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The Far-Right's Patriotism Problem
Jonah Goldberg continues to demonstrate how the right-wing is manipulating public discourse in order to confuse and conflate patriotism with rabid nationalism. Make no mistake, this is a coordinated effort to deliberately replace substance with its symbol, meaning with an emblem, and essentially strip language down to nothing but trinkets.
This is not a new phenomenon of course. We have seen such careful linguistic choreography before, when past authoritarian ideologues have distorted language in order to stifle individualism and dissenting views.
For a people to be controlled, they must first be robbed of honest discourse and open debate. Distorting language and stripping it of real and honest meaning is the first tool and the best mechanism for transforming a democracy into an authoritarian state. An informed populace is a dangerous populace.
Symbols, however, and false-definitions can provide the appearance of information without the truth of it. Ideas, substance and meaning -- all things for which a symbol is simply a representation and a word simply a type of symbol -- are far more difficult to control. There is nuance in individual ideas. There are shades of agreement and disagreement and a whole spectrum of understanding and believing. Such a complex system cannot be controlled, and therefore, must be reduced to only its symbol and then distorted.
Symbols and words-as-slogans can be mass produced, mass delivered, and altered from their original meaning, until the symbol becomes its own thing and the substance on which it is based is entirely lost.
A word's usage too can be tweaked through false definitions and repetition, until it too becomes entirely the opposite of its actual meaning.
Patriotism is the word that authoritarians most like to distort and Goldberg demonstrates -- once again -- just how this distortion is created.
Obama's Patriotism Problem:
Here is what Goldberg writes today about the term patriotism and how Barack Obama, according to Goldberg, is not really a patriot at all:
"Barack Obama has a patriotism problem that even Monday's flag-waving trip to Independence, Mo., can't squelch. And it doesn't have anything to do with his lapel pin.--- snip---
In part because liberal commentators have such a hard time grasping why patriotism should be an issue at all, and the GOP is so clumsy explaining why it's important, the debate often gets boiled down to symbols. Like so much else about Obama, his position on the lapel flag changes with the needs of the moment. After 9/11, he wore it. During the debates over the Iraq war, he stopped because he saw the flag as a sign of support for President Bush. (He started wearing it again in May.) "I decided I won't wear that pin on my chest," he added in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. "Instead, I'm going to try to tell the American people what I believe will make this country great and, hopefully, that will be a testimony to my patriotism."
Read that line again: "What I believe will make this country great."
Not to sound too much like a Jewish mother, but some might respond, "What? It's not great now?"
This sense that America is in need of fixing in order to be a great country points to Obama's real patriotism problem. And it's not Obama's alone."
Actually no one of rational thought has a problem with patriotism being an issue. In fact, patriotism should be THE issue. The problem is that Goldberg and those like him have no concept of patriotism actually means. More disturbingly too, they confuse patriotism with nationalism.
Miriam-Webster defines patriotism as "love for or devotion to one's country." Every other dictionary I have consulted provides a similar if not exact definition.
Nowhere does the term or the idea of patriotism in general require one to believe one's country is "great." Nowhere does the term or the idea of patriotism in general require a ban on dissenting views, on criticism of one's government, indeed even of one's nation.
An Example
Let us try a different approach to illustrate just exactly what is wrong with people like Goldberg and their ideas on patriotism.
A mother of a heroin addict, for example, is critical of her child's drug abuse and wants it to stop. The mother wants only the best for her child. Does the mother's criticism of the child's actions in any way illustrate that she does not love her child? On the contrary, it is because the mother loves her child and is devoted to her child that she wants her child to be better, greater than he/she is.
When someone is critical of their country and especially when their country strays from its course, it does not mean the person is not patriotic. It means that the person loves their country enough to want only the best for it. They want it to be greater than what it already is or they want it to be as great as it once was. But criticism of a country is not akin to being un-patriotic. Only a rabid nationalist would make such an argument and only Goldberg manages to continue to do it this badly. After all, this is the same man who authored "Liberal Fascism: The Secret History of the American Left, From Mussolini to the Politics of Meaning" and in all seriousness.
