William Blum: Why I don't love America. Some Thoughts on "Patriotism" Written on July 4th

[Karmadillo]

Well worth reading the entire article.

http://www.counterpunch.org/blum07072010.html

Why I Don't Love America
Some Thoughts on "Patriotism" Written on July 4th
By WILLIAM BLUM

Most important thought: I'm sick and tired of this thing called "patriotism". The Japanese pilots who bombed Pearl Harbor were being patriotic. The German people who supported Hitler and his conquests were being patriotic, fighting for the Fatherland. All the Latin American military dictators who overthrew democratically-elected governments and routinely tortured people were being patriotic — saving their beloved country from "communism". General Augusto Pinochet of Chile, mass murderer and torturer: "I would like to be remembered as a man who served his country."

P.W. Botha, former president of apartheid South Africa: "I am not going to repent. I am not going to ask for favours. What I did, I did for my country." Pol Pot, mass murderer of Cambodia: "I want you to know that everything I did, I did for my country."

<edit>

I was once asked after a talk: "Do you love America?" I answered: "No". After pausing for a few seconds to let that sink in amidst several nervous giggles in the audience, I continued with: "I don't love any country. I'm a citizen of the world. I love certain principles, like human rights, civil liberties, democracy, an economy which puts people before profits."

<edit>

Howard Zinn called nationalism "a set of beliefs taught to each generation in which the Motherland or the Fatherland is an object of veneration and becomes a burning cause for which one becomes willing to kill the children of other Motherlands or Fatherlands. ... Patriotism is used to create the illusion of a common interest that everybody in the country has."

<edit>

"Pledges of allegiance are marks of totalitarian states, not democracies," says David Kertzer, a Brown University anthropologist who specializes in political rituals. "I can't think of a single democracy except the United States that has a pledge of allegiance." Or, he might have added, that insists that its politicians display their patriotism by wearing a flag pin. Hitler criticized German Jews and Communists for their internationalism and lack of national patriotism, demanding that "true patriots" publicly vow and display their allegiance to the fatherland. In reaction to this, postwar Germany has made a conscious and strong effort to minimize public displays of patriotism.

more...

[sinkingfeeling]

1. Beautifully stated.

[NoNothing]

2. I for one see a distinction between patriotism and nationalism

Patriotism = pride in the good things about one's country, willingness to participate in the national community and work to change it for the better and defend what is worth defending

Nationalism = discrimination against "outsiders" and blind belief in the superiority or infallibility of the "nation" (not even necessarily the state) or "volk"; the U.S. is I believe less susceptible to this (but not immune) than many other nations because its national identity is not closely tied to an ethnic identity - nationalism is a fellow-traveler of racism

[BeFree]

3. I guess

...Blum has never been a patriot?

Like any tool, it's greatest or worse use lies in the way that it is used.

If Blumie was never an American patriot, how could he ever know how to use that tool wisely?

[Stuckinthebush]

4. I loved that...but...

I found myself reading it and nodding my head in agreement. This type of critical thinking is food for my soul. Then I thought, "I should send this to friends and family". At which point I stopped myself because I was afraid that they would never get beyond the title. My liberal and progressives friends still hold on to the notion of patriotism. It is ingrained into our American psyche.

The road to a non-national world view is long and hard. It is like the road to being a non-theist. If you grow up being taught that there is a deity and that deity is ever present then it is very difficult to retrain your thinking away from that mindset. Similarly, if you grow up with the images and words that reinforce that America is the greatest country in the world then it is hard to retrain your thoughts surrounding the USA.

Of course, it could all be due to tribal instincts. Humans aren't that different from our ancestors. We group together for safety and continuity of the tribe. Perhaps that is all this nationalism crap is. Perhaps we as a species can never move away from that destructive mindset. Perhaps it will eventually kill us all.

[Octafish]

5. Blume is a sage.

Going by his body of work, Blum loves America as much as anybody.
What he doesn't love is what America has become -- an Empire.

http://killinghope.org/

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. "Patriotism is the most foolish of passions, and the passion of fools." Schopenhauer

Personally, I find the concept of loving something as nebulous as "my country" downright ridiculous.

"My country is the world, and my religion is to do good." Thomas Paine

[G_j]

7. K&R, William Blum has his finger on reality

:thumbsup:

[BobbyBoring]

8. We are the worlds leading consumer

of our own bath water. This time of year, the real patriots are out in force. "The greatest nation on earth" they proclaim. Fact is, what's to love? The natural beauty? We're destroying that as fast as we can. The people? For the most part a bunch of obese, illiterate numb skulls. Our heritage? Don't even go there! Our democracy? What's that?

Until we admit to what we actually are, we will continue to be a nation in decline. What's to love about that?

[Javaman]

9. the simple fact is: we have replaced the concept of nationism with patriotism. nt

[MilesColtrane]

10. National states are becoming less relevant every day.

Multinational corporations are rising to take their place as the real seats of power.

I think the board of Exxon/Mobil probably sees the renouncement of national patriotism as a real opportunity.