Patriotic Ads

If patriotism is the mass opiate of the people, then politicans are professional drug dealers. What is Patriotism? It's a code word for nationalism; it gives all people, the poor and the rich, the white and the black, something to be proud of. It also critizes those who are not patriotic. A person in America who is not as nationalistic is often labeled a traitor, a pinko, or some other term. Some have even linked my unpatriotic spirit to being an atheist, I must've forgot that we had a state religion. But I digress, patriotism is a view carried by most Americans. Americans look for patriotism in their leaders. In this election John McCain has defined his patriotism by his participation in an unjust war, and by failing the task assigned to him which resulted in his imprionment. Barack Obama has said he is patriotic because he is hard-working and comes from the working class, this however doesn't mean he's patriotic, now his wearing the flag on his jacket that's patriotic! The ads featured try to tap the patriotic spark in an average "Joe the Plumber's" heart. I believe looking at the evidence one could argue McCain is a "patriot.", this does not neccesarily mean it is a good thing. I believe Obama is also patriotic, whatever that means. The problem however is that there is no definition of patriotism that allows an objective measurement. Some call supporting the war patriotic, Hippies of the 60s felt their pacifism was patriotic. Traditionalists say that a faith based people is patriotic, some view a wall of church and state as the "American" way. The fact is one could write a book of how different groups have viewed themselves as patriotic, the term is used so much it has lost all meaning. The fact is anyone can say their the most patriotic person and they may not be right, but they wouldn't be wrong. Like a sponge that has too much water, the American people are saturated with patriotism, it needs to be wrung out.