Fourth of July Post: Anti-Nationalism

Salvete. Well, I missed the one-year anniversary post, but I can sure as heck continue the Fourth of July posts. Thus, I listen to fireworks blast outside like gunshots, I will talk about the exact opposite of the first Fourth-of-July post: anti-nationalism.

It seems like the people in charge of America are trying a different tactic to try and win the favor of the people: anti-nationalism. According to a recent poll that I heard about recently (Quinnipiac, I believe), there is an astounding percentage of Americans who don't feel patriotic. When viewing a battalion of young drum majors on television, one of them wore a dress comprised of the British flag. Oh, the irony.

Both nationalism and anti-nationalism are forms of propaganda and are equally devastating, but the former brings order, while the latter brings chaos. It all depends on the intent of the wielder, and it explains the reason why conservatives are so nationalist and the liberals are so anti-nationalist. One of the main differences between the two is that the end result of anti-nationalism is far easier to spot than the end result of nationalism. An anti-nationalist society would resent its government to lead to drastic governmental changes, perhaps to the point of overthrowing the government. The end result of nationalism is an out-of-control populace who will simply become permanently brainwashed to the point of no return.

Yet anti-nationalism is far more prominent in modern-day America than in other nations or time periods. Why? I believe it is because of two distinct factors. The first is because of the underdog effect. People want to resist something, whatever it be. Big business and big government are two of the largest targets. Because it is hard to paint the United States of America as an underdog, America has become a thing to resist.

The second lies in the events of the past fourteen years. We have seen America decline on the international front, and we have seen her crumble from the inside from the weight of bureaucracies. There is no achievement in which America can take pride, and the past two administrations have not helped to mollify the situation. We have "lost" more wars in the 21st century than we have in all of our previous wars combined. Yet because of the anti-war, anti-interventionist sentiment of America, there is little that this government can do anymore to boost the morale of the American populace. It is sad but true.

I pledge allegiance
To restoration
Of the honor and dignity of America
And to the hope
That one day
In God's will
We shall reclaim our power
And show our liberty and justice to all.

Now, if the fates (and the fireworks) allow, I shall get some good night's sleep.