Is anyone else not feeling that patriotic for July 4?

Not being American I always found the whole thing very creepy. Like, North Korean military parade-creepy.

For the record, we don't have anything like that where I'm from, but the closest things we do have are also very creepy. Patriotism in general is extremely not cool, honestly.

I screencapped this many moons ago on Reddit, I feel that it's apropos
- The USA started cracking at the foundations when McCarthyism began, demonizing an ideology that was ultimately about sharing resources. You can draw a straight line between the Red Scare and the anti-socialism proudly shouted by modern Republicans and the MAGA movement today.
  For anyone who identifies as conservative, this rabid vilification of socialism has rotted away at even the idea that the government should exist to service the people, let alone advocating for it. So instead they advocate for tearing it all apart and hold firm to the 'rugged individialism', "the Free Market © will provide" nonsense that has never worked as far back in history as we can peer.
  Its so toxic, and it serves only the most wealthy. It's gone so far and for so long now that I don't see the lessons being learnt and course correcting with words alone.
It's rooted in all that "American Exceptionalism" propaganda crap, for sure.
As an American I never really liked the holiday, (I agree patriotism sucks) but I wouldn't say it's that it really feels creepy other than the few people who really go over the top with it. Most people just use it as an excuse to barbeque and watch / light off fireworks (which I'm just personally not into)
Now for some real North Korea shit, look up videos of the “pledge of allegiance“ in schools. I was always the only one not doing it, but it wasn't until I was an adult that I realized how fucked up it is. Creepy as hell.
- Now for some real North Korea shit, look up videos of the “pledge of allegiance“ in schools. I was always the only one not doing it, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I realized how fucked up it is. Creepy as hell.
  America and North Korea aren't alone in some kind of pledge for the country, are we? I have a memory of Chinese students doing the same type of thing, but I'm not entirely sure.
- Look up why the pledge was incorporated in the first place. It was a scheme to sell small American flags and the pledge was made up to go with the flags. Once it was implemented in the classroom - profits were staggering. There was a SCOTUS ruling years ago that the pledge does NOT have to be done in the classroom, but most still do. I do not partake in my classroom and do not tell kids that have to. I do however tell the kids to be respectfully quiet while others do (if they wish).
Independence day celebrations are not unique to America.
- In fact, the best ones are about independence from the US
- We have one of those, and it'd be creepy even if historically it wasn't debatable that the event itself was for the better.
- How many are on July 4?
Patriotism can be cool, there are (I hope) many things about your nation, it's achievements and communities that you might be proud of.
Nationalism however, not so much. They're closely related (and bad people will try to sneak Nationalism under the radar as Patriotism) but are very different things.
- I don't know that I agree with this.
  Perhaps coming from a place where the notion of "country" and "nation" don't overlap one to one makes it easier to see. I wouldn't really be able to tell you what "my nation" even is, and I wouldn't have it any other way.
  I respect and take pride in culture in all its diversity and complexity, in democracy and in the general sense of human decency. Screw all the so-called nations trying to get me to vouch for them as a political unit, though. Political organization is for buiding roads and hospitals, not for pride.
Patriotism is very cool. Nationalism isn't, which has mostly subverted the term patriot. A patriot stands up when their nation is doing something wrong. They don't blindly believe they're the best, they recognize that there's things they can improve. They fight to make their country better, not to make others worse.
- That'd be great if it didn't disagree with all available evidence. For all of history patriots have been either cannon fodder or abusive tyrants. On a long enough trajectory, almost inevitably nationalists and eventually imperialists.
  One could argue that, much like some flavors of political utopia, internationalism has the advantage of never having been implemented in any practical sense, so they have less of a challenge proving their positive impact, but I'll take it anyway.
  Regardless, I find that "making their country better" should be a distant second to "making the world better", and perhaps a close third behind "making the crap you have on hand and the lives of those immediately around you better".
  Look, I am not a globalist anarchist. I believe in well structured, effective democratic governments. Maybe I was the right age to look at the EU and think that those don't have to be held to the absurd liberal idea of the nation-state,and that wherever a collective of humans have a common interest there should be governance structured to work with other layers of organization to improve things and enforce rights within that sphere. There is nothing magical about the nation-state layer of government that makes it more spiritually attuned to identity or the needs of the people. It's all administrative stuff as far as I'm concerned.
I don't know, it's kind of like how people like to support their local football team. I think tribalism is somewhat ingrained in our brains. I can't say it's entirely logical, but it seems kind of baked-in to people at some level, like a leftover from pre-history.
- Well, yeah, but so are plenty of other gross things and you don't see me out there raiding coastal villages just because we've spent longer taking things from each other by force than enforcing some peaceful, democratic social contract.
  To be clear, I'm not disagreeing, we have tribalism baked into us. It just happens to suck and we should strive to break past our built-in biases.
Patriotism is the little sibling of nationalism, and the boundaries are fluid. I will never understand why people are proud of other people's accomplishments and make them their own. Or is it because people were shat on somewhere else in the world than everyone else? Makes absolutely no sense.
I mean, it's just fireworks. The US does a lot more creepy jingoistic things than fireworks. How many other nations celebrate things by scaring all the local pets? It can't be that uncommon...
- Things, yeah. National symbology, not as much.
  I'll say that I agree with you, though. Americans do way creepier stuff. The first time I attended a US sporting event it felt exactly like being trapped in some ritual for a religion I don't understand. They may as well have been ripping off some poor guy's still beating heart before lowering him into lava and watching it spontaneously burst into flame, for all I cared. I genuinely didn't know what to do with myself for the entire duration of the thing.
  I've never been to school there, either. I imagine watching a bunch of children recite their daily indoctrinations must be creepy AF. I'm not sure if it actually happens, though. It's never in American movies.

It's been decades since I've cared about the 4th as an actual holiday. Now it's just a day that I don't have to work.

Good day to march on your White House, perhaps…
- I thought about this too. In the past I used to go to protests because I felt that if our leaders saw the protest that they might change their mind about something.
  Now, so many of our citizens are so insane, they think you won't actually protest unless George Soros pays you. I also can't picture Trump seeing a protest and saying "I think I'll reconsider..." It feels more futile than ever.

Celebrating America hasn't been something to be proud of since before 2001. We had a couple of high points during Obama, but nothing that tipped the scales.

I'm personally disgusted by this place, and anytime I see someone with an American flag anywhere on their person or property, I immediately assume they're a conservative and I think lesser of them. I know that this isn't a reality, but that is what the American flag means to me, and I assume quite a few others.

Absolutely like that for me. Or Christians. If I know you're a Christian within 15 min of meeting you, we are not going to be friends.
- There a very few notably religious people that I associate with. I have a coworker that was a pastor for years and is still religious. He approaches it in the way I think it should be. We discuss religion as a theory, he doesn't push or tell people what to believe. His belief is that God has his plans and that's between him and each person. If every religious person lived like him, I'd have a lot less issue with it. I don't agree with many of his other beliefs that are born from his religious background, but he's not trying to impose them on anyone or prevent anyone from living their lives.
  Other than him, and even still sometimes him, I agree with you. It's like a scarlet letter that was put on volunteerily to say, "hey, I'm a dick and my beliefs are correct and apply to everyone."
- In my lifetime, I’ve met ONE very religious Christian who wasn’t a hypocrite. ONE. He was a very nice guy, though, and I hope he and his family are doing well.
  The remaining 99.9% of the time, I’m absolutely with you.
The people who complain the loudest about disrespecting the flag are the same people who ruined it in the first place.
- Burning it in a discarded toilet next to a truck stop is less disrespectful than this.
- If those people didn't have ~~hippcrasy~~ hypocrisy, they'd have nothing.... Well, they'd still have racism, bigotry, and a bunch of other shitty attributes I guess.

why celebrate independence day?

it was supposed to be about gaining independence from tyranny.

We're back with kings and tyrants.

I've said it before and I'll say it again, but HOW THE FUCK could I EVER be proud of this country anymore??? We've done nothing to deserve respect or patriotism.

Then maybe it's a day to protest, not to celebrate. Maybe the best way could have been doing a full strike that stopped the country and doing also protests in the streets.
- Why are you attacking a person who obviously is opposed to the current administration? Like, I understand your sentiment, but this person ain't the one.

I'm a USAF vet. My ancestors literally fought in the revolutionary war, and signed The Declaration of Independence. I'm going through the motions this year, but I don't feel it at all. I'm pissed that we're multiple stages into a nazi regime. I'm profoundly flabbergasted at how anyone could be for this. How anyone that is for it, can't see that they're going to be the "out" party. Some already are seeing it.

I'm incredibly disappointed that the news has gotten so out of touch that they just rolled over and lapped up the rhetoric. Local news is all sunshine and rainbows while ICE kidnaps people, and a corrupt POtuS breaks the constitution left and right. While he deploys military against its own citizens. While rights are stripped, aided by a corrupt SCOTUS. While the rich get richer off of our backs. While the checks and balances are obliterated.

stop “going through the motions,” then? do something?? anything!????
idk tbh anytime i see someone act as surprised as you are at this point it’s someone who believed, strongly, in the noble lies fed to us. i don’t mean to judge you pointedly, but knowing you’re an air force vet… doesn’t exactly inspire confidence in the counterpoint to that opinion.
i came from a family with a lot of military brats so im confident in saying 99% of people who enlist are either doing so out of economic desperation (aka coercion) or they’re dumb enough to believe the shit the recruiters/propoganda/government spew. if i offend… that’s fine. i have respect for the trauma, both physical and mental, that vets have gone through but i think you guys aren’t just cogs in a machine and are morally culpable for what you’re involved in doing. i respect the people on an individual basis, but spit on the org as a whole.
anyway idk not to babble on and on but point being maybe the euros are right when they say none of us have the balls to do what needs to be done. people won’t even say what needs to be said because they fear losing their jobs and careers due to corporate, dystopic surveillance of their every word. it’s the most milquetoast acceptance of literal fascism in history and your comment and the behavior you espouse is exactly why they’re able to do it.
don’t get me wrong, i’m not casting stones. i am not without sin either. i’m sitting here shitposting on the internet instead of marching. i’m also part of the problem; but it’s time we start calling it out instead of getting offended at the notion we are just letting it happen.
people won’t even say what needs to be said because they fear losing their jobs and careers due to corporate, dystopic surveillance of their every word.
in this spirit i’ll be the first to say. fuck ice. i won’t self-police myself for thought crime anymore. the first chance i get to kill an ice agent im taking, and every true fucking patriot should feel the same. it’s time to water the tree of liberty, man.
- I see where you're at. I take no offense. I definitely could be doing more. I can't work either, so it isn't like I don't have the time. Physical issues are my only real hold back. My enlistment was fear of being trapped in an abusive home, as well as feeling like high school didn't offer enough of an education to prepare me. We both have the luxury of doing what we're doing.
  However, I offer a few counter points.
  What does killing 1 ICE "officer" accomplish? How does that affect change in the right direction? Does this cause others to do the same and follow suit?
  We need more that I don't think we're at the point of accomplishing yet. We need a full on civil war. One that I'm not sure how we get to kick off, all at the same time, all across the nation, without it fizzling out quickly.
  The problem then comes in how to coordinate that. How do we communicate, nation wide, in a way that is not vulnerable to monitoring and disruption by the very place we're trying to change? How do we coordinate arming and supplies? How do we coordinate movements and operations?
  We can't stop at just POtuS either. 99% of it needs to go. Dem leadership has been largely sitting on the bloody nubs that they try to "reach across the aisle" with. SCOTUS and most all other courts are compromised. Plus the billionaires, the behind the scenes assholes, and even state and local governments. It all needs a clean sweep.
  We have too comfortable of a life. We're too complacent. We were too far removed from the fascism that spilled over in Europe. We were too padded. It didn't really hit us, in either world war, back here. Our troops came back home and went back to regular life as usual. We had a civil war, but we didn't punish any of the perpetrators. That led us right back where we're at. At the time though, you could survive on your own. Support a family off of the land. There wasn't much of an infrastructure. There was no pain to be felt by the general populace (loss of life aside).
  I do think we'll get to full on armed conflict. I feel as though mid terms will be the kicker. I just don't know if armed conflict is where we're at yet. Not that I don't think we should be. It's that the general populace is too comfortable. We, apparently, need our lives to hurt more. To be affected more. Is it sad? Absolutely. Is it very much against everything that the founding fathers envisioned, especially when drafting up the 2nd? Absolutely. They would be completely disgusted with all of us. Myself included.
- If you want to be effective at changing the system, killing random ICE Nazis won’t do it. Everyone here is advocating peaceful protest, but that also won’t do it - or at least, not by itself.
  Instead, consider direct action - sabotage of the means of production that prop up the fascist state.
  Take a listen to Rev Left’s interview with Palestine Action to learn what I’m talking about: https://revolutionaryleftradio.libsyn.com/size/5/?search=Palestine+action
- I find the bit about believing the lies we're fed as somewhat naive. We're all on a journey, and everyone starts in a different place, with unique foundations.
  My current opinions vary wildly from those held 20 years ago. Change is a good thing, and I think it should be expected as the norm.

