2016 Postmortem
Related: About this forumThe American Exceptionalism theme was brilliant
I am one who doesn't believe in American Exceptionalism. I also think patriotism can very easily bleed into nationalism and jingoism and become something very scary.
Having said that, I want to quote something from TPM:
I agree with TPM.
For too long, the GOP has claimed the mantle of "Real Americans": mainly white, straight, privileged. That is not America. It never was America.
America was built on the sweat of working class men and women, the hopes of immigrants, the forced bondage of blacks stolen from their homeland. It was a land of hope for my great-grandparents who came here and built a small business and raised four sons they sent to WWII, sons who then raised children and grandchildren who became the first in their line to ever go to college.
The GOP claimed the flag and the right to be the "real" America. Their convention was doom and gloom and no hope, with the saviors white, straight, privileged men. The DNC's convention was built on hope and a bright future, with all of us having a hand in making that future.
So, I didn't mind General John Allen's battlefield rallying speech, or chants of USA, or any of that. Because, as much as I dislike American Exceptionalism, I hate American Exclusionism more.
#imwithher
Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)I remember when people discussed the GOP and the "security mom" vote.
Several GOP Twitter personalities were sunk in despair by the whole convention, which feels good.
obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)As we said last night, Hillary should get most of the "Security Mom" vote this go around.
merrily
(45,251 posts)done extremely effectively without engaging in some of their worst traits. When Obama was criticized for lack of a flag pin, Obama did it by pointing out how they vote.
I don't know know if American Exceptionalism was the theme because I fell asleep. However, if it was, I cannot praise it.
merrily
(45,251 posts)m-lekktor
(3,675 posts)merrily
(45,251 posts)They really suck, but how much like them can we act without crossing a line?
That's pure DLC, from religion to jingoism to dismantling social safety nets, etc.
liberal N proud
(60,334 posts)auntpurl
(4,311 posts)That is terrifying.
liberal N proud
(60,334 posts)obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)was a jumbotron.
Cosmocat
(14,564 posts)there before their eyes, clear as day.
TRUMP above all else.
But, these people will, like robots, just parrot how patriotic they are and how the evil liberals hate america.
meow2u3
(24,761 posts)stone space
(6,498 posts)It was decades ago, in 1980, but the memory is still crystal clear.
Students and others would gather every day outside the administration building, which was right next to the math department here, wave flags and shout, "USA! USA!".
There was a restaurant here in Ames, with a sign posted, "Iranians not welcome here", first on small card, and later in huge red letters on a giant billboard next to the restaurant.
One day, a friend, who was married to an Iranian, was in an university dormitory elevator, and 5 guys got into the elevator with her.
They shouted "USA! USA!" at her.
By the time the elevator door opened, my friend's body was cut and bruised, and she had several broken ribs.
These were ugly, ugly times here in Iowa, and whenever I hear such chants, I am filled with fear.
SticksnStones
(2,108 posts)It felt more like they were reclaiming the phrase. Collectively saying "we're USA too. This is America too! We can be proud of this country too." Republicans don't own patriotism.
To me, that's how the chants came across.
That and they were most effective at drowning out ill-timed protests from the opposition.
FSogol
(45,481 posts)obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)Starry Messenger
(32,342 posts)People trying to blow this up into 1984/Orwellian levels of nationalism are adorbs.
leftofcool
(19,460 posts)obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)And, to me, is was like teh chants at a WNT World Cup match anyway.
obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)I guess you didn't see the gentleman and his wife, who are Muslim, who spoke about their son who died in combat, and how the crowd rose to them.
Cha
(297,157 posts)Elijah Cummings and those who came after him.
I was very grateful for them!
USA!
Cosmocat
(14,564 posts)nm
obamanut2012
(26,068 posts)ismnotwasm
(41,976 posts)Too much human suffering in the world, and, well, it takes a village.
That being said, I was in tears by the diversity and the inclusiveness of the convention. When Hillary said "Indian country to coal country" I lost it.
We are Americans, and I believe as such a power in the world hold responsibility to be the very best we can be, to address our flaws, which definitely includes racism and a host of other 'isms"
Time to acknowledge them, address them, and get rid of them. Time to move forward to defeat exclusionism in all its toxic forms
brer cat
(24,560 posts)DinahMoeHum
(21,784 posts)Thanx, pal. I'm all in with her.
some guy
(3,448 posts)I've always thought that was an ignorant response to any criticism of the US - we'll yell USA! over and over again until you shut up and go away with your notion that the US might be less than wonderful. That used to be right wing jingoism. Now the Dems have embraced it.
Of course Hillary is a right winger, so it ought not surprise anyone.
"The creatures outside looked from pig to man, and from man to pig, and from pig to man again; but already it was impossible to say which was which."
(Orwell, from Animal Farm)
Thus endeth the Democratic party as a counterweight to fascist imperialism.