The sturm und drang over ABC’s appalling flag-pin fest makes me depressed. We think Obama is a patriot. But our anger misses the point...
The truth of the matter is that any national concept of patriotism amounts to childish, collective self-worship. There is no way that real "patriotic" deeds – such as Obama’s Senate fight to provide veterans benefits, or Rev. Wright’s service in the Marine Corps — can ever trump lip service or empty gesture.
That is because patriotism itself is the dangerous, egotistic lie that we are somehow better than people in other nations, simply because we are Americans. Patriotism is another word for nationalism – and it succeeds with the same kind of emotional appeal to crowds that worked for the Nazis.
So blunt, shiny sacraments to self-indulgent mass pride are way more effective tools than real work to make America a better place.
Every politician ought to know that. Including Obama. Clinton knows that, and the GOP knows that best of all.
Helping Americans or defending them with your life is nice. But superficial America-pumping that makes people feel good about themselves is way, way more effective.
And pimping with a flag pin or spewing "Gawd Bless America" on the half-hour bests a line in your resume saying you won several Bronze Stars.
Attacking the nonexistent scourge of flag burning says more about your love-of-country than does work to improve healthcare or preserve civil rights or job security for your fellow Americans.
When politicians talk patriotism, we want them to invoke images of sparkling fighter jets and screaming eagles, Moon landings and nuclear clouds – not communities in need or veterans being screwed over. We want rodomontade, not reminders of our nation’s work that still needs doing.
We want to be lubricated with fantasies about our national greatness, and sheltered from notions that our glory might be bloodstained or that we might have fallen far behind other nations in healthcare, scientific prowess, economic security or simple national respect.
So, Senator Obama: Stop telling us about your community organizing or work to help wounded warriors. Stop telling us about your preacher’s time as a Marine – we heard what he said! We want you to wear that flag. Make pledges to it. Stand in front of it, always.
And tell us we’re special, just like we’re little kids. We’re smarter and stronger. We’re better. You know, just because we’re Americans.