I haven't felt patriotic for July 4 since I was a teenager. And I grow more aliented every year.

He seems to be the pinnacle of US presidents. It has only been going down since him.

What the fuck would I have to be proud of? The US has been on a downward trend for a long time and that's accelerating

Yeah but before, we could eat BBQ and blow off fireworks and pretend like America is going to fix itself.
Literally nobody I know is doing a cook out.
We have some scheduled on July 12th.
- What's July 12th?
I hear you and I agree

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.

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.
That's what happens if you stick with a quarter-millennium old prototype of a semi-democratic system.
The constitution was revolutionary and ground-breaking, a quarter millennium ago. But still running that old piece of toilet paper as the basis of a democratic system in 2025 is like driving a Ford Model T today and claiming that it still is the latest and greatest automobile ever created.
- I always find irony in the fact that the US helped set up better forms of government in the countries it fought in WW2, Japan and Germany, than it could make better in its own country.
- In terms an American can understand: "Imagine a car..."
- This is why we have constitutional amendments. It's been extended a good bit over the last centuries. The tools are there but nobody wants to, or can agree on how to, use them.

State-level patriotism is always bullshit to begin with.

That's how you're tricked into loyalty based on the most arbitrary reasons.

Be the messenger of humanity and get curious about the Universe. People are brothers, and there's no pride in being born in one plot of land over the other.

If that's your reaction we need even more murder jets to do a fly over and the already ridiculously sized freedom flags will get even bigger!
But seriously, patriotism is an unnatural artificial and cultivated concept.
Indeed to be used by the state.
- The state should be you, the citizens.

I haven't "celebrated" the fourth in nearly a decade for this reason. On top of that fireworks are pretty bad for everything and those with PTSD.

On top of that fireworks are pretty bad for everything and those with PTSD.
My coworkers dog would thank you very much as well for not shooting off fireworks. He said he usually drives out of town for a few hours until it dies down because his dog gets terrified :(
- Yeah, forgot to mention pets. All of mine hate the fireworks, so it makes for a miserable time all around.
- And it's not just pets either, wildlife also gets affected by firework

As an immigrant to the US, I've always found the blind patriotism commonplace here to be very strange. It feels even more alienating now than ever before.

Common in an authoritarian, warmongering police state.
For them it's invariably other countries that get this label, they can't think outside the box bcs of their propaganda.

I’ve never been more ashamed to be an American.

I'm a-shamed to be an A-merican,
Where at least now I can't see.
And I won't forget the libs who cried,
Who gave that right to me.
- Lemmy sings
well, at least you've got the knowledge that I'm proud of you for that

Our country is under MAGA Nazis rule, and that is nothing to celebrate. Independence Day should be a Day of Resistance, until the MAGA Nazis lose their control.

Havent felt proud to be an American in a long while. I'm proud of loving thy neighbor as myself, not lining the pockets of billionaires. I hate that I'm powerless to do much. Representative democracy? My ass. No one represents me. They're all aristocrats. "it's one banana, Michael. What could it cost, $10?"

I'm not bitter about it at all. /s

Kinda interesting how you US-Americans have a certain day for being even more patriotic than the average US-patriotism rest of the time. As a German I personally haven't felt patriotic at any point in my life and most of the people I know (probably more left-leaning than German average) always looked at your patriotism (espacially on July 4th) with a certain lack of understanding. Why even be patriotic? Why always raise the US-flag? Why are there Florida men running through hurricanes with an US-flag? I know independence and stuff, but still why celebrate your patriotism even more on a specific date, even as a more left-leaning person?