Nationalists, rabid right-wing advocates of symbol worship, on the other hand are entirely what Goldberg and his ilk define as patriots. It may entirely be possible that some of these boot-marching androids are simply ignorant and accept whatever canned-pro-America products they are sold. They are in essence, the perfect vessel for an authoritarian regime. But others, like Goldberg, who have spent their lives devoting themselves to the art of conflation, distortion, and revisionism, know exactly what they are doing.
Believe this or else
Guard against the impostures of pretended patriotism ~ George Washington
Goldberg proves my point entirely when he goes on to define patriotism and actually ends up defining nationalism (while claiming to be differentiating the two):
"Definitions of patriotism proliferate, but in the American context patriotism must involve not only devotion to American texts (something that distinguishes our patriotism from European nationalism) but also an abiding belief in the inherent and enduring goodness of the American nation. We might need to change this or that policy or law, fix this or that problem, but at the end of the day the patriotic American believes that America is fundamentally good as it is."
In other words, your government can do no wrong. You must never doubt your government or question its ways. So when my America began to openly torture people and publicly denounced the Geneva Conventions as "quaint," I should have been waving my little Chinese made American flag while admiring the inherent goodness of my government. According to Goldberg, it is not the defense of the Constitution or the liberty it guarantees or even a simple love of country that makes us patriots. No, for Goldberg and his kind, the "true patriot" must surrender their reason and their conscience, and simply know (without knowing in any meaningful way) that their government can do no wrong.
I am not a patriot by this perverted definition. What of my own conscience? Should I fully support that which is entirely abhorrent to me being done in my name by my own government? What if my own government is even ashamed of what it is doing - in my name - so much so that it publicly denies its actions and publicly denounces those governments who engage in the same types of actions? At what point do I have a right to say no Mr. Goldberg? At what point does the ugly truth become more important than the pretty lie?
No, Jonah, that is not the definition of patriotism. That is exactly what Il Duce demanded from his citizens; a total abandonment of self, conscience, and all things individual and human to the mechanism of the state, for the state could do no wrong.
That is what the Soviets demanded. That is what the Nazis demanded. That is what Franco demanded. That is what Pinochet demanded. But never for a moment is this type of perverted understanding of patriotism something that any of our forefathers demanded. Indeed, our entire country was based on the principle that the governed have a right, even a duty, to hold their government accountable. How then, can we hold our government accountable, Mr. Goldberg, if we believe that our government is inherently good? And if our government, representing and governing the country we live in, is inherently good, then why do we have a system of checks and balances?
No Mr. Goldberg, what you describe is not patriotism and what you criticize Senator Obama for is not the lack of patriotism. What you describe and what you demand is rabid nationalism.
Follow Larisa Alexandrovna on Twitter: www.twitter.com/larisa_a
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The Fat Lady has been singing for nearly eight years. Some still can't hear her song. Others, particularly in the MSM do-not-want-citizens-to-ever-hear-her. Enter Goldberg.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/oops.html
Great discussion.
Dear Ms. Alexandrovna,
That's exactly why I heart ya SOooooooo much, what a wonderfully eloquent and profound essay/post. You've it the nail square on the hesd and drove it home with one blow. Thank you and your analogy to a Mother with a drug adicted Child was perfect.
You have brought to light the masterful "ART" of sophistry, and how it is used to pervert the meaning of concepts by redefining terms and their obfuscating definitions. Agape indeed.
@PartyPartyParty
>If you must insist on Bush's not
>being tried in the Court of Public
>Opinion, I must insist that you
>cease and desist with your knee-jerk
>labeling of any criticism of his policies,
>or of his administration and its
>defenders, as hysteria.
>
>Deal?
Deal.. As long as the criticism is NOT hysterical...
I call it as I see it..
If the criticism is hysterical, as most of it is, then I will call it as such..
That's the only deal you'll get from me..
Michale.....
