Patriotism isn't the same for the Right and the Left

[lunatica]

Trump, the Republicans, and the MAGATs love the past. Especially, it seems the bad old days when they were the favored Americans. They turn to the past as being the best of times.

Democrats love the future potential of our country. The possibilities of growing into our promised enshrined ideals. We turn to the future to create the more perfect union.

I never thought of it that way before. I guess the Right and the Left have always been polarized.

[rusty quoin]

1. Well, the left usually doesn't hide behind the flag.

[Turin_C3PO]

2. That's a very good summary!

Yes, the Republicans value a fake, old-fashioned image of a white patriarchy while the Dems look ahead and want the “American Dream” accessible to every American, regardless of color, gender, religion, etc.

[lunatica]

3. We'll probably never see eye to eye

Maybe we’ve always been in a figurative civil war. You can’t want to live in a past you think was perfect on one hand and want to improve on it at the same time on the other hand.

But since our present is already an improvement of the past, in spite of the Republicans setting us back a little, we Democrat’s must be winning.

[rampartc]

4. "you ain't just whistling dixie."

take a good look at the flag they are waving.....

[lunatica]

5. Yes. That's one blatant example

The more educated ones are more subtle about it, but fundamentally it’s about preferring the Leave It To Beaver era that never existed except on tv.

[Progressive Jones]

10. Those aren't Americans. nt

[tanyev]

6. What the right calls patriotism is usually what I would call jingoism.

jingoism:
​
the extreme belief that your own country is always best, often shown in enthusiastic support for a war against another country

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/us/dictionary/english/jingoism

[lunatica]

7. I agree completely

The idea that we are superior and therefore have the right to push everyone else in the world around. That if they dare try to stop us we will kick their ass to show them our superiority.

The Ugly American writ large! They love war. It’s like a video game to them. Fun, fun, fun!

[UTUSN]

8. always polarized - Wingnuts are literal; libs come from the core

Wingnuts see "flag" and worship fabric; libs see it as an abstract symbol.

Wingnuts look outward for enemies; libs look inward for root causes.

[lunatica]

9. Very well put!

You summarize the differences nicely.