Note: I am just as incensed about the terrorist attack we experienced a few days ago. I just go about my patriotism differently than many people I've seen.

I went out with a couple of my fraternity brothers last night to get some pizza. We met two other brothers there. We'd both driven through a sobriety checkpoint, but their encounter was funnier. The police officer asked where they'd been, and they said "at an apartment with some friends". The officer asked, "have you had anything to drink?" to which the driver responded, "no, I gave blood on Tuesday, so I can't drink for a week." At this, the officer said "oh, go on through." Immediately, though, another cop said "hey, where's your flag?" Ryan (the brother) didn't know what to say. The first officer said "that's ok, he gave blood."

What a weird dialogue. Perhaps it was a patriotism checkpoint instead.

Sigh. These flags. I'm not sure I understand their point. Are we preaching to the choir here? Do I honestly need a flag to ensure my fellow Americans that I am patriotic and will not tolerate terrorism? Do I need to have a flag on my car to show that I know what happened? I think the country as a whole is more patriotic than we've been in a very long time. But why? Because we were attacked, and we know that we don't stand a chance as a nation divided.

I think this a knee-jerk reaction to our situation. We know we should be patriotic, so we become it. Or at least act that way for a while. I'm not saying I'm not patriotic -- I was in the Navy ROTC program my first year of college. I'm proud of our armed forces, and the sacrifices they make, and the things they do for us. I'll wear a "Go Navy!" hat, or my US Navy shirt, or wave a flag at a parade, and I'll mean it.

I know people that get pissed off when someone burns a dollar in protest of the US or of capitalism in general. Personally, I put my patriotic stock in stuff a little less material. I think we confuse patriotism and capitalism (hence the title of this meditation) in this country.

I think it's a bit hypocritical of us to behave this way. I'm not saying it's bad for us to be patriotic, I'm just saying it irritates me how "fake" or "planned" our patriotism seems around times like these.

Sorry if I've offended anyone, but I'm serious about what I've written. I'm not saying you (the reader) act this way, but I'm saying I know people who do.

_____________________________________________________
Jeff[japhy]Pinyan: Perl, regex, and perl hacker.
s++=END;++y(;-P)}y js++=;shajsj<++y(p-q)}?print:??;

In reply to Capatrioalism by japhy

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