Whether or not Congress approved does not change the fact that the administration has violated the Constitution. Bush should be tried in a court but it is unlikely. The ridiculous parade of conciliatory gestures (9--11 Commission Report) barely scratched the surface. That only came about because of a great deal of pressure from the victims' families. Simply because he hasn't been tried doesn't mean he isn't guilty and as long as there is no war crimes tribunal in his future, let the people speak up about it!
This discussion gets to the heart of what this blog is about: the freedom to criticize our leaders not against patriotism, but in the name of it. If we allow this administration to steal an election (or two), spurn the Geneva Convention, commit atrocities (IE war) in the name of lies, destroy our civil liberties and illegally spy on ordinary citizens, what kind of patriots are we? Which is more important, protecting this man, or protecting the democracy so many people died to create?
[RANT CTD.] Hell yes I want a trial! Bring it! This is an administration that had shameful resignations on a semi-weekly basis! The outrage comes, Michale, in that we know there will be no trial. The FISA bill is a clear example of this. Why are we giving immunity to AT&T? Why are they getting a "get out of court" free card? If we can't even sue AT&T, how are we going to go after Bush? Can we impeach him in under 80 days? Because if that doesn't happen, history will show this as a turning point when we gave up much of what was great about being an American.
And that makes me furious. Does that make me a patriot? I don't know. I think real patriots would be burning their IPhones and their AT&T contracts and demanding a trial for *all* these accusations. But don't try to claim we don't have a case! That's laughable.
Patriot: One acting toward producing results benefiting society as a whole usually at personal sacrifice or risk.
Not a patriot: one equating examining in minute detail, complaining, or talking about a problem, or about others' actions or character, with doing something.
Or you could just read about Adams and Washington, the last aploitical presidents.
Here is an exercise in thinking about patriotism:
In Toronto, these is an historic site called Fort York. The fort was built to protect Toronto (then called York), the new capital of Upper Canada from invasion by the United States. In 1813, American forces attacked the fort. The British regulars and Canadian militia in York were outnumbered and withdrew. The powder magazine was blown up, killing and wounding more than two hundred American troops.
A few years ago, there was a display of artwork at the fort for Black History month It featured paintings depicting the contributions of Black soldiers fighting for the British cause in the Revolutionary war and for Canada in the War of 1812. These former slaves, the freed Black men of the Canadian militias, disconcerted and discomfitted The American troops. Now, imagine you are a Black American looking at these pictures. How do you feel? As a White American, how do you feel? How would you define patriotism?
Actually, the quote in no way states that the country isn't currently great, while "a return to greatness" is about as hoary a platitude of politics as beer and a band,. This shows that Larissa is correct--once the Right-"Left" succeeded in dumbing down the population, anything can mean anything you say, because how would you know any better? So the writer who is a patriotic, if toxic to his country, Israeli, has shown us the genius of the Right: invented lies about the other party is their vision for the future justifying my support.
As much as I have tried to resist the hijacking of this subject, there are those who just can't let it go.
So, with regards to Bush and his alleged crimes, let me lay the matter to rest once and for all...
In America, one of the very foundations of jurisprudence is that citizens are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law... NOTE.. I did NOT say, The Court Of Public Opinion.. I said a court of law..
So, until such times as Bush is tried and convicted, ANY claims of alleged crimes is nothing but heresay, innuendo, rumor, wishful thinking, outright lies and complete and utter BS...
So, can we get back to the topic of Patriotism vs Nationalism???
Thank you..
Michale.....
all allegations that have not been proved in a court of law are utter BS? How on earth do we ever convict anyone if all allegations are by definition "outright lies" until after the conclusion of the trial? Don't be such a nitwit...
Michale.,,, would you support the investigation of Bush and his administration over the war in Iraq, energy policy, spying on American citizens and the legality of his dictatorships use of signing statement particularly in regards to torture?
Signing statement regarding torture...fact..
Spying on Americans.....fact.
removing Habeaus Corpus.....fact
Misleading us into war.....fact.
obsfucating, lying, spinning and propagandizing.....fact, fact, fact and fact.
Commuting the sentance of Scooter Libby.....fact.
Secret energy meetings resulting in oil prices quadrupling......fact.
hundreds of other things............fact.
