I was talking to one of my friends and he mentioned staying home on July 4, citing how there are a lot of really ugly things going on in the US.

After thinking about this myself, I’m starting to feel the same way. Instead of being proud of the country, I’m feeling like I’m just another wallet that companies and the government are trying to suck all the money out of.

The cost of living is going up, the housing market is a nightmare, I don’t feel very confident in our government at all, the job market is a nightmare…

I think I’ll be staying home this year too… anyone else?

  • linrilang@lemmy.world
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    41 minutes ago

    Yeah… feels like the meaning behind the holiday has been completely lost. It’s hard to celebrate when so many people are struggling with basic things like housing and healthcare.

  • cley_faye@lemmy.world
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    1 hour ago

    I find it reassuring that some people are not proud of grabbing random people off the street to send them to their death with a smile.

  • RememberTheApollo_@lemmy.world
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    2 hours ago

    Flags have become a warning over the last decade or so about the person waving it. It no longer has the hope of a better America, solidarity, or welcome; it’s a symbol of a myopic, selfish, aggro, uneducated person full of performative nationalism and real hatreds.

    Our independence was supposed to free the people of kings and tyrants. It’s been 249 years since 1776, we have undone what the Constitution authors fought for.

  • Jessica@lemmy.blahaj.zone
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    3 hours ago

    I’ll be staying home this year. There is nothing to celebrate. At this point I’d rather watch it all burn down.

  • PastafARRian@lemmy.dbzer0.com
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    3 hours ago

    I still have hope, until I am forced to emigrate I won’t be giving up on us. This country at one point saved my ancestors from doom, I believe it can again. It’s actually the “America sucks” crowd we need the most. In the words of AOC: resist, make them make us.

    • Saleh@feddit.org
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      3 hours ago

      Not necessarily. Problem is when patriotism is not defined positively through your countries achievments and striving for self improvement, but through negativity to other people.

      The US patriotism evidently revolves around the latter, so does most patriotism i have witnessed in European countries. I cant speak for so many other countries as i havent visited them enough.

      • CXORA@aussie.zone
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        40 minutes ago

        So do any countries exhibit what you call positive patriotism, or is this purely a theoretical objection?

  • AceFuzzLord@lemmy.zip
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    5 hours ago

    I haven’t been necessarily patriotic for a long time because why pledge allegiance to a single nation? The only reason I really care about July 4 is the fireworks. It’s more tradition than anything that I see them.

    Anyways, both of his terms make me feel vindicated in not being patriotic in a country.

  • EndlessNightmare@reddthat.com
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    5 hours ago

    What, exactly, should I be proud of?

    A nation that is moving backwards on human rights, increasing wealth inequality, and got really “mask off” about supporting genocide. A nation that is inherently dysfunctional and wreathed in corruption.

  • Doom@ttrpg.network
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    6 hours ago

    I grew up with smart parents. We were never patriotic, this country has sucked for decades

  • hperrin@lemmy.ca
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    6 hours ago

    I’m very proud to be a Californian. I’m utterly embarrassed to be an American.