Is American Patriotism Also Blind Patriotism? Essay examples -- Americ

It appears that patriotism is one of the most common terms utilise during times of war. Governments often use propaganda about nationalism to advocate their governmental views of the hostilities. Sometimes they even force patriotism on their constituents with fear-mongering techniques, which can meet dangerous implications. Thats not to say that patriotism is inherently stinky some(prenominal) wars project been won for just causes because of it. However, it is a mistake to and think of war at a national level. There argon devastating effects on the soldiers, families, and victims of war hostilities. The stories read this week converse the struggle between concern for macro-society (patriotism) and micro-society (family/personal interests) during war. While no chronicle completely rejects the idea of macro-society, they understandably emphasize the greater importance of micro-society and the consequences of patriotism.Loyalties is the get-go twaddle which discusses the conc ept of macro and micro-society. It centers on a family living in an African village during the Nigerian civil war. The father and schoolmaster seem to be the most loyal characters from the beginning, as they atomic number 18 large supporters of the unexampled Biafra. However, by the end of the tale they have switched their allegiances back to Nigeria. Their perspectives clearly glitter the bigger concept of the macro-society. There is an element of humor in the route they switch so drastically from one side to the next. The m early(a), on the other hand, represents concern for the micro-society, because she only c atomic number 18s about the tasks of everyday life. The tone of the story clearly favors the mothers perspective. After all, she is the only character whose loyalties remain legitimate throughout the entire story, and the author pokes fun at the politics of the men. up to now the mother sees the humor in it all, telling her son, Go and collect the buttafter all he is now a Biafran goat so we must take better care of it (144). At the conclusion of this story it is apparent that the concept of macro-society during war has certain limitations and weaknesses, which can greatly advert the individuals and families involved.Just as Loyalties discusses the flaws of patriotism, Peace and War explains the failings of micro-society. It depicts two men who go to war every day and treat it as business. They are effortless about their job because the war is at a ... ...e and sinlessness when they are far from the field of battle, as this girl is. Yet when there are personal ties, it is much harder to accept the concept, just as Biyumi struggles with his sense of nationalism.Although many of these stories have specific settings and historical significance, they also speak to todays world. We have seen a great shift toward patriotism in the eld following the attacks of September 11, 2001. It would be wrong not to respect the soldiers who have fought brave ly for the United States since that time, just as it was wrong for the wife in Peace and War to underestimate the dangers around her. However, we must also honor the micro-society, both here and in other parts of the world. Will our actions as a nation lead our soldiers into traumatic situations like the soldier in An Easy Death? Or will we consider the families and communities involved, saving ourselves from micro-societal harm? I only hope that we can learn from stories such as these and not take our blind patriotism too far.Works Cited spherical Cultures. A Transnational Short Fiction Reader, ed. by Elisabeth Young-Bruehl (University Press of unsanded England, Hanover and London, 1994)