Michale, your support of Bush, demeans America. Congratulations.
"Michale.,,, would you support the investigation of Bush and his administration over the war in Iraq, energy policy, spying on American citizens and the legality of his dictatorships use of signing statement particularly in regards to torture?"
Abso-fracking-loutly....
Not because I think there is any rational evidence of wrong-doing not covered by the US Congress authorizations of Sep 2001 and Oct 2002...
Solely and Completely for the reason that it will (hopefully) shut the crazies up...
"Signing statement regarding torture...fact.."
Perfectly within the purview of the authorizations granted by Congress...
Spying on Americans.....fact.
Perfectly within the purview of the authorizations granted by Congress...
removing Habeaus Corpus.....fact
Only for non US Citizens and Perfectly within the purview of the authorizations granted by Congress...
Misleading us into war.....fact
Sorry, you are mistaken here...
and so on and so on and so on...
You have nothing but hysterics and emotionalism...
"Michale, your support of Bush, demeans America. Congratulations."
Actually, I am an Obama supporter...
I am also of the mind that, in America, a citizen is INNOCENT until proven guilty..
It's a shame you don't feel the same...
So, with regards to freedom and rights, I guess you are selective as to which ones you will and won't support, eh??
You are really no better than you accuse Bush of being...
Michale.....
Never since the War of Independence has anything been so clear. The criminal acts of the British were as clear then as the criminal acts of the Bush Administration today. We assemble here in much the same way our Founders did in Philadelphia. How dissimilar would it be to the political conditions today where government is actually not by and for the People? Some truths need not be presented in a court of law, only communicated and understood by the People.
Under British rule, the People were not in control of their lives by a government not sympathetic, not tolerant, not democratic, not fair, and not legitimate on it's face...just as it is today, Michale...
It may simply be that some have not placed our country's problems in a historical context. If we the people cannot drag the offenders into court, then we are faced with the same untenable circumstances that faced Franklin, Jefferson, Washington, and Adams.
I respect your position, Michale..., on the nature of the venue where fact finders and verdicts are presented in a functional democracy, but I also feel that you are not appreciating what it was in the 1770's that drove this country to revolution-that the liberty or death state of mind built up over time in response to British criminality was nearly identical to the forces used against us today.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/four_lapel_pins.html
Recently folks have been parading around the country talking about the Right Wing and how they use neuro linguistic programing to Re-frame issues to change beliefs. Scaring people not to listen to conservatives because they use Mind control. If that worked, why is the country devided in half?
Don't be fooled. The left, while framing conservatives as mind controllers use neuro linguistic programing just as most folks in public relations do. One had even said Jesus used these techniques as he spoke to his hearers by framing his message in terms that they could understand, good fish and bad fish, sheep and goats, wheat and Tares.
This attempt to demonize the right as the ones who are trying to control you by re-framing techniques is comical for anyone who is in politics. Let me give you an example from this very article. When you read the following, who do you think of?
"We have seen such careful linguistic choreography before, when past authoritarian ideologues have distorted language in order to stifle individualism and dissenting views.
This is a Re-frame of the conservative writer described above as equal to the Authoritarian Ideologues that stifled descent in the past." Did you think of Hitler? Mussolini ?
The writer makes you think he is warning you of Conservative manipulators while manipulating the readers to believe that Conservatives are Fascist's thus they equate to Hitler types. You have been Re-framed by a NLP. Fall for it?
If you must insist on Bush's not being tried in the Court of Public Opinion, I must insist that you cease and desist with your knee-jerk labeling of any criticism of his policies, or of his administration and its defenders, as hysteria.
Deal?
PartyPartyParty,
You are try to make a faustian deal, just thought I'd let you know. Don't even go there.
Great post, Larisa, compliments to you again.
Your proof is in the prolific whiney reaction of a few apologist tro!!s that believe only they understand or can define patriotism, and do so by displaying completely illogical and bigoted nationalism in their critique of others. In typical rovian 180-speak, these mighty-mice of reason refuse to acknowledge that crimes committed in the process of defending OUR nation are still crimes, and label ‘others’ choosing accountability and Rule of Law as the fear-mongers even as ‘they’ claim the world's against us and city destroying attacks are imminent.
