I will never understand how the United States, formerly supposedly the greatest democracy in the world (yea yeah, I know) is so eager to cede patriotism to the scummiest racists and lowlifes.
Punching Nazis is American. Welcoming immigrants with open arms is American. Fuck those inbred bastards who use the flag as a symbol of hate.
Democrats could instantly and easily sidestep a lot of transphobic fear mongering by simply saying, "you don't have to like or even understand it, but its these people's right as free Americans."
I don't think they're interested in doing that, though.
Exactly we don't need these arbitrary identities separating us. Patriotism leads to Nationalism. It reinforces in-group and out-group mentality that can be readily co-opted by the right wing to manipulate people into fearing their fellow working class.
It also blinds people to the flaws of the country they identify with; it causes people to become defensive when it is rightfully criticized by taking it as a personal attack on their identity.
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