I mean, I'd think of it as like being proud of your home and the accomplishments of the country. That doesn't seem very odd to me. It's just that lately, I feel like as a nation we are just making so many mistakes and I feel ashamed, not proud of the country.
I have no enthusiasm to raise the US flag this July 4th, excepting maybe showing it upside down as a sign of distress.
When I think about the US and its future, I just get a sinking feeling and I don't feel very happy about it. I'm ashamed how far this country has fallen in the past two decades.
- It hasn’t really fallen, it’s just saying the quiet part out loud for once.
- proud of your home and the accomplishments of the country
  Don't really understand that either. I could understand celebrating the date at which you got an united democracy, that's certainly an accomplishment. Even that happend a quarter millennium ago, you (even your grandmother) didn't take part in it and nowadays there's no British monarchy you can annoy by being a democracy, but celebrating democracy as a concept always is great. But you don't do that. All what I see from the Atlantic Ocean's other side is some people celebrating something which is written under "Nationality" in their passports. I personally can't celebrate something as complex/indefinite as a country. I don't think complex really is the best word for it, but what I mean is that countries never are only good and also "country" itself is a term so obscure and indefinite. The country existed for nearly 250 years, billions of people lived in it and some terrible stuff happend in and because of it. Wars and crimes and war crimes of leading personell, etc. Surely also some good stuff, but how to seperate that? You simply can't. Is Ronald Reagan part of what you're celebrating, is Donald Trump part of it? Is democracy part of it? Is some random 1800s-farmer part of it? Are people even part of it and if no why? Are the country's borders part of it? Is the tree standing in your backyard part of it? You can't ignore the killing of civilians in Vietnam war while including democracy or can you? What's home? Is it your family? Your house? Both?
  One thing is for sure: You aren't the country, you just live at some place on the world which happens to be territory of something named "USA". Same for me, I have been born at some place which happens to be territory of something called "Germany". Why should I be proud about the place where I was born? That's no achievement, I didn't even contribute to it. I'm proud that I managed to contribute to democracy by protesting and voting. I also felt proud about the A I got in some elementary school test. I'm really proud about switching from Windows to Arch Linux in less than 2 hours. I may some day feel proud for my children while watching them doing something great. I contributed to all of this more or less directly and I can feel proud about it for that reason. But why should I feel proud about a country? Germany is nothing I'm responsible for, the (current path of the) USA is nothing you are responsible for. If you were responsible for it, why shouldn't I be too?
  We can't feel proud about it, we can't feel ashamed for it, because it isn't our fault. However we can change the current situation. Changing the world, having the courage to try it, is something we can feel proud about.
July 4th is the day our nation was founded which is what merits the fanfare. I would also say that the "displays of patriotism" you may see are largely cherry picked examples. Your typical american doesn't wear american flag regalia, much less own an american flag and wave it around.
Right now, the reason you are seeing such a pronounced amount of patriotism for Independence day, and I use that term loosely, is due to it being both the 250th anniversary and the current unpopular administration trying to project an alternate reality where they are in tune with the will of the people and establish legitimacy.
There is a lot that can probably be said about the erosion of patriotism in the US as it was co-opted by conservative groups in order to push unpopular policies throughout our nations brief span of existence and it likely ties into the destruction of our education system, but I'd rather let someone more knowledgable tackle that topic.
- I deliberately exaggerated, but I dont't understand patriotism in general (see comment under OPs response on my comment).
The USA has never had an event to make Americans from shame for the country. It isn't like the USA hasn't done shameful acts, but there hasn't been a reconging of what the country has done.
Most of us just like the day off from work, or the holiday pay if you have to work. and that's where it ends.

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.

I think that’s normal considering everything going on.

By the way, I live in the CA bay area. Interestingly I went grocery shopping today and no kidding -I felt like I was in a small town in the midwest or something. I looked around and it was mostly older white people shopping, like you couldn’t help but notice. I told my bf, wtf are we in Idaho or something lol this doesn’t feel like the bay area?

I think there’s a combination of people being tired of increasing inflation and burnt out by the barrage of shit going on in the news. I don’t imagine minorities, particularly immigrant families are feeling very patriotic right now. Or people are straight up worried about ICE kidnappings. Which by the way, I heard from a neighbor that ICE has been walking into the hospital she works at and waiting outside to snatch people. Terrible…

Patriotism leads to nationalism and racism. Fuck patriotism.

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

I believe you're supposed to fly a flag upside down in times of distress.

I think it would be wildly powerful for some cities to flip their flags for the 4th.

I've never had a flag out front of my house.
The day that orange fucker kicks the bucket, I'm putting in a flagpole and flying that bitch at full mast.
My shotgun's flag is nailed upside down.

I've never felt patriotic. It's not like I chose to be here and, frankly, the more I learned about the rest of the world, the more I dislike about my own home.

Also fireworks are boring af unless you're manipulating them to be more dangerous and blowing things up. Like hammering down a whistler and tossing it into a porta potty where an ICE agent is taking a shit.

I'm going out to a march on the 4th of July. We're protesting for independence from America

I'm surprised there aren't massive protests scheduled for July 4.

