c20H25N3o said:
Wrong! I have no problem with people who dont even consider it as an idea. I am not assuming they are any less happy than I am. I was refering to your particular doom and gloom view on it. This is the difference.
I am saying ( just for the point of clarity) that patriotism by itself is usually a wholly honerable thing. It is something that unites us as peoples. It is no different from tribes who are proud to be in their particular tribe. The collection of tribes make a whole and none are opposed to the other. They love the differences they see in eachothers values and way of living. They love the different cultures that exist within the different tribes.
You seem to wish to do away with some values that are very core to me. Dont be suprised if I try to get you to see why the subject of patriotism is a bright, happy one as opposed to your view of it as wrapped in evil human pride which will turn to hate and death.
Next time you'll visit an inner city evoke a speach "You and me are united by patriotism. We belong to the different branches of the same tribe. We are whole Pleaseeeee, don't shoot me". Or, if some scam artist will decide to steal your identity/cheat you, you may try your modified speach again. Or, some backstabbing bitch will kick you out from your job. Or, if you'll be low on $, go to a street and evoke your speach hoping that people with and without $ are united in some way. Or, if you'll be homeless, call on the "uniting" patriotism of those with and without roof over head. Or, if you'll be a lonely old man forgotten by your children on the Christmass eve, try your speach again. Good luck.
the larger group of people you are "united" with, the more unnatural/fake the union is. People are damn too different (and the same at the time) and damn too selfish. Try to be united in marriage using random blind choices. To be truly united people need to have lots of things in common. Most of the people never find a true friend (in the worldwide, not an American definition) in their entire life. That's how united we are.
At the same time, people cling to the idea of belonging to something bigger than they are. People want to belong to the cause (be it saving a country or saving their unit in one of those useless wars with a 3rd world country). That's why big wars, disasters, etc. with clear enemies and goals are so exhillirating, uniting. People at last belong to something bigger, they have goal, they are united by the goal (not all people, of course, but majority). That's why most WWI veterans would have gone back to stinky trenches just to experience comradery they had there. Those people who went through the worst meat grinders of war, basically had NOTHING better in their entire lives than that war.
Alas, as soon as war/disaster is over the sense of belonging is over too. The very same person who would have risked his life for someone he barely knew would not pass a "dime" to a homeless veteran, etc., etc., etc.
It's over because the sense of "war unification" is fake. People simply do not pay attention to the many things during the disaster time's unification.
Unfortunately, the state, which is always in need for the gun meat, is constantly exploiting the desire of humans to belong. Propaganda is working, brains are getting washed. It's easier to lead sheep to the slaughter that way.
