Patriot Games

We’ve all seen it on our screens, more than once or twice.  Most of us have formed opinions, chatted about it, maybe even argued over it.  But just picture living in a country where a citizen can get shot in the face three times, dying instantly from the injuries.  

Local police are denied access to the scene by federal authorities, who provoked the incident.  There is relatively no fallout whatsoever, on the contrary, the victim is merely labeled a terrorist, and the shooter is resting with his family, while doners take up the cause and send him money.  This is the new normal there, or so it seems.  Certainly, DT is happy, it’s his vision in living colour.  He claims to be the number one patriot, although he has quite a list of things he is number one in.  Number one patriot in a land where the term has come into its own.  I want to say that they have weaponized the word, but that’s not the case.  

Patriotism has always been a guise for overstepping, in the name of protecting the interests of a territory that is corralled by some imaginary lines.  There’s good reason American children are required to pledge the oath to their flag every morning, before class.  This kind of mild brainwashing, along with constant propaganda, is what creates patriots.  I mean, Canadians were weaned on American patriotism.  Every show or movie on TV, or even from hollywood, radiated us with oodles of American ideals and ways of life, and we enjoyed every minute.  That was then, now, practically the entire planet is weened on American culture.  DT’s ‘Make America Great Again’ slogan, can only be referring to how Americans saw themselves in the movies, which is everything but reality.  Writers of The Simpsons, the long-running cartoon comedy, never miss a chance to poke at this phenomenon; every time Homer is proud of what he sees going on around him, no matter how stupid, he chants USA!USA!  It can be hugely entertaining to root for your country in sports, and such, but that’s not what we’re talking about.  It’s when you’re convinced that your country is so great that it stands alone, no other country, or its people, matter; they’re irrelevant.  

DT is running rampant and the people just watch.  His worshipers excuse it all, and his detractors, while they are many, don’t seem to be speaking very loudly.  The patriots allow their government to break the law and ignore due process because they are number one, so it’s all good.  Whatever DT is doing must be the right thing.  

DT has also enabled other patriots in other lands to brush off the proverbial swastikas.  Patriot countries in Europe and Asia have found new life, what with the most powerful leader in the world scooching over to their side.

  So, please, don’t talk to me about patriotism.  It’s an empty word, and it carries a virus.  What Canadians, and others need to remember is when it comes to supporting your country,going patriotic is just stooping down to their level.  Not carrying that virus allows us the continued use of our intelligence and our courage, which is something Canadians are good at.

Fiquem bem.

Raul Freitas/MS