I believe there are

Canadian here and we celebrated the fuck out of our national holiday which just passed. We have a stronger feeling of solidarity than we've felt in a long time. Despite the threats of annexation and shifting tariffs, we are feeling more hopeful than we have in many years, possibly because we're making new friends in the global sandbox and coming into our own power now instead of constantly kowtowing to the USA in all matters.

Except a few folks in Alberta who would love to be part of the modern Nazi regime. Fuck them, tho.

Personally, I'm not feeling that same vibe. I think the solidarity against the US is a very good thing, but the sheer amount of ways Canada is just "America Light" is very depressing. Its to the point that our flag has been so sullied by absolutely shit tier movements in the last 5 years that I can't stand to see it anymore.
Every time I see a private flag pole, bumper stickers or anything kind of patriotic merch my knee jerk reaction is "I bet this dude's a fuckwad." I know that I'm painting with a huge and shitty brush but I just can't even fight against it anymore. I know it's wrong. I just don't care, and that makes me sad.
I live comfortably here, but given even a minutely convenient reason to emigrate I think I'd take it.
Canada is a car infested, anti-human shit hole just like America. To paraphrase Steve Harris of Iron Maiden a bit "We oil the jaws of the ~~war~~ capitalist machine and feed it with our ~~babies~~ immigrants."
- I've felt like that for years, too. But Canadians boycotting en masses, then soundly rejecting mini-Trump has given me hope. Since then, our leader has been reaching out to other countries to form new relationships and deals. We just signed a rare earth minerals deal with Greenland, of all places.
  Yes, Canada has been hamstrung by US demands but the vice-grip they've had over us has deteriorated. This wouldn't have happened if not every single other country in the world was going through the same thing. So it feels a bit like a rebirth to me, with the possibility of finally being able to come into our own as a nation.

People around the country have stood up to make change.

Our politicians haven't done good for the people.

Take back the power.

Join a No Kings March on July 4th

Celebrate the awesome people of this country, join in.

We want massive change. Politicians may act deaf to anything but money. The money flow changes when we stand together

Being a Brit, for years I've jokingly referred to the 4th of July as 'Rebellion Day' to my USian friends. Not sure I'm joking any more, just hopeful. Go on. Rebel!

Overthrow your tyrannical government, you won't.

Same I will be working on the 4th so I’ll just be making good hoilday pay while most of my trump supporting coworkers will be celebrating the downfall of this country. Fuck this shit, fuck everyone who is onboard with the current situation of this country. Stay safe everyone.

Going to be spending the 4th building guillotines in my garage

Can I help?
- The more the merrier

Feeling patriotic towards a country of traitors.

US best values have been lost long time 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.

That's the majority of Americans. Beyond what was almost certainly a stolen election (large scale, billionaire-bankrolled propaganda, campaigns, voter disenfranchisement, and probably voting machine manipulation), Trump's disapproval rating since starting that shit has skyrocketed.
We are in an awful fascist quagmire of a situation that we are going to have to fight to free ourselves from, but that doesn't mean that the actions of this administration actually represent us.

Aww. Please celebrate - don't give the orange turd the satisfaction of destroying yet more American culture. Also, I won't be happy posting my favourite annual meme:

But celebrate what? The opening of our concentration camps and the country's fall to the stupidest dictator imaginable? I suppose we could drink to the ashes...

I haven't believed in America in a few years now. Certainly not since the pandemic. As far as I'm concerned, the state I'm from is the only place I owe any allegiance to. The other states can go fuck themselves, especially the red ones

Because of Patriotism they had it so easy to turn it into Nationalism and now turn it to fascism.

I normally enjoy some fireworks every year, but have zero interest this year.

Why feel patriotic for a country that literally stole/claimed what wasn't theirs to being with? Never felt such a thing for this so called "first world".

Whose was it? At what point in history was ownership established and why was it not the previously displaced people's instead? How long does it take to establish ownership, and what means are justified to do so? Who exactly is the United States anyway?
- World history for millennia has shown that the conquerors write the rules. Ownership is established immediately upon victory. It matters not if you're a yanomamo tribe living 1000 years ago or a modern military 1st world country. The victors write the rules.

I was hoping everyone would turn out for another No Kings event but I guess too many people complained.

If we can’t be proud of the mess we’re in now, maybe we can be proud of the people who speak up, who try to create change. Maybe we can hark back to our origins tearing down oppressive political and corporate systems. Maybe we can hold up the mythical ideas that used to unite us and fight to make them true. It’s our duty as patriotic citizens to set our country on the right path toward one we can be proud of.

