Where are the patriots?
[I missed Burning Man in 2008, which means that the camp's discussion on patriotism didn't last as long as folks had counted on. Here was the plan. - Dec 08]
Here is the official description of an event that my camp, Baggage Check, is running at Burning Man this year.
We are hosting a discussion forum on the meaning of patriotism. Is this an outdated notion? What does it mean to be a patriot? Is there a role for patriots in today’s America? This is simply a facilitated discussion forum amongst burners, we have no professed experts on the topic. Although one could propose we are each “experts” in deciding what’s right for ourselves in discovering our relationship with country. We specifically want to explore this topic in terms of American citizenry, in support of this year’s theme, but all are welcome.
Unofficially, Hoss expects that I'm going to ensure that at least some conversation happens.
I consider patriotism to be like loving your mother. You should do it, it's a mean heart that wants you not to do it, but you shouldn't take it too seriously. In general, as mammals, we prefer our mothers to other peoples' mothers. But as enlightened thinkers, we don't use force to exalt our own mothers over other folks' mothers. And as self-referential, self-aware liberals, we acknowledge that our own preferences are mere biases (though secretly we understand that our own mothers really are better).
Patriotism in the US has a special burden because the US is top dog, and the modern, liberal outlook favors the underdog. So we get the ironic scene of the long-haired young radical burning the flag that stands for his freedom to desecrate his nation's symbol, and the crew-cut veteran trying to save his flag from the freedom of expression that it represents.
I have little patience for freedom-loving liberals who say they hate America or for freedom-hating conservatives who see no rival for their claim to be America.
Here is the official description of an event that my camp, Baggage Check, is running at Burning Man this year.
We are hosting a discussion forum on the meaning of patriotism. Is this an outdated notion? What does it mean to be a patriot? Is there a role for patriots in today’s America? This is simply a facilitated discussion forum amongst burners, we have no professed experts on the topic. Although one could propose we are each “experts” in deciding what’s right for ourselves in discovering our relationship with country. We specifically want to explore this topic in terms of American citizenry, in support of this year’s theme, but all are welcome.
Unofficially, Hoss expects that I'm going to ensure that at least some conversation happens.
I consider patriotism to be like loving your mother. You should do it, it's a mean heart that wants you not to do it, but you shouldn't take it too seriously. In general, as mammals, we prefer our mothers to other peoples' mothers. But as enlightened thinkers, we don't use force to exalt our own mothers over other folks' mothers. And as self-referential, self-aware liberals, we acknowledge that our own preferences are mere biases (though secretly we understand that our own mothers really are better).
Patriotism in the US has a special burden because the US is top dog, and the modern, liberal outlook favors the underdog. So we get the ironic scene of the long-haired young radical burning the flag that stands for his freedom to desecrate his nation's symbol, and the crew-cut veteran trying to save his flag from the freedom of expression that it represents.
I have little patience for freedom-loving liberals who say they hate America or for freedom-hating conservatives who see no rival for their claim to be America.