It is weird how for nearly all my life there have been parallel tracks for multiple definitions of words: liberty, freedom and patriotism all mean wildly different things to those afflicted with the conservative mindset.

Strangely enough, they can also take a religion that has a character saying the things in the Sermon on the Mount and turn it into trying to crank out holy warriors who want to turn a secular nation into a xtian one.

You don’t. You sit out this one and work or sleep or jack off or something. Best is to boycott the fourth this year. No BBQ. No fireworks. Nothing.

You know, you love the country; you come into town with these beautiful songs about marvelous people and places you’ve been. You know you love the country; you just can’t stand the government. Now get it straight. Loyalty to the country always, loyalty to the government when it deserves it.

Every time I see someone wearing a flag pin I’m reminded of kindergarteners who have to wear a nametag on a string when they leave the classroom.

Who knows the American flag better? The person who is constantly surrounded by it, grew up in it, and has its lens of statue-esque perfection pointed directly at them every day. Those, that the system points its mask of benevolence at. Even while it conspires to starve them and force them into slavery in prison.

Or does the daughter of another land, oppressed at the hands of the puppet dictators we installed? Or those who had American soldiers in their cities and homes?

Who feels the flag more? Is it those who chose it? Moved their lives and everyone they knew. To start a new life for themselves, who could’ve gone anywhere else, if they could get there.

Is it someone being an asshole to a stranger, to own the libs? The boogie man the multi-billion dollar propaganda engine screamed to hate.