WELL SAID!

Patriotism is jingoism at this point. Haven't felt that for decades.

I imagine almost everyone who's not American, like 95.5% of the world population.

youre not alone

https://lemmy.world/post/32286445

This link is broken
- hmmmm try this
  https://lemmy.world/post/32286445
  the other link is from an instance with a log in requirement

The ONLY reason I give a shit about July 4th this year is that it’s a long weekend and the last chance we’ll have to spend with family before we move out of state in two weeks.

I’m even glad it’s supposed to rain the entire time, so I won’t even feel pressured to celebrate with fireworks!

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.

I read a few places (I am non american) that there will be no kings protests all over the states on July 4th.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/2025/06/24/anti-trump-protest-in-july-is-the-next-no-kings-july-4-the-latest-july-17-protest-good-trouble/84324250007/

https://time.com/7299015/anti-trump-administration-protests-united-states-july-4-independence-day/

4th of July? You mean the Ungrateful Colonists Insurgence Day?

I'm not doing anything for the forth. Fuck America, I am not celebrating my country, because my country wants me dead. Fuck em.

Not American. But I don't even know when my country's national day is. I know there's one because they always do a military parade with the king and always something goes wrong, and we laugh about it. But I can even tell what day it is until I see it on the news.

You have a good king/gov if they arent bashing swallow patriotism into your skull in school... where are you from?
- Spain.
  King is a moron, but happily he is just politically powerless.
  I mean, there is that kind of nationalism patriots here. We have our share of people talking about "bringing back the spanish empire" or "bring back Franco". And they surely obsess about national day. I just don't care.

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.

i'm also staying home. if someone "how dare you!"'s you, tell them you like celebrating not-fascist countries.

personally, i think i'll adopt and celebrate mexico's holidays

Sounds like a great day for a false flag attack to solidify the masses against a perceived threat.

I'm boycotting America this year.

I get double pay for the holiday, yay!

I mean I always stay home because I'm an introvert, but yeah, mirroring what other's have already said in this thread, I haven't had much to feel patriotic about since at least the Dubya Bush years. So probably more than 20 years of not feeling it.

It's been almost 20 years since I felt patriotic. I mostly just comfort the dog and hope the yahoos don't accidentally burn my house down.

I would be very concerned about anybody who is feeling patriotic this year

being hopeful and not having given up is one thing. but patriotic? entirely shameful

There's nothing left to be proud of. Just vague platitudes about freedom and performative military worship that have been socially beaten into people since 2001. I have no faith remaining in my fellow countrymen. I am unable to clearly see a future for myself living here as I am now. What is left to be patriotic about?

All the true patriots are dead. They were buried long ago. Modern patriotism is a marketing gimmick. I refuse to be a party to it.

I haven't gone to see fireworks in a few years. Recently I just go to Walmart and buy some big packs and let my kids enjoy lighting them off and just having fun. Plus the long weekend is awesome.

My friends and I use it as an excuse to have a get together. None of us use it to celebrate the United States or its independence.

FYI the Women's March org is hosting "Free America" protests for the July 4th weekend. See the Women's March site here. Some other groups may be organizing protests too, but from what I've read the WM ones are probably the biggest.

If there's not a scheduled protest nearby there's always the option to make a sign and take to a street corner for a solo protest. If you're feeling especially ambitious there's always making a giant sign to prop up against the chain link at an interstate overpass (I've never done this but it looks fun).

Right now I'd call my mood more embarrassed than patriotic.

Call for independence from everything GOP and Trump on July 4th?

Yep. Staying home, donating, or protesting if something’s going on. It’s just a long weekend to me now. No flag flying at this home for sure… unless it’s a No Kings flag.

I thought you guys don't celebrate it that much any more? Heard it got replaced with a Trump Birthday Military Parade Day or someshit. And it sucked so much that nobody is doing holidays anymore. Sorry, I'm in Europe, the news are coming in slowly from the US these days

Not sure what you're referring to, but the 4th hasn't really changed. Maybe you're confusing it with the (laughable) military parade Trump did for his own birthday?
Personally I've long found patriotism to be a pretty abhorrent concept, but I've always enjoyed the opportunity to spend time with my family regardless. To me, the 4th is much more about community than it is the country. And while this country is fucking awful, I do have a pretty great community around me that I'm grateful for.

