Is American Patriotism Also Blind Patriotism Essay

It seems that patriotism is one of the most common terms used during times of war. Governments often use propaganda about nationalism to advocate their political views of the hostilities. Sometimes they even force patriotism on their constituents with fear-mongering techniques, which can have dangerous implications. That’s not to say that patriotism is inherently bad—many wars have been won for just causes because of it. However, it is a mistake to only think of war at a national level. There are devastating effects on the soldiers, families, and victims of war hostilities. The stories read this week discuss the struggle between concern for macro-society (patriotism) and micro-society (family/personal interests) during war. While no†¦show more content†¦Their wives have different opinions, though. The first wife doesn’t believe there is a war; she even suspects that her husband is using it as an excuse to cheat on her. However, the second wife is truly w orried about her husband, calling him and checking on his safety quite frequently. Both women are concerned more with micro-society, yet in very different ways. The second wife is simply concerned about the well-being of her family, much like the mother from â€Å"Loyalties†. Her worries—although considered ridiculous by her husband—are certainly understandable and justified. The flaw of the perspective lies in the viewpoint of the first wife. She doesn’t understand the war and underestimates its potential for serious consequences. Even her husband acknowledges this, stating that â€Å"She didn’t believe we were at war† (147). This speaks to an issue that is quite prevalent in the United States. Like many Americans, the second wife can’t relate or understand the dangers of war because she hasn’t seen any of it firsthand; it has never been fought around her home. Therefore, by focusing on the micro-society and ignoring all sense of macro-society, she takes the war for granted without appreciating the actions of her husband. â€Å"An Easy Death† is another story which depicts the consequences of macro-society and patriotism. The soldier in the narrative has a great deal of success in life before going to war. He isShow MoreRelatedPatriotism in Spiderman Movies982 Words   |  4 Pages What is arguably the strongest emotion in many people is the feeling of patriotism. As George Bernard Shaw said, Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it. Though this feeling is not necessarily based on logic, it is none-the-less one of the most powerful feelings along with hatred and love. Depending on when a movie is made, the amount of patriotism portrayed is directly related to the political and social climate on theRead More Patriotism in Spiderman Movies Essay955 Words   |  4 Pagesotherwise. 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