You're Not Fooling Anyone
By Cathy Hwang
Staff Writer

If there's one thing that really irks me about America these days, it is the incredible amount of phoney patriotism floating around. No, I don't have some kind of “phoney-o-meter” to differentiate between the real patriots and false ones. But I do have a pretty good method of guessing which is which. Take, for example, the receptionists at my doctor's office. Located directly on the wall behind their desk is a huge sign in red, white and blue that reads: "We Will Not Forget." They are, presumably, referring to September 11th. Now, if these lovely ladies really do not want to forget the tragedies inflicted upon their countrymen that day, why don't they make a little sign and stick it right next to their computer monitors, where they can see it, all day, every day? Why do they insist on, instead, making a huge sign and then turning their backs on the sign? Let's face it--these ladies aren't gung-ho patriots forever suffering the weight of a national tragedy. They just want everybody who visits the office to know that they, too, are patriots--patriotism is, after all, the new cool.

The real problem I have with phoney patriotism is the hostility that it breeds. I classify the extreme "America--Love It or Leave It" type of patriotism as phoney patriotism. America was built on the values of freedom and equality. Anybody who condemns an American for speaking out against the government has certainly not studied the tenets this country was built upon. Welcome to America, folks! Here in America, we're allowed to criticize our government without being told to leave the country! It's an innovative concept, I know. Those who think that Americans should either adore their country or leave it are sadly mistaken. They are exhibiting phoney patriotism: patriotism grounded in the wrong ideas. Shame on those empty-hearted, flag-waving morons who think that tying yellow ribbons on their trees makes them a true American.

I especially hate the people with bumper stickers that say "I'm American. Unhyphenated." I personally identify myself as Taiwanese-Chinese-American. I have two hyphens. Does that make me less of an American than you? I was born and raised in America, I can recite the states in alphabetical order, the presidents in chronological order, and I plan to someday work for our federal government. Let's see “Mr. Unhyphenated” do the same.

This overflowing of false patriotism breeds hostility toward non-white Americans--especially Americans of Middle Eastern descent--and it is grounded on rah-rah nothingness. A note to those false patriots among us, on this campus and in the nation: America is the world's melting pot. We come from different countries, we are of different ethnicities, we believe in different religions, and, yes, we also believe in different ways of government. Let those whose opinions differ from your own speak! It does not make them less patriotic; it makes them moreso for exercising the rights that are constitutionally theirs, and for having the courage to speak out in hopes of improving our country.

Please--stop the phoney flag-waving patriotism, and let us think of more proactive ways to improve America.