A poll shows only 36% of Democrats say they’re “extremely” or “very” proud to be American, reflecting a dramatic decline in national pride that's also clear among young people.
This is the result of the Republican party, starting at least with the Bush neocons, weaponizing patriotism to be a way to slander their critics, and to publicly demonstrate their allegiance to the conservative movement.
After a couple decades now of conservative pundits and politicians responding to criticism by implying their opponents don’t love America as much as they do, or even trying to stifle conversation by demanding everyone profess their love of America on the spot, I think everyone else is pretty sick and tired of the flags and pins and stars-and-stripes punisher tee shirts.
This is the result of the Republican party, starting at least with the Bush neocons, weaponizing patriotism to be a way to slander their critics, and to publicly demonstrate their allegiance to the conservative movement.
After a couple decades now of conservative pundits and politicians responding to criticism by implying their opponents don’t love America as much as they do, or even trying to stifle conversation by demanding everyone profess their love of America on the spot, I think everyone else is pretty sick and tired of the flags and pins and stars-and-stripes punisher tee shirts.
From where the rest of us are standing, “everyone else” is WAY too comfortable with it. Inaction = acquiescence.
It’s older than that. Nixon started it and Regan kicked is down the mountain.
We’ve been living in it. It’s happening.