Nefarious American Patriotism

We find ourselves in yet another election season amidst a seemingly perpetual pandemic. We survived COVID (not all of us), yet somehow we never recovered from that vile, nationally debilitating plague of “Trumpism”.

That was an extremely negative preface, despite actually being a very positive and optimistic person overall. These out of character statements from me deserve an explanation. So, I will explain. As I drive, I am continuously confronted by a plethora of political signs and billboards. While they consist of simple paper and cardboard, the sinister messages that some of them convey causes me great sadness and dismay, at the flagrant ignorance and outright stupidity of those that flaunt a Trump sign or banner on their property. Why, would you ask, that these signs disturb me? Thank you for asking.

I am an American. I wore a uniform, I went to war, I survived to remember that service, and to get married, raise a family and pursue a career under the flag that I once so proudly served and under which I was born. For me, now, whenever I see an American flag, I am forcefully reminded of the Trump supporters that razed the US Capital building on January 6th, 2021 wielding American flags and using them to break windows, smash doors and attack their fellow countryman in uniform defending the Capital and its institutions.

These Trumpist quislings have taken the flag from me (and every other legitimately patriotic American), and desicrated it with their vile hate and asinine fanaticism for their cult leader. The hatred that Mr. Trump has instilled in them towards not only their fellow countrymen, but anyone that doesn’t look like them, talk like them, or behave like them, doesn’t benefit America. It does however benefit our enemies. Mr. Trump betrays the institutions and laws that constitute the basis of American Democracy in feeding lies to his minions for his benefit and to his idols he holds in such high esteem (such as Vladimir Putin, Kim Jong Un and Xi Xing Ping).

I’ll provide some background on my political orientation here before I continue. I am a stout independent, but have always voted Republican (prior to Trump). For me, national defense and foreign policy are the most important issues that have historically driven my support for the Republican presidential candidates.

I recall the times when the Republican party held strong positions on issues pertaining to national defense, supporting our international allies, strengthening strategic alliances, and facing global threats from a position of strength. I remember the Cold War, the Soviet threat, and their aggressive pursuit of global dominance. I also remember watching the collapse of the USSR and the West’s victory of the Cold War as a direct result of the strong policies of the Republican Party and Ronald Reagan (despite the weakness and resistance to those policies by the Democratic Party at that time).

I have studied war, geopolitical history and especially 20th century conflicts (especially WWI and WWII). History is rife with examples of authoritarian leaders and dictators that sought empire and territorial expansion through the exploitation and destruction of weak states and limited resistance. Evil is, and has always been, empowered by weakness….and incompetence.

That brings us to today, and the global security and geopolitical situation that the world faces. The current global threat situation is unparalleled since the Second World War. China actively and aggressively pursuing territorial expansion and openly communicating plans for global dominance, coupled with a well-funded, technologically advanced military. Russia at war in Europe attempting to forcibly conquer territories from their neighbors (Georgia, Moldova, and of course Ukraine). Satellite nations (Iran and North Korea) under control and proxy by Russia and China, actively seeking to benefit from their handler’s ambitions for empire and conquest.

Putin’s ambitions in Ukraine were in no uncertain terms, largely motivated by Trump’s attempts to weaken NATO and strategic alliances that exist to counter these growing threats. Furthermore, Trump’s continuing lack of support for Ukraine in their fight for survival and national sovereignty against an expansionist Russia, is entirely against the policy positions of the pre-Trump Republican party….and our enemies know that, and fully intend to further exploit that in the event of a second Trump reign.

Trump’s positions (or lack of positions) on these critical global security issues, would be comparable to America’s isolationist policy prior to entry into WWII. To clarify, isolationism did not prevent our entry into the war, it simply forced it upon us (Pearl Harbor) as a result of our weakness and inaction. Einstein was quoted as saying “the world will not be destroyed by those that are evil. It will be destroyed by those who watch and do nothing”.

The Trumpist Republican party is simply unrecognizable in its current state. It was once the party that won the Cold War. Yet now, it does not even support Ukraine in its defense against an aggressive, expansionist, resurgent Russia.

But that’s not the only reason I could never vote for Trump. Every Trump yard sign, banner, or flag that I see, reminds me of a confederate flag. Remember that the Confederacy fought a bloody war against the United States, and that it consisted of traitors that actively sought the destruction of our institutions and way of government.

Every Trump supporter that believes in the lie about Trump winning the 2020 election (despite any evidence from countless federal, state and local investigations), and their active pursuit of the destruction of the Capital building, the killing of our elected leaders, and the forceful interference of the transfer of power (as dictated by the US constitution), represents a confederate. By the way, just wanted to remind you, the Confederates lost. These Trumpists joyfully and passionately sought (and seek) the destruction of our country, while screaming of their supposed “patriotism” and waving the flag. The desecration of our flag and the hijacking of the meaning of American Patriotism sickens me, and saddens me deeply at the credulous nature and outright gullibility of our fellow countrymen (if we can even call them that anymore).

For me, support for Trump and what he represents, is the most unpatriotic thing an American can do. Some might say I hold a biased opinion of Trump because a biased media platform that feeds the negative message about him. In reality, my opinion is entirely based on the actual statements that I hear and see that come directly from Trump himself. When he says he wants to be a dictator on day 1, I have no reason to not believe him. When he says, he will get rid of the constitution, I believe him. Why else would he say it? So if you are ok with those things, or try to create excuses on behalf of your cult leader, you are not truly an American, you are a confederate and everything they represented….and more. I will be voting for someone that did not support the January 6th attack on the Capital, and will stand up to the global threats we face in today’s world.

Take your hate, cult following, conspiracy theories, and incompetence, elsewhere….you piece of shit. You are not an American (and stop carrying our flag and calling yourself patriotic). I hear Putin is looking for volunteers and gullible minions.