As an honorably discharged veteran in his 50s that's also just happened to have spent a lifetime working for the defense of OUR country, it's impossible for me to blithely accept the blind party loyalty some place above of the defense of OUR Constitution and country - without telling them they must speaking from their a$$. I guess it's because the only thing recognizable in what they're spewing is worthless crap.
For those of us that believe in a Constitutional Rule of Law and take pride in serving OUR country, I thank you for a far more honest approach and greater integrity than most journalists, and especially the blatant hypocrisy on the 'right' that's allowing greed to guide their path, as seem to take all they can and give nothing back.
Conservatives certainly don't have any problem criticizing the US government when it comes to Roe V Wade, affirmative action, social security.... I could go on for awhile.
"More disturbingly too, they confuse patriotism with nationalism."
YES! That's pretty much it in a nutshell. Loving your country does not mean that you're not allowed to criticize it. That isn't love (patriotism) that's infatuation (nationalism).
I am awed by the similarities of present day Jewish nationalist socialist mindsets, like Goldberg's, that recall the old National Socialist Party's lock step mentality of the Nazi era. That the two are even close in their modus operandi is scary to the extreme suggests the lessons of "Never Again" have not been learned by those who would proclaim it the loudest.
Today's neoCons and their sympathizers are attempting to model the American social formulae into a totalitarian state of obedience. Naturally, individuality, reasoned discourse, and propensity for healthy change are sacrificed for the will of the authoritarian state via the group-think concepts inspired by Lenin, Marx, and of course, Hitler.
The one word that comes to mind with respect to Goldberg, is betrayal. Six million innocent Jews died because people of his ilk took over democracy like a cancer, eliminating individuality and creating legions of goose-stepping, rights-crushing tools acting on key and on time. The result, whether it be realized in America or Germany, is precisely the same. So, what is true patriotism by example? What it is not, is clearly defined by those in power today.
http://www.light-to-dark.com/four_lapel_pins.html
Shame on Goldberg.
In propaganda world words have private meanings and are deployed for emotional effect not for rational argumentation. Applied to Iraq words like surrender and victory have no meaning. We've changed prisoners to detainees. (Excuse me I've been detained). We don't torture; we do enhanced interrogation--apparently using the ChiCom playbook. So it's not surprising that guys named Goldberg can be fascists, too. Like patriotism, the word fascism is overused and missused (like when the right wing calls someone a fascist), but it remains odd that the same wackos that say government is the problem want its military and paramilitary actions unquestioned. In truth they are anti-democratic to their roots, ardent supporters of authoritarian rule of the corporate oligarchs. No problem that we invade the wrong country looking for somebody that doesn't live there. It's all about consolidating the power of the super-rich. These boot-lickers gladly do their bidding for a few scraps.
"In propaganda world words have private meanings and are deployed for emotional effect not for rational argumentation."
Exactly...
Words like "War Criminal", "Genocide", "Facist", "Liar" etc etc etc ad nasuem...
Glad we could find some common ground...
Michale.....
HuffPost's Pick
And your point is?
Last I looked I wasn't propaganda minister of anything.
Larisa,
I can understand your disgust with the pathetic propaganda of Jonah Goldberg. It seems like an editorial by him can ruin a perfectly good newspaper. I did not think that there was anything that could be done.
However, I found just found this great mesquite rub. If Jonah Goldberg was roasted for 3 or 4 hours, with enough of this mesquite rub, he would be quite good!
Regards
If these alleged patriots want to be truly patriotic, they need to quickly enlist into the Army or Marine Corps as grunts. That is infantry to most of the readers, but grunts. Not in the rear with the gear, but as grunts. They need to truly demonstrate the courage of their convictions.
They need to walk patrols and up close and physical with the real bad guys.
But of course they won't. That's why there is no draft. The Faux news, O'Relly, Limbaugh, et. al. constant drumbeat of propaganda has been well executed. Adolf would be proud.
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