I love America. I love the constitution. I love the founding principles of our government. In a time of crisis I would die for the country. Give me liberty or give me death. I consider myself a patriot.
Having said that, I am sick of the abuse of patriotism. I have no problem with people, Americans, expressing their love for the country. But it's when companies use it to get financial gain that I have a problem. All my life, RC Willey has been putting ads out on every major holiday selling their furniture. They push patriotism into their ads and try to tout themselves as the patriotic comapny to buy from. That really isn't necessary, they had me at "Free Hot Dogs".
People complain about the commercialization of Christmas, and while I agree, what about the commercialization of Veterans Day, or Memorial Day, or President's Day. When were these holidays about selling sheets and closet organizers? So, tomorrow I am going to avoid sales. I'll probably buy some food, from a random store or restaurant just like every other day of my life. And maybe I'll spend some time thinking about Washington and Lincoln. The presidents that made and saved these united States.
But it's not only holidays that get companies using patriotism. Have you seen the people dressed up like the Statue of Liberty standing out front of H&R Block? What's that all about? They have taken the recent fad of paying people to do the mind numbing job of standing on the street holding a sign (or juggling corn) and added a pinch of patriotism to get people in so they can do their taxes. Well, there is just one major flaw with this. Who feels patriotic on tax day? "Oh I love this country that robs me blind" is not a phrase you hear often. Personally, I think on tax day I would prefer to dress up like Samuel Adams.. or better yet, I'll dress up like Samuel Adams dressed up like an Indian. TAX THIS!
But still, whenever I see the American Flag in all it's glory, it does warm my heart: