Watch Out For Strings
This is likely an unpopular opinion. It’s just a feeling I can’t seem to shake on days like these. Look on Facebook and other social media and you can see all kinds of messages today. All of them seem innocent enough. We are honoring those that have lost their lives serving our country. There is absolutely nothing wrong with the message. I guess I have an issue with some of the messengers.
These are some of the same people that bring you Christian messages. I’ve never trusted those for as long as I can remember. There are numerous reasons why, but I can stick with the biblical. There are a few passages that warn against a very public display of faith. Usually, those are self-serving and the person behind them rarely lives up to the message.
In the case of the patriotism, they almost always come from conservative end of the spectrum. Not surprisingly, that’s usually where the religious ones come from as well. In both cases, we should watch for the strings that are almost certainly attached.
It comes with an implication of what it means to be a patriotic American. Interesting enough, it is those same strings to seem to be attached to the Christian message. Agree with the message and you agree with what’s behind the message. Don’t agree with what’s behind the message and you don’t agree with the message. See what we’ve done here? It’s the infamous circular argument.
It’s the same circular argument that brought the Texas legislature and governor to oppose the teaching of the existence of racism. It’s the same one that has many questioning the validity of the election. It’s the same one that has them wanting to restrict voting access. It’s a tangled web that requires a love of country that doesn’t see faults except for the ones that aren’t there.
It is the kind of love that exists nowhere else. We don’t love our family that way. We don’t love our sports teams that way. We don’t love our spouses that way. If we are doing it right we don’t even love ourselves that way. How could we possibly love our country that way? It is a love that loves without complexity. It is a love that loves without understanding. It is a love that fails to separate those that defend its freedoms with those make the decisions surrounding it. It really isn’t love at all. Strings are always dangerous when it comes to love. Watch out for strings.
The TeaParty MAGAoty Trumpanzees don’t mess around with “strings”. It’s lynch ropes for them or nothing…
1Good essay Nick.
2I agree. We should honor those who fought for America, but even among brothers in arms, watch out for the friendly fire. Often unintentional, but sometimes with a hidden motive.
For me, it’s sort of a “Golden Calf” issue: people who need a physical object to worship. For the Right Wingnuts, it’s worshiping the flag itself rather than the concepts that our country claims to promote. They carry copies of the Constitution, yet fail to live their lives according to the beliefs set forth in that document.
It’s idolatry.
3Oh, sure. Next you’ll try to tell me that Jesus wasn’t a patriotic, loyal American, that he didn’t detest immigrants and refugees, and that he didn’t carry an AR-15 everywhere he went.
4Talk about things that have strings, I just saw this over at the Democratic Underground.
Tweet text:
Greg Abbott
@GregAbbott_TX
·
May 31, 2021
I will veto Article 10 of the budget passed by the legislature.
Article 10 funds the legislative branch.
No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities.
Stay tuned.
Brian Tyler Cohen
@briantylercohen
He didn’t get his voter suppression bill so he’s withholding pay from not only the entire legislature, but the staff and aides who rely on it to survive.
To their core, Republicans despise democracy.
511:52 AM · May 31, 2021
From the Texas Tribune-
Texas Tribune
6@TexasTribune
Hours after a Democratic walkout killed his priority voting bill, Gov. Greg Abbott said he’d veto the section of the state budget that funds the #TXlege. That section pays not just lawmakers and staff but also funds legislative agencies.
Gov. Greg Abbott speaks with lawmakers on the House floor during the legislative session on Sunday, May 23, 2021.
Texas Gov. Greg Abbott vows to defund state Legislature after voting …
“No pay for those who abandon their responsibilities,” Abbott tweeted Monday.
texastribune.org
12:24 PM · May 31, 2021
Interesting article and I don’t disagree with the look for strings message. But I do disagree with your premise that no other love is like patriotism. Love may not be the right term–but plenty of folks practice a fanatic loyalty and tribalism attitude. And it is applied not just to the idea of “my country.”
In some ways, any authoritarian regime that preaches “don’t question” can foster such a group of people and an “Idea” that they fully commit to. It also is the nature to dehumanize/label people outside the tribe to allow ill treatment directed at others. I admit, situations (cults) that allow people to get entrapped with such beliefs, psychologically fascinate me. The stories out of Scientology are incredible. There will always be some humans that will feel fulfilled being part of such an environment.
Packing up my soapbox now.
7is there a way the legislature can do the same thing to the gov, lt gov and all the people they depend upon to carry out their (insert word choice) to where they feel the pain?
8always remember this fine piece of advice:
“Religion and patriotism are the last refuges of the scoundrel.”
said by a smarter person than myself, whose name escapes me at the moment.
9Samuel Johnson, April 7, 1775.
I was but a wee lad in those days, but I remember it well.
10Part of loving my country, wife, kids, myself is accountability.
11Has Abbott used a line-item veto on some other section of the budget in the past?
I wonder how the Republican majority and the legislative staff will respond to having their funding cut?
Is there some additional way to stir up division among the Republicans? here in Colorado, the Republican Minority leader fat-fingered a vote and wound up with a “Yes” on a bill to block gun sales to those convicted of violent misdemeanors (same sort of crimes that could have been charged and tried as felonies); and the Rocky Mountain Gun Owners and their Republican allies in the legislature began calling for his resignation or announcing they will be backing an alternative candidate. Surely there is something which could trigger a similar argument among Texas Republicans.
12Maybe the loss of pay will being forth a recall vote?
Until Abbott gets a real rejection from voters he will not stop.
Trump is gone, Netanyahu on the way out, now it is time for the State Politician and local nitwits to go.
13