My encounter with a violent-looking RWer today

[Rocknrule]

I saw a guy on campus today wearing jeans, sunglasses, and a black leather jacket, you know, the tough, macho-looking type. On the back of the jacket was a huge aggressive-looking eagle/American flag design and below it was a patch with an American flag and the caption "try burning THIS one, asshole!" He looked so aggressive that I kept trying to catch a glimpse of the concealed handgun that I was sure he was toting.

I don't get why people today have to be so "in your face" about their patriotism. Do you think the post-9/11 surge in aggressive patriotism will ever die down?

[yankeedem]

1. Did he just arrive back from Iraq?

What? You say he isn't in the military, fighting for Our Glorious Leader? Color me surprised!

Some people have to attach themselves to something perceived as powerful to make them feel powerful. For example, consider the popularity of Hummers (the SUV, not the, uh you know)

[JDPriestly]

2. Actually, I consider myself to be an in-your-face patriotic Democrat

It's the lack of patriotism of the thoughtless, follow-the-crowd, knee-jerk Republicans that makes me mad.

[Inland]

9. But that guy's "patriotism" is all about him

And his excuse to strut around like a tough guy. It's not love of country. It's a look. It's accessorizing.

[FlemingsGhost]

15. And you know that, how?

Pray tell.

[Inland]

16. Because of his patch.

It shows him to be a tool. Nobody wanted to burn his jacket, so his challenge, while sounding macho, tells people to do something they never wanted to do in the first place. It's all posturing.

A real patriot doesn't make it all about himself and his jacket and who's going to get it.

I don't remember Ike being such a tool, do you?

[FlemingsGhost]

18. I don't make it a point to measure one's level of patriotism.

Just as I avoid making assumptions via appearance, or fashion apparel. I'll leave that to experts, such as yourself.

By the way, Ike was way before my day.

[Inland]

19. Well, free free to butt out a post ago and not ask a question

you didn't want the answer to. I only answered out of politeness, which doesn't extend to pretending to give a fuck what you do or do not make a habit of doing.

[FlemingsGhost]

20. Whatta surprise ... exposed and cornered, it turns nasty.

:eyes:

[Inland]

22. Whatever you are talking about, nobody cares.

You can think it's nasty that nobody gives enough of a fuck to ask you what you are talking about, and maybe it is. But it's the case. You asked a question, got the answer, and then went off into your own little thread and nobody's following.

[mrcheerful]

3. Yet his in your face sheep dip isn't in the military, think about that ,

to put it simple, he is one of those tough guys who isn't tough unless they can intimidate another.

[Left Is Write]

4. That's not patriotism, it's jingoism.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

5. Not that I am advocating this, but...

A 2 gallon bucket of gasolene and a match would have him quickly pondering his own fashion sense, you know?

It's easy to walk, talk, act and dress tough. It's really hard to truly BE tough.

[Stephanie]

6. One of my most vivid memories of NYC post 9/11 -

is of the men on the subway, I remember this one day on the shuttle but it was every train and every day, the men had all, as Al Franken said about a plane trip he took, they had all deputized themselves, and they were all on watch and checking out everybody on the train and they were ready to fight if necessary, every one of them was at war.

Nothing to do with that jackass on your campus.

[gekeeley]

7. It's everywhere...

Up here in New England, despite our liberal reputation... the backwoods of our fair states harbors the worst breed of post-9/11 patriotism... the back window of a pick up truck PAINTED into either an eagle, a flag, or an image of the WTC... *shudder*

[rucky]

8. his penis, actual size: ->----------

[FlemingsGhost]

10. Not much of an encounter, really.

Leather jacket with patch means concealed weapon?

Am I missing something?

[Rocknrule]

11. He didn't actually have one

But judging by his apparell, I assumed he was the type. I was apparently wrong.

[SpiralHawk]

12. That's not patriotism, that's thuggery

There have always been thugs. But just now the BushCo-Dominionist Skull & Boner Oil Kult that has taken over control of America is catapulting propaganda that encourages thuggery under the false flag of perverted "patriotism." This neoCon mindset has nothing at all to do with our Constitution or our Bill of Rights, other than to oppose them to bring in FEAR AND CONTROL. Thuggery arises out of primal fear, and seeks to impose DOMINATION (Dominionists) and CONTROL to ally its own fears.

But this neoCON culture of corruption, fear and thuggery shall pass, too. Surprisingly.

Fusion lies in the future, I feel.

[upi402]

13. unexamined patriotism

is for cowards and hypocrits

[FreedomAngel82]

14. Probably not

Sounds scary. One time at my church there was a guy visiting with another guy who's family is a member of my church and this guy wore a leather vest with a confederate flag on it. :shrug: He seemed like a nice person though and he wasn't rude or anything like that and participated in the class.

[Raydawg1234]

17. don't get me wrong, but isn't that judging a book by it's cover?

I mean he does have a right to free speech! How do you know he was a bush-bot?

[Swamp Rat]

21. just a costume. n/t

:)