Patriotism or Needy Bravado?
The other morning I drove up alongside a pick-up truck that had two huge metal poles attached to it with massive flags hanging from them.
I think the man was telling me that he was a super patriot. But I wondered. I wondered about those poles. They could do some big-time damage in an accident. Also, it strikes me that patriotism is ultimately about claiming the importance of space and place. It's about having ground under our feet. And something I note about those who are grounded is that they tend to be gentle, more deeply connected to creation and people. Grounded people tend not to need to get in your face. They don't need to make sure you note them. Those massive flags and poles didn't feel like patriotism to me. They felt like needy bravado.