Cringing at Over-the-Top Displays of Patriotism: A Perspective from the USA

It's well-documented that many Americans, including myself, cringe and surreptitiously roll our eyes at over-the-top displays of patriotism. This sensibility is not limited to certain regions but can be observed in various parts of the country. From grand parades to the display of flags on houses, these nationalistic gestures can be overwhelming and even offensive to those who value a quieter, more nuanced approach to patriotism.

Displays of Patriotism in Western America

In the western United States, where I live, it's not uncommon to see pickup trucks with large flags mounted on their backs. Rodeos always begin with a grand parade of horses and riders carrying American flags before the national anthem is solemnly sung. Houses with illuminated flag poles are common, and the national anthem often precedes sporting events. Growing up, school days began with the Pledge of Allegiance, and Boy Scout meetings always involved patriotic rituals and themes.

Anyone not embracing or at least going through the motions in these displays of nearly religious patriotism is criticized and looked down upon, so almost everyone participates to some degree, if only to avoid the perception of not being patriotic or worse, being anti-American.

The Fetishization of Patriotism

I believe it's fine for people to feel pride in their home countries, and displays of patriotism are appropriate on national holidays. However, the United States is a wonderful country, but so are many others. Most Americans don't realize how insulting or off-putting it can be to our friends around the world when we proclaim the United States as the greatest country on Earth as though it's an obvious and undisputed fact. Most Americans, including myself, love their country and rightfully so, but we could also benefit from a little more quiet humility and a little less over-the-top hubris about it.

Phony Displays of Patriotism

I cringe at phony displays of patriotism. Waving a flag doesn’t necessarily make you patriotic – supporting the constitution does. The phrase 'phony patriotism' is often reserved for those who engage in excessive and exaggerated displays of national pride, often for political or personal gain.

Political Context

I do cringe because Republicans have weaponized patriotism. Claims like 'Obama’s flag pin is smaller than Bush’s' are examples of how political parties use national pride as a political tool. This phenomenon is not limited to one side, as the storming of the Capitol by the "trump mob" was also framed as an act of patriotism, despite the chaotic and undermining actions that followed.

Appropriate Displays of Patriotism

At times, we do not cringe at a Fourth of July parade when it's customary to display patriotism, as it's the day of our independence. We also do not object to a single flag hanging in front of a house or a business, or bunting hung on a house around the Fourth of July. However, many of us do cringe if the display is overdone. These displays are often perceived as unnecessary, exaggerated, and ultimately self-aggrandizing.

The main reason for cringing is that it usually looks as though the person is going overboard, trying to prove something or trying to feel superior. Why else would someone feel the need to entirely drape their house in American flags? It's like showing off. They think they are better than anyone else, and the more flags, the more patriotic they are. The rest of us would rather see one beautiful American flag.

Some people will carry patriotism so far that they appear to be faking it, especially those on the far right who believe for some reason that they are more patriotic than anyone else. They deck the place out with flags, and instead of seeing one perfect American flag, you are distracted by too many all over the place. You wonder what they are trying to prove. These people are known as 'flag wavers' because they overdo it and think falsely that it makes them more patriotic.

As an example, I took a picture after leaving a restaurant at night. Across the street was a large older house with a single American flag. This house stands in one of the towns that was settled in the early 17th century, although the house obviously was built much later, probably sometime in the 19th century. I thought it looked stunning, not ostentatious, not overdone, just a simple display of patriotism. It did the job of setting a positive and respectful tone for the moment.