DesideriScuri
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quote:
ORIGINAL: tweakabelle
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ORIGINAL: DesideriScuri
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ORIGINAL: tweakabelle
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Who is conflating patriotism with their bigotry?
Conflating patriotism with bigotry is tried and tested tactic of the militant Right internationally.
The emphasis on patriotism, Nation etc goes back to the rise of Fascism in Europe in the 1930s. Since then the emphasis on patriotism has been a constant feature of Right wing movements everywhere. See for example the English Defence League, the US's Right positoning itself as a 'defender' of the Constitution, their oppositon to immigration and foreigners, the never ending exhortations to "turn the country around" and to "restore former glory" to mention just a few examples. Any image of the militia's at Bunkerville will display an inordinate number of US flags flying. This claim to partiotism and the notion of themselves as exemplary patriots is central to the militant Right's image (and self image), its rhetoric and its political program everywhere. *
The partiotism they espouse is a very particular kind - it is white, pro-gun, anti-minority (whether racial or sexual or whatever) shrill on law and order (unless the criminal in question is one of their own), pro-military, pro-war. Arrogant and intolerant, it is the repositiory of all kinds of bigotry and fierce oppositon to racial and/or sexual and/or marriage equality, social change and justice. It then tries to pass these collected attributes off as 'patriotic'. Is this a genuine patriotism or a political posture?
Countries such as ours contain large and diverse minority groups. To maximise social cohesion, inclusion and equality of opportunity, to protect and promote diversity, it is more important for societies such as ours to combat racism and social exclusion and marginalisation that might otherwise be the case. The tension between this broad imperative and the narrow type of 'patriotism' promoted by sections of the militant Right outlined above is such that one excludes the other.
Despite its posturing, the militant Right doesn't have a monopoly on patriotism. Those of us genuinely interested in promoting our countries various real interests will reject any 'patriotism' sullied by bigotry - ultimately it is an unpatriotic notion, not in the best interests of either of our countries.
* I should emphasise that this view of patriotism is espoused by sections of the militant Right is parasitical, perverting and piggy backing on more traditional and sincerely held broad Right values.
Bull shit. You're conflating patriotism on the Right in the US with racism, bigotry, etc. That's a tried and true tactic of the Liberals in the US (no claims for what goes on outside the US). It's done simply to attempt to misguide and defeat those on the Right. The very idea that someone disagrees with a Liberals view is enough for that person to be chastised as racist, homophobic, and/or otherwise bigoted.
It's bullshit.
I made it very clear in my post that my comments were directed at sections of the "militant Right" in the US, not at the Right generally. I wrote:
"I should emphasise that this view of patriotism is espoused by sections of the militant Right is parasitical, perverting and piggy backing on more traditional and sincerely held broad Right values."
So your response evades my point entirely .
To clarify further, my comments were directed at the types of people who have formed a militia to defend Bundy, which are a minority of the Right and at those who try to conflate 'patriotism' with their extreme agendas and who label any one who disagrees with their bigotries as 'unpatriotic' or 'un-American'.
And, to further explain, you're still wrong. The militia guys aren't there to knowingly aid and abet (hey, Ken, I think they are aiding and abetting, but not purposefully). They are standing up for the rights of the Citizens and the State in the face of the Federal Government. As long as they are doing it out of a desire to make the country a better place for all (ie. improve it), how is that not patriotic? As mentioned before, they don't have to be right to be acting patriotically.
I'm sure there are militants on the right that aren't acting patriotically. But, I don't know that the militias that showed up to stand with Bundy weren't.
We agree it's dead ass wrong when one group labels another group with a differing opinion as "unpatriotic" or "un-American" simply because their opinions disagree. But, that sort of bullshit knows no aisle boundary.
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What I support:
- A Conservative interpretation of the US Constitution
- Personal Responsibility
- Help for the truly needy
- Limited Government
- Consumption Tax (non-profit charities and food exempt)
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