cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/17323832
this post was submitted on 07 Jul 2024
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Since that quote in 1875, "patriotism" has wandered over to the other side of the line, inbred with superstition, ambition, and ignorance, and turned into nationalism.
That just leaves intelligence, by its lonesome, on the other side.
Grant isn't referring to "ruh ruh 'Murica" as patriotism, he's talking about appreciation of what we have. Different political alignments just appreciate different things; the left, liberty, and the right, supremacy of rich, white males.
Yeah, I get that. But in 2024, when you hear the word "patriot" who do you think of?
We should not allow terms like this to be coopted. It's a pretty standard tactic: dilute the language of your opposition so it becomes harder for them to communicate effectively with an audience. Trying to constantly change your position's vocabulary is a losing strategy as the intended audience can't keep up. Instead, we must take back the words that are important and, for example, clearly state that it is the oppressor who is unpatriotic.
A flag doesn't make you a patriot. Loving guns and blind faith to Constitution doesn't make you a patriot. It is care for your fellow American, defending the weak and disenfranchised, and protecting the ideals of self-determination and opportunity that make someone a true patriot
I really appreciate this take. In the pursuit of better language, some groups also hamper their own ability to communicate - not a slam against the attempt, but between that and the other side diluting the group's words, it's an uphill fight
And they are absolutely doing it on purpose. Stripping meaning from words benefits them, because their side doesn't care about truth, or facts, or policies. As long as they can make the Other suffer, their base will scream whatever the word of the day is, and every time they steal a word, it makes matching their organization a little bit harder
"Insurrection" and "impeachment" have both been getting this treatment lately.
Just like National Socialist party wasn’t socialist, or the Democratic People’s Replubic of Korea isn’ta democracy, the patriotic republicans aren’t patriotic
So, the ignorant people don’t understand what patriotism is. It supports Grant’s thesis.
Definitely not the Russian shills that are going at our democracy with a weed whacker
Benjamin Martin, but not the actor that portrayed him
... Grant wasn't writing in 2024.