Mandatory Patriotism
The first of May is a holiday celebrated with great zeal around the world (quizzically, not very much in this country). International Workers Day--May Day--honors the working classes, with particular attention to the struggles they have faced to gain equality and rights in the workplace.
On April 30, President Bush demonstrated how much he and his political party care about workers by declaring May 1 Loyalty Day. The purpose of this (holiday?) is, as the official White House release states, "to join me in this day of celebration and in reaffirming our allegiance to our Nation". Not only is the placement of this "national observance" an insult to the working classes, but yet another step in the direction of false, and now, mandatory patriotism. Just the redundancy of it all is enough to make me laugh: the White House memo notes at the end, "I also call upon government officials to display the flag of the United States on all government buildings on Loyalty Day". Don't government buildings already display the American flag? Daily? And really, what is the purpose of the president himself wearing a flag on his jacket lapel. I could figure out for myself that he supports his country; after all, he is the president.
Flags on lapels, stickers on cars, shopping bags with flags, now Loyalty Day, these are not designed to make you feel good about your country, but rather serve to divide people. If you don't observe Loyalty Day, then aren't you, by the definition of the "holiday", somehow unpatriotic? Patriotism should stem from a respect for your country and its institutions. I've always respected the institutions, but I have no respect for the current caretakers of those institutions.
NB: I am not un-American, and I do not take delight in America-bashing. I simply find this sort of coersion to be profoundly in conflict with the ideals of America itself. Additionally, it was not my intent to make this blog a critique of the president and his policies. However, I am so frustrated by the perversion of reality that is being spun by the man that I have to express myself. I'd rather wax philosophic all day, but unfortunately today's political climate has focused my attention on nothing but politics.