Things might get a little Orwellian over here, but that’s essentially Trump doctrine at this point. The National Day of Patriotic Devotion proclamation that our dear leader is so enamored by paints a bigger picture of Trump’s proclivity to publicly praise foreign dictators and autocrats.
The Daily Beast reported earlier this week that President Trump has issued a proclamation (yes, really, a proclamation) which states that his inauguration day, Jan. 20, 2017, shall henceforth be known as a “National Day of Patriotic Devotion.”
O Big Brother, where art thou?
If you’re convinced that you’ve heard of a “day of patriotic devotion” before, you’ve probably been paying to attention to North Korea lately. Kim Jong-un has used the phrase, “patriotic devotion” as part of North Korea’s propaganda machine. Compulsory patriotism is one of those things that autocratic leaders just can’t seem to give up on. Sort of like government-controlled media (ahem, Fox News and Sinclair Broadcasting) or using the justice arm of government to prosecute political enemies. Closeted evil hobbit Jeff Sessions is having a great ol’ time prodding the Clinton Foundation 18 months after Hillary lost the election. And in spite of the rampant corruption going on in Trump’s cabinet, particularly with baby-seal-clubbing EPA administrator Scott Pruitt.
Why a National Day of Patriotic Devotion for America is just plain dumb
But back to this National Day of Patriotic Devotion: According to the Federal Register, the proclamation makes a little bit of a leap here: “Freedom is the birthright of all Americans, and to preserve that freedom we must maintain faith in our sacred values and heritage.”
Ok, just one or two things.
Donald Trump spent part of his campaign in 2015 blasting birthright citizenship, saying on CNN in an interview with Chris Cuomo on Aug. 19, 2015 that “The 14th Amendment is very questionable” on if “somebody can come over, have a baby and immediately that baby is a citizen.”
Yah, but see, that’s the definition of the 14th Amendment:
14th Amendment, Section 1.
All persons born or naturalized in the United States, and subject to the jurisdiction thereof, are citizens of the United States and of the state wherein they reside.
Also you ever notice how the people who love to use the term, “honoring my heritage” often are the whitest and most xenophobic in any situation? The proclamation of this patriotic devotion continues, “A new national pride stirs the American soul and inspires the American heart. We are one people, united by a common destiny and a shared purpose.”
Mr. President, did you not see the nationwide (and international) protests that took place the day after your inauguration? Generally, a united nation doesn’t collectively decide to march against their fearless leader and his values the day after he takes power. In fact, that march is really the only thing that has shown real unity since Inauguration Day. There’s no polishing this turd.
Also, the notion that Trump needs an official document that tells Americans to celebrate his inauguration says a lot about the man’s large ego (or more likely, lack of brain power). He literally has to proclaim his electoral victory to the public and tell them to devote themselves to God and country with a National Day of Patriotic Devotion.
Real leaders don’t feel the need to do that with a National Day of Patriotic Devotion proclamation. At least, not the ones who lead democracies. I know of one of two African dictators who are probably beating themselves up for not having one of these patriotic devotion holidays in their country.
Here’s a pro-tip: Want to know if something is pro-America? It generally doesn’t need to the word “patriot” to make that clear. In fact, if a bill or official communication has “patriot” or “devotion” or “glorious” or “heritage” somewhere in there, take a second look. There’s usually an unfortunate reason the bill’s creators felt the need to evoke a little faux patriotism in the name.
Patriot Act, anyone?
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