, American exceptionalism and a big F.U. to everyone who doesn't think like I do. How much more un-American could it get?

I couldn't believe that this actually played at Boston's Fourth of July celebration.

I didn't realize the Boston Pops had gone in this direction.

On the other hand, the U.S., as a nation, once considered taking care of U.S. veterans a sacred obligation.

Now, we're trying to make it something volunteers do, while denying there is such a thing as post traumatic stress disorder and allowing VA hospitals to decay.

And not only veterans. During the early years of the Iraq War, we were being urged to send things like shaving cream and razor blades to troops in Iraq. Then it turned out they were making their own armor for their vehicles, too.

:wtf:

[kentuck]

3. I think it is both...

And there are more of both of them. There are more extreme jingoists than ever before. At the same time, there are more people that have completely dropped out of the system entirely. It is not a very healthy balance, in my opinion.

[No Elephants]

4. It is indeed both. Patriotism is good. Nationalism and jingoism, awful.

And, yes, way too few people vote.

Do you know that the census bureau cannot even tell us how many Americans are eligible to vote, but do not bother to register or, if registered, do not bother to vote?

I actually wrote in and asked after the 2004 election.

The Bureau replied that it does not collect that kind of information and does not know of anyone who does collect it.

Amazing that, as far as I can tell, no one cares about statistics about how many voters don't vote.

I could speculate about why people lack interest in voting. However, it would be only speculation.

[No Elephants]

5. Another poster on another message board once opined that only

those who volunteered to serve in the military were patriots. The rest was nationalism.

I couldn't see it at all then, but I might be more open to be persuaded now, especially since Boston's July 4 celebration made me shiver. After a while, I would not have been surprised to hear a chorus of "Tomorrow Belongs to Me."

And I have seen quite a few years worth of those celebrations without ever feeling like this.

To the contrary, I always always enjoyed July 4 in Boston immensely.

Anyway, the discussion might have been interesting. I wish i had pursued with him or her.