American nationalists wrap themselves in the flag and claim to be all about individual liberty, complete with freedom from government meddling and control.
How ironic it is that they embrace government control with open arms.
They can’t seem to get enough government meddling.
And Donald J. Trump — who thrives on keeping paranoid American nationalists ever more scared of enemies real and imagined– is certainly willing to oblige them.
“Give me liberty as long as there’s another dollar to be conquered.”
The nationalists live in fear of an America in which all Americans would be left alone in their love life, allowed to love or marry or live with whomever they wish, without fear of government interference or of being demonized by the bedroom police.
With their lips, the patriotic white nationalists pledge allegiance to an America sustained by “liberty and justice for all.” But they are perfectly willing to accept injustice for many, and no justice at all for a president clearly guilty of treasonous behavior and any number of white-collar crimes going back to a fraudulent “university.”
The nationalists, who think of themselves as America-loving patriots, live in fear of a truly free America in which women would have the freedom to make decisions about birth with their conscience as their guide instead of Uncle Sam thinks he knows what’s best for the ladies.
The good Christian nationalists fear the thought of an America in which people of all faiths (and no faith) are allowed to practice faith (or not) without hostile government leaders who pose and posture as followers of Jesus while passing ludicrous religious-liberty laws and heaping scorn on faiths not Christian.
The patriotic nationalists want law and order — for some; for the president and so many others, not so much.
The patriotic nationalists live in fear of an America in which Americans of many and various beliefs and philosophies — of various skin colors, faith traditions, economic stations in life, and sexual orientations — would be truly welcomed with seats at the tables of leadership in government, business, religion and civic life.
They fear an America in which Americans will no longer have scores upon scores of enemies — real and in many cases simply perceived — to conquer or dominate and dictate to in countries around the world.
They fear an America in which freedom of the press is allowed to flourish anywhere outside of the cool-blue studios of Fox “News” Channel in Donald J. Trump’s home turf.
The patriotic nationalists are fine with freedom of the press as long as the press is Fox News.
The white-right nationalists fear an America in which people are allowed to vigorously exercise their right to protest — unless the protest is against abortion and a woman’s right to let her conscience be her guide.
The Jingoistic, Sword-Rattling, Might-Makes-Right nationalists and the leaders they worship want a United States military that is the greatest in the world and they wholeheartedly support our brave troops — especially at sporting events.
Just don’t expect them or their sons and daughters to put their lives on the line for liberty and justice for anybody.
In short, the mostly white, supposedly patriotic America-first nationalists are too scared of genuine freedom and liberty to allow it to naturally bloom into a true democracy.
The only thing they don’t fear (which in Christian language means revere) is the God they see as having created America to be exceptional.
Thanks for reading my mind Pablo. The fears of these self-proclaimed “Americans” will be their reward. As Sam Cooke sings, “A change is gonna come….”
They missed all those directives from Jesus to “Have no fear.”