If you asked me like 4-8 years ago, I felt kind of neutral about things. Now I don’t feel an ounce bit patriotic or proud enough to even state that I’m an American.
Now, when I see an American flag around, I see it as a symbol of fascism, anti-intelluctialism, neo-nazism, and late-stage capitalism amongst other things. If there’s an American flag flying on a car, I can totally see that person possessing at least one of those qualities.
I suppose it’s good to be self aware and not blindly feel patriotic and ignoring that your country needs improvement.
I don’t know what I’m expecting in the comments here but just thought I would get this off my chest.
The same happens in Spain if you are leftist since the civil war, even before maybe.
If nobody ever would identify with a flag we’d have like 1 problem less.
No, you’re right to feel that way. While most Americans aren’t terrible people, enough of us are that we allowed fascism to take over and we will have to carry that shame with us for the rest of our lives. It Happened Here.
Look for the helpers
However you feel is not “wrong”, and in this case pretty understandable.
Here in Australia I don’t have a problem with the flag itself, but there seems to be a strong correlation with people putting flags on their cars and being racist assholes.
“All men are created equal”
IS SLAVE STATE
Always has been
What you’re feeling is rationality. Nationalism is an extension of basic primal instinct humans have developed to protect their tribe, but it is only detrimental to modern life.
Totally healthy! I started that when my friends died in Iraq or came back without limbs and sustaining life long trauma. But newbies always welcome 😁
this is what free speech is all about, you should never feel wrong for feeling gross about how your country is fucking up
In my opinion, true patriotism requires being critical of your nation. A patriot doesn’t blindly let their nation go to hell. The Republicans that have take the word “patriot” are not patriots, in my opinion. They’ve ruined the word. A patriot wants to find the issues with their nation and improve them, not yell about being the best and to ignore everything wrong.
Basically, yes. I feel the same as you about the flag, but because it’s been used as a symbol of blind faith, not patriotism. I feel patriotic pride in being critical, not in saying a pledge or anything like that.
The American flag has become more a symbol of nationalism to me than a symbol of patriotism. It represents everything I hate about my country, and none of the things I love.
Tbh I think flag hate or angst is about as useful/less as flag worship. If you need something to be preoccupied with, why not make it a problem you can put that energy into doing something about where you live - like homeless people or food aid.
I might be reacting this way because I’ve been getting recent emails from my college about changing the school mascot, which is a “pioneer”. When I was there I don’t remember even being aware that there was a mascot. But apparently they think “pioneer” might be too closely associated with colonialism and they’ve decided this is an important issue. My attitude is create a Native American scholarship (or anything that actually does something) - don’t obsess on imagery.
I hate even dressing up on July 4th for fear of looking like a capitol raiding moron. It didn’t use to be like this, and frankly, it’s depressing as fuck. I used to be very proud of my nation, and the progress we’d made in my short lifespan. We legalized gay marriage, elected a black president, tried to get healthcare for all (didn’t work and we all know why), but I genuinely felt optimistic about our nation and the future. 4 years of Trump did a number on my sense of patriotism, and were only 1 months in to Trump 2.0 and he’s dealt a knockout blow to it. I genuinely cringe seeing any amount of national pride now.
Back in the day when my grandfather had a shack in Canada for the summers he would wear a Canada flag hat from time to time. People complimented him on it. This was in the 80s when pride in your country wasn’t associated with “nationalism” and sort of racial pride. Now-a-days even a Canadian flag holds weirdo connotations not even getting into the American flag…
I’m with you. I’m on vacation in a foreign country. There was a performance and part of it was asking the crowd where they were from. I felt no enthusiasm when the performer asked the crowd to cheer if they were from the USA. It felt shameful.
As a fellow ashamed american, I feel you. I’d keep my mouth shut if anyone asked, if not out of shame, then out of (admittedly paranoid) self-preservation.
I hope the rest of your vacation has been/is great!
Thank god one other country with an almost indistinguishable accent exists.
“Boy, those Americans sure are hosers, eh??”
In elementary school, I was all about patriotism. The flag was cool. we (country) were the bad-ass owners of our own fate and we’re cool. We are the melting pot, by the people for the people.
Up through Desert Shield, I was still like yay, America.
W lost his luster, I got old enough to feel the embarrassment of broccoli and NUCULER. I wasn’t rah rah anymore, but those that are, live and let live right?
Dixie flag wavers were racists, that was easy, but the 1776 flag, will maybe they’re historians.
I was mostly over our the right’s shit by Clinton. But then Clinton had some of his own disturbing shit.
When Trump hit the first time, I saw, 30-40% of the population throwing flags up and starting fascist fights. Complete and Immediate disillusion.
At his point, someone flying the US flag is a BIG red flag. The Dixie flag is stupid racists, The 1776 flag is libertarians who fall into camps between uninformed and uninformed racists pop it up there with the don’t tread on me bullshit.
At this point, if you’re not retired military from a better time, there’s very little you can do to show me you can fly an American flag and not be a horrible person.
Another valid reason to fly one is self defense. If you are bold enough to exist on rural american roads while riding a bicycle, having an american flag visibly attached to your bike can do a lot to disarm the types of people who would otherwise run you off the road.
