Modern "country music" makes my ares ache , First of all, it isn't country music & is barely music at all. Secondly the lyrics invariably are about 3 or 4 trivial consumerist subjects: sex, drinking, pickup trucks and the worst
of all "patriotism." This sort of blind patriotism, in the words Samuel Johnson, "is the last refuge of the scoundrel."
It's what George W. Bush used to silence opponents of his unnecessary wars. When they spoke out against his administration, he accused them of being unpatriotic. Real patriotism, though IS DISSENTING with the government when it is wrong. it's speaking up for and when necessary fighting for ALL of the people of your nation regardless of religious belief and race. It's standing up for the have-nots, & NOT supporting politicians pandering to hateful, fearful spirited constituents, who blame all the problems this country faces on the unfortunate for using government services & what, give all the money to the ultra rich? YOU bet! That's EXACTLY what the evil bastards are up to.
Real patriotism IS NOT this form of control that thrives on hate and fear that divides this nation and it's politics. REAL patriotism requires work and sacrifice and is MUCH more difficult and even perilous than what is commonly accepted as being "patriotic," such as waving flags, getting drunk on the 4th of July and shooting off fireworks or putting bumper stickers on cars that say "i support our troops?" and hitting the "like" button on Facebook. REAL patriotism would be saving the money you spend on fireworks and beer and contributing it to a charity that helps less fortunate Americans who don't shelter or enough food to eat, OR AT THE VERY LEAST spending the fireworks and beer money on something durable or nutritional your family or the one next door maybe could use.
Instead, most of us insist "patriotism" is as simple as singing along with a poorly written and performed song about the flag or a war while drinking alcoholic beverages to excess& saying "I support our troops" and "you are unpatriotic if you don't support the wars", conflating the two as if they are the same thing and cheering that on.
NO! REAL patriotism is going up to the guy you see burning the flag and asking "brother, what concerns you so much that you put flame to the symbol of our nation?"
It's what George W. Bush used to silence opponents of his unnecessary wars. When they spoke out against his administration, he accused them of being unpatriotic. Real patriotism, though IS DISSENTING with the government when it is wrong. it's speaking up for and when necessary fighting for ALL of the people of your nation regardless of religious belief and race. It's standing up for the have-nots, & NOT supporting politicians pandering to hateful, fearful spirited constituents, who blame all the problems this country faces on the unfortunate for using government services & what, give all the money to the ultra rich? YOU bet! That's EXACTLY what the evil bastards are up to.
Real patriotism IS NOT this form of control that thrives on hate and fear that divides this nation and it's politics. REAL patriotism requires work and sacrifice and is MUCH more difficult and even perilous than what is commonly accepted as being "patriotic," such as waving flags, getting drunk on the 4th of July and shooting off fireworks or putting bumper stickers on cars that say "i support our troops?" and hitting the "like" button on Facebook. REAL patriotism would be saving the money you spend on fireworks and beer and contributing it to a charity that helps less fortunate Americans who don't shelter or enough food to eat, OR AT THE VERY LEAST spending the fireworks and beer money on something durable or nutritional your family or the one next door maybe could use.
Instead, most of us insist "patriotism" is as simple as singing along with a poorly written and performed song about the flag or a war while drinking alcoholic beverages to excess& saying "I support our troops" and "you are unpatriotic if you don't support the wars", conflating the two as if they are the same thing and cheering that on.
NO! REAL patriotism is going up to the guy you see burning the flag and asking "brother, what concerns you so much that you put flame to the symbol of our nation?"
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