I'm celebrating Happy Fireworks Day!

I've got new neighbors that are probably about to hear, "Fire in the hole!" unironically for the first time. You can actually see the shockwave from my blackpowder signal cannon. Good chance the cops show up.

I usually use the cannon to vaporize 10oz of kerosene for a nice mushroom cloud of fire, but I'll have to see how it goes.

I'm a pyro.

Y'all wear safety glasses if having bottle rocket fights or roman candle duels.

I live abroad, so I can just ignore the whole stupid thing. 😄

Yeah I’m just sick of all the greed and racism. I just want some MANSA (Make America not suck anymore)

I would like MANA (Make America Nice Again)

Best day to begin taking your country back. Too bad the couch is so comfy.

You know there are people out there who are actually getting off their couch and fighting?Active revolution isn’t for everyone, but you don’t have to keep normalizing laziness and cowardice. You can instead use your voice to encourage action.
- Good energy here.
  Thank you.
- I have. I get berated. Fuck america.

Oh goodness no. America has fallen, what the fuck does July 4th mean.

I think you mean No Kings Day.

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.

Always have been, always will be.

The cost of living is going up, the housing market is a nightmare

Don't worry, once they deported or killed all the ~~Jews~~ illegals the prices will surely come down.

You're not a wallet. You're an automaton producing value for capitalists.
They dribble a little money into your wallet each fortnight so you can buy subscriptions and delivered take away.
- Fair.

I've decided to actively take the flag back from conservatives. There are some good ideals and good people in this country, and good people who fought for those ideals. I'm not proud of most of what the government has done and all of what it is doing now, but I can be proud of the people who want to get along with everyone and fight for diversity and freedom and the good things that should be fought for.

How many will die on July 4th? What parade will be targeted? Who will be the next mass murderer? Stay home for your safety people. Too many crazies out there now to do anything in public.

We used to have porch lights twinkling in red, white, and blue all July. This year, we're just flashing blue adamently. And that only because our lights can't radiate black.

Careful, you might get mistaken for Thin Blue Line folks.

Family is doing a get-together but if I hear any patriotic bullshit, I'm gone, but with them, it's unlikely to even hear the holiday they're gathering for mentioned. They just needed an excuse to party.

Me, but not from USA, so....

Canadian here. I spent most of July 1 in bed! Was not feeling patriotic! Did not watch any fireworks.

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

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

I don't even like to call myself American. I'm a veteran, and it turned me off of America more than anything.

No. Though I'm not American which may impact that

that's really unamerican of you
- Fuck yeah

Unless a large protest is happening in my city, I'm not planning to be outside on July 4.

Plan it

You know what will make you feel better? Learn about early American history, specifically the Revolutionary War and the period shortly before it. Ordinary citizens conquered one of the most powerful militaries in the world. Ordinary citizens. People like you and me. There was no “perfect savior” to lead them, either - George Washington was in over his head at first, but was smart enough to learn from his mistakes.

What’s going on now is nothing to celebrate, but the ani-establishment heroes of the past certainly are.

Learn about early American history, specifically the Revolutionary War and the period shortly before it.
The Regulator Movement in North Carolina, also known as the Regulator Insurrection, War of Regulation, and War of the Regulation, was an uprising in Provincial North Carolina from 1766 to 1771 in which citizens took up arms against colonial officials who they viewed as corrupt. Historians such as John Spencer Bassett argue that the Regulators did not wish to change the form or principle of their government, but simply wanted to make the colony's political process more equal. They wanted better economic conditions for everyone, instead of a system that heavily benefited the colonial officials and their network of plantation owners mainly near the coast
During the American Revolution, many prominent Regulators became Loyalists, like James Hunter who fought at the Battle of Moore's Creek Bridge. ... The Regulators notably were never against the monarchy - their issue was with local corruption and elites abusing them.
Dunmore's Proclamation was formally proclaimed on November 15. Its publication prompted between 800 and 2,000 slaves (from both Patriot and Loyalist owners) to run away and enlist with Dunmore. It also raised a furor among Virginia's slave-owning elites (including those who had been sympathetic to Britain), to whom the possibility of a slave rebellion was a major fear.
Later British commanders over the course of the American Revolutionary War followed Dunmore's model in enticing slaves to defect—the 1779 Philipsburg Proclamation, which applied across all the colonies, was more successful. By the end of the war, at least 20,000 slaves had escaped from plantations into British service