Fake Patriotism

[bluevoter4life]

I'm tired of all these self-proclaimed "patriots" who are so named simply because they love America. These days, the norm seems to be to "sit down and shut up. Wave the flag and support the president because that is the right thing to do." News outlets indoctrinate onto their viewers that disagreeing with the decisions made by your leaders is somehow unpatriotic. The people need to wake up and see through the propaganda the corporate media is pressing upon them. FOX News, CNN, MSNBC, etc. etc. etc. are all controlled by corporate interests who only broadcast the news they WANT you to see. What kind of world do we live in where late-night comedians are forced to ask the tough questions? This explains why news is dominated by tabloid princesses Paris Hilton and Lindsay Lohan.
Protest is the highest form of patriotism. This is a right guaranteed to us by the First Amendment of the United States Constitution. These so called "patriots" do nothing more than wave a small American flag, that was probably manufactured in China. These are the same people that follow blindly the decisions and policies their elected officials make, like sheep to the herd. Remember the days where being patriotic meant more than waving a flag? Where people actually knew why they were protesting? Remember the days when people actually stood for something? Are these not the foundations this country was founded upon? We, as Americans have a responsibility to stand up and speak out against the injustices brought upon us by self-serving bastards in 3-piece suits.
The amalgamation of the modern mainstream media and the ignorance of the American people is a bad combination. This places us in a bad and dangerous position. Ignorance leads to authoritarian. If you are not pissed off, you are not paying attention.

As sacred as Independence Day is to the United States, one has to wonder how many of them are patriotic throughout the year. These one-day patriots are simply in it so they appear to give a damn in public. Meanwhile, once they get home, they turn on E! for continuous coverage of the death of a celebrity. At the same time, there is strife and political instability in the world, yet they are so stupefied by shiny objects on the TV they have no means or desire to form a true opinion over REAL world events, positive or negative. In the end, they are not only damaging themselves, they are damaging our future as a nation. Is the death of a major celebrity news? Yes, to an extent it is. But to spend 24 hours a day coverage it, rehashing the same information over and over again, for hours, days, weeks even on end, is completely unnecessary. Who knew that while Fox News was devoting all their time to the Michael Jackson funeral, there was a news crawl at the bottom of the screen that President Obama was in Russia in talks for nuclear disarmament between the us and them? The same can be said of CNN, MSNBC, ABC, NBC, and any other major news outlet.

I have just about abandoned all hope for the future of America's youth. The media companies are nothing more than giant conglomerates who bury true news and refuse to allow opposing viewpoints, god forbid someone disagrees with them. The First Amendment is all but gone in this country. The art of journalism is dead.





Its a little late I admit, but I was away from my computer for the holiday weekend. Hope you enjoyed.

[NRaleighLiberal]

1. Not just fake patriotism, but fake everything - outrage, adoration, you name it.

I blame TV for much of it as well....24 hour news cycle combined with a fascination/obsession with "reality" shows (which have nothing to do with reality as far as I can see).

[obliviously]

2. I don't like mens hair pieces either N/T

[BeatleBoot]

3. I haven't seen anyone in a 3 - Piece Suit in a Long Time

But, I don't get out much.

[patrice]

4. Please don't EVER give hope for America's young people.

Yes, many ARE deluded and lost, but many are also trying to figure things out and they should not be discounted.

I agree that the deck is stacked against them because of the our corporate-whore-mongering media, so your doubts about gen-whatevers aren't entirely unfounded, but I also personally know that it IS the young people who were with us early against the Invasion and Occupation of Iraq and it is young people whom I see expressing an interest in Peace now, even here in the heart of red country.

It is also young people who drive some very dedicated efforts to support alternative energy in our state and who fight Coal.

Yes, to some, "Patriotism" means either catching the latest jingoistic fad or just conforming and not asking any questions, just gritting your teath and being obedient and bearing whatever is going wrong. I have to admit that, to me, this seems much more characteristic of the Generation referred to by some as "Great" than it does to your 20-somethings.

[bluestateguy]

5. Well, now you don't have anything to worry about

because now, ever since January 20, the conservatives agree with you that dissent is patriotic.

[mudplanet]

6. My American flag is bigger than your American flag

and that proves I love America more.

[Historic NY]

7. those damned ribbons of ever sort & size..on vehicles.