TRIGGER WARNING: This post is going to piss some people off. If you're weak of mind, body, and soul, just keep scrolling because this will likely hurt your feelings.
"Haha, whatever Beard Dad, I don't get offended! I'm no snowflake."
Fair enough. If you’re still reading, buckle up.
Most Americans aren't patriotic, even though they’re entirely convinced they are. I am a patriotic person, but I don't confuse the word patriotism with blind loyalty. So, if you're one of those Americans sporting improperly displayed, tattered flags year-round, getting outraged over football players kneeling for the anthem, and thinking anyone left of center is a communist, this post is for you. You aren't a patriot. You just play one on the internet.
"Whoa, pump the brakes, Beard Dad! That's a mighty bold statement. I love America!"
It is bold, and I don't care. I've been to 44 out of 50 states, and I pay attention. One of the most glaring patterns across this country is the loose definition of "patriot" that people hide behind. Merriam-Webster defines a patriot as "one who loves and supports their country." Seems obvious, right? It isn't.
Let's explore this. We hear the word nationalism thrown around a lot lately. What's the difference? Merriam-Webster defines nationalism as "an ideology that elevates one nation or nationality above all others and that places primary emphasis on promotion of its culture and interests."
Patriotism and nationalism are not synonyms, and therein lies the problem for most self-proclaimed "patriots."
And before you start whining that I’m painting with too broad a brush or unfairly lumping "patriots" in with extremists—save your breath. I know exactly what I'm looking at.
We are living in an era where the line between "mainstream political rhetoric" and "white nationalist manifesto" has been completely erased. When the people you vote for are openly peddling the "Great Replacement" theory, when the government strips domestic terrorism classifications from white supremacist groups, and when politicians use literal neo-Nazi talking points as campaign slogans, you don't get to hide behind the American flag anymore. You aren't just "conservative." You are actively participating in an ideology built by fascists, whether you want to admit it to yourself or not.
This revelation hit me hard while driving through impoverished, rural communities in the Northeast and my home state of Ohio. It is a surreal experience to drive through obvious American squalor and simultaneously see massive, blatant displays of this exact brand of "patriotism" screaming from the porches. You see a similar phenomenon in affluent, predominantly white suburbs—they share the exact same ideology as their rural cousins, just wrapped in a more polite, expensive presentation (usually omitting the rebel flag, for example).
It is a sea of American flags, accompanied by the classic "Don't Tread on Me" banners, Confederate flags, and aging Trump signs. Let's call it what it is: at best, they are nationalists, which isn't a title to be proud of.
"So, what's wrong with being a nationalist? I love America!"
There is nothing wrong with being proud of your country and your heritage (provided your "heritage" isn't just a thinly veiled excuse for bigotry, white supremacy, or some other dumbshit hate group). But the real rot is the idea of American exceptionalism. Are we, as a people, inherently exceptional? No.
It only takes one interaction with a card-carrying MAGA diehard to know that Americans are not exceptional. What is exceptional is the system that was put in place 250 years ago and enshrined in our Constitution. That unique system of government is the only American exceptionalism I will argue for—and even that borrows heavily from the Romans, Greeks, and Venetians. So, get off your high horse. You ain't that special.
So, what is the point of this rant?
The point is that most of these loud, self-proclaimed patriots have done absolutely nothing to better our country. Sure, you buy a flag made in China, go to a 4th of July parade, and vote. But what has the average citizen actually sacrificed for the greater good? Usually, nothing.
Have you served in the nation's military? Have you peacefully dissented against government overreach? Have you held public office? Are you a good neighbor and a decent human being? That is patriotism.
Unless you are actively serving your neighbors out of love for them and the country you live in, you are just a nationalist. And if that's the case, take a real look in the mirror and ask yourself, "Am I really a patriot?" I would wager that you can't truthfully answer that question. So, let's get back to building the country I actually fought for—that shining beacon on a hill—instead of the literal deteriorating swamp on Capitol Hill.
Dad out.