How many Americans know what happened in the War of 1812, or why? How many Americans even know that the War of 1812 happened? How many know that the “Star-Spangled Banner” was about that war? How many have paid attention to, and thought about, the lyrics of the song, and what they mean? (Short version: “Things blowing up, people dying, but at least there’s still a flag on a pole.”)
I would be surprised if more than a tiny percentage know anything about the subject, or have ever thought about it. Next question: How many Americans had their feelz hurt when they heard that someone did not mindlessly perform the Pavlovian response to the national anthem that they were all trained to have? Answer: a lot.
Bonus question: How many people know that one of the verses of the national anthem (one that no one sings anymore) celebrates the slaughter of slaves trying to escape the U.S. after the British promised them freedom if they switched sides? Nope, not kidding. “No refuge could save the hireling and slave from the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave.” Nifty, huh? (I confess that I didn’t know that either until yesterday.)
And that brings me to my point here. The national pants-peeing epidemic that is going on over Colin Kaepernick (quarterback of the 49ers) choosing not to stand for the national anthem, among people who imagine themselves to be free, informed and open-minded, is just pathetically embarrassing. It has nothing to do with a debate over historical facts, or over philosophical principles—with the vast majority of Americans being blissfully clueless about both.
It has everything to do with most people being stupid but well-trained animals who snarl at any other “animal” who doesn’t feel as they do, or behave as they do, regardless of the reason. Patriotism has nothing to do with knowledge or understanding, but is simply the result of being indoctrinated into feeling blind loyalty to a certain ruling class, and into feeling a deep emotional attachment to the territory that that ruling class controls. In other words, patriotism and nationalism are all about teaching the human livestock to love their farm.
Among people who believe in freedom, most of us have marveled in horror at the cringe-worthy, moronic responses that the average American “in the street” gives to basic questions about history, law, geography, philosophy—almost anything, really. When these people get offended, it’s not because something has run afoul of their thoroughly contemplated and consistent moral code, nor is it because it conflicts with their in-depth understanding of the realities of history and the world.
Usually when they get offended, it’s because their brains don’t know how to process the concept of someone who doesn’t mindlessly think and do whatever they themselves think and do. Sure, Americans love to pretend that they’re open-minded, free-thinking, progressive, even non-conformist and rebellious. But when it comes to anything that matters, most Americans are mindless robots, and any idea or behavior outside of their narrow little view of reality simply “does not compute.” And that makes them sad, or mad.
“Why isn’t that person over there exactly like me, damn it!? He must be evil! He wants to ruin the world!”
Before it is worth having a discussion of why Colin Kaepernick did what he did, Americans should look in the mirror and ask themselves why they do what they do. Because most don’t have the slightest idea. Before someone asks, with clueless outrage, “Why is that person over there in the corner not saying the Pledge of Allegiance??” maybe they should ask, “Wait, isn’t a republic a ruling class? Why the hell do most of us ritualistically and repeatedly swear loyalty to a ruling class?”
Before someone asks, “How dare someone burn ‘Old Glory’??” maybe he should ask, “Why exactly do so many of us reflexively express religious reverence to a certain red-white and blue pattern on a piece of cloth?” And instead of asking with exaggerated indignation, “How could that guy from the 49ers not stand for the national anthem??” maybe Americans should start with, “Why the hell do the rest of us automatically stand up whenever we hear a song about some random war that we know nothing about?”
