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Politics and Activism

Patriotism! What is It Good For?

(Absolutely Nothing)

Daniel Emirkhanian

Sep 07, 2016

Soka University of America

Viacom

What is patriotism? Before writing, a little bit of research revealed a popular opinion that seems to be shared on the web, best explained by President Obama in 2008 –

"Precisely because our ideals constantly demand more from us, patriotism can never be defined as loyalty to any particular leader or government or policy," Obama stated. "When our laws, our leaders or our government are out of alignment with our ideals, then the dissent of ordinary Americans may prove to be one of the truest expression of patriotism."

Essentially, true American patriotism is that same rugged idealism that was shared by our founding fathers: If you do something I don’t like, I’m going to make your life miserable. If your elected official makes a move that you are unhappy with, we, as Americans, have every right and obligation to stand up and do something about it. What an excellent and advanced country! To have such a high level of democracy’s fundamental foundations so tightly intertwined with our society, we must be living in a perfect country, free of judgment and prejudice. When someone has a problem with something, we do not shut them, nay, we raise them up as the people’s champion and fully support their given right to demand change.

Right?

Well…

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Where did our so called "American" belief system go? Not even that, where has it been for the past 200 years? Has it ever been there? Is everything we know about George Washington a lie? At what point did we as a nation develop this two faced lie? A lie that states, being a true American patriot means to challenge the status quo and to fight against oppression and at the same time says "shut up, everything is fine so stop complaining."

This article isn’t about a solution because truthfully I have none to offer. I want our country to be the pinnacle of free thought and to be encouraging of those who attempt to break the mold. But there is nothing more annoying to me when I hear songs that tell you to "break free" when the artist doesn’t mean it, I don’t want to see movies that glorify the underdog in a one-sided fictional society but downplay the struggles of actual suffering people.

Most importantly, I believe we need to change the conversation. As long as officials speak about how one group or another does not have it that bad, our narrative will stay locked in place. Until then, treat every new reference of American "patriotism" as a naive belief that holds little ground.

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This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.

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We all go through certain stages when we have a crush, Tina just explains it better.

That moment that someone you never looked twice at suddenly makes you do a double take out of no where.

But you can't have a crush, that's outrageous. It's all in your head.

Because you don't have a crush, there's no reason to tell anyone about anything. Right?

But then they do something irresistible and you start to lose it.

Now accepting the fact you have a crush, you have to keep it under control.

Then there's the part where you tell your friends who will claim they called it.

They'll be excited and cheer you on. That's until they realize that your crush is all you'll be talking about.

Your obsession has become so bad, that your Facebook stalking is getting out of control.

But your friends will try and help move things along any way they can. That doesn't mean it will be any helpful though.

As time goes on, you start having fantasies about the two of you and it's starting to scare you a little.

You can't focus on anything because all your attention is on them and everything they do.

Anybody who comes near your crush is now an enemy, and you are willing to fight for your crush.

When you see them, you act like an idiot. Trying to hide your feelings may not be as discrete as you think.

Keeping your feelings inside will start to be harder and harder until you can't keep it inside anymore.

Who knows, maybe it will work out? Take a chance.

May the odds be ever in your favor.

What about those of us who don't do it all in four years?

1. You feel like an elder.

2. You may feel lonely.

3. Senioritis is more real than ever.

4. You may feel a little down sometimes.

5. Fear of missing out won't be as real.

6. You are a college pro.

7. You'll have more free time.

8. You're happy you're still in school.

9. You feel like a guru.

10. You continue to grow.

You can't say that no one told you life was gonna be this way.

1. When dealing with people is too difficult.

2. When food is the best part of your day.

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3. When you meet new people.

4. When you're the third wheel.

5. When life is tough but you're trying to hold it together.

6. When you're the brunt of a joke.

7. When you're too broke for food.

8. When your judgment could be better.

9. When you're not great at socializing.

10. When honesty is the best policy.

11. When you accept your flaws.

12. When work is not going well.

13. When you skip the gym.

14. When you over think.

15. When you swipe right.

16. When you get a crush.

17. When no major life event is happening

"I don't want to do things. I want to do not things."

1. When your advisor tells you that you should declare a major soon.

2. Seeing the lost and confused freshmen and remembering that was you a short year ago, and now being grateful you know the ins and outs of the campus.

3. Going to the involvement fair to sign up for more clubs knowing that you are already too involved.

4. When you actually do the reading required for the first class.

5. Seeing your friends for the first time since last semester.

6. When you're already drowning in homework during syllabus week.

7. Realizing you don't have the same excitement for classes as you did as a freshman.

8. Going home and seeing people from high school gets weirder the older you get.

9. You've already established your de-stress routine.

10. Wondering where all the new freshman came from.

11. But ultimately being glad that you have a lot more knowledge than you did a year ago.

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