Talking About American Society in the Trump Era: Is It Patriotism? Or It Toxic Tribalism?
On the questions-and-answers site Quora, conservative member James Dowry asks: Why is patriotism now deemed offensive, and how can we stop it? My reply: It’s not patriotism per se that is deemed offensive. It’s the nearly-hysterical, exaggerated, almost cult-like jingoism and hyper-nationalism that is extremely offensive. Speaking as a first-generation U.S.-born citizen whose parents legally immigrated from Colombia in 1961, I am not ashamed to say that I’m an American. I’ve never self-identified as a “hyphenated American,” i.e. Colombian-American, and I’ve never considered claiming dual citizenship, even though it’s perfectly legal to do so. As far as I’m concerned, I was born in the U.S., so I’m American, not Colombian. I’ve also owned two U.S. flag kits, which enabled me to proudly display the American flag on national holidays and other days in which calendars (mostly those sent every year by veterans’ groups to which either my late mom or...