In the contemporary divisive climate, the common thread that weaves Americans together appears to be the shared enthusiasm for disparaging those who govern. The societal fissures have led to a prioritization of political affiliations over national unity, but the resentment against those who exercise authority and the criticism hurled at them seemingly unite Americans.
This unity in reproach even transcends the symbolism of the American flag on Independence Day. Its display no longer unequivocally represents patriotic sentiment but is increasingly regarded as indicative of one’s political alignment in a bifurcated nation.
Polls indicate the flag elicits a more favorable reaction from Republicans than Democrats. Pride in their country, as reported by Democrats, seems to be in a sharp decline, moving from nearly two-thirds during their party’s tenure in the White House to just a bit over one-third now. In contrast, Republican pride in being American has consistently remained above 85 percent.
Despite these divergent sentiments surrounding national pride, there appears to be a unanimous penchant among Americans to hold politicians and government officials accountable. Holding power to scrutiny is a cherished tradition that has permeated American consciousness since the inception of the nation.
It dates back to our Founding Fathers’ denunciation of the British monarch’s despotic regime, as manifest in the Declaration of Independence. The document serves as a powerful testament to the need for resistance against any form of tyranny and underlines the role of the governed in shaping the system of governance.
The spirit of political critique did not diminish with the success of the revolution or the end of George Washington’s presidency. The first contested presidential election in 1796 saw Federalist John Adams rise to power over Democratic-Republican Thomas Jefferson, escalating the rhetoric between the solidifying political parties.
The Federalists dubbed themselves as the ‘friends of government’ and disparaged their opponents as ‘disorganizers.’ Predominant Federalists curtailed the war of words by implementing the Sedition Act. However, this act, aimed at penalizing false and malicious criticisms against the government, did little to quell the discontent among Americans.
The political fracas took a turn for the worse in the 1800 rematch. Journalists propagated malicious narratives against Adams and Jefferson alike. Articles exposed Jefferson’s illicit relationship with his slave, Sally Hemings, while some attacked Adams with pungent language that displayed neither masculinity nor femininity.
Just as in those formative years of the republic, present times see accusations of illegitimacy and abuses of power prevail in the political vernacular. It’s not uncommon for electoral victors to be branded as benefactors of rigged systems and manipulated vote counts.
Protests serve as a hallmark of the American ethos. The chants and slogans spawned through past administrations root on distaste for political figures in power. These expressions serve as a testament to the liberty of speech and more importantly, a way to articulate criticism without excessive censorship.
In these accusations and protests, what comes into focus is not so much the hate for the country, but the divergent visions of how the nation should operate. Partially rooted in this discord are differences in the perceptions about the role of government, economics, and culture and education.
These discrepancies in visions mean Americans may not agree on several aspects regarding policy-making or even national symbolisms such as the flag. The ideal scenario could be one where individuals are free to shape their lives without invasive dictates.
So, in the quintessential spirit of Independence Day, go ahead and exercise your American right; celebrate by voicing your opinion against a politician you feel strongly about.
The post Flag of Discord: Biden’s Disastrous Impact on National Pride appeared first on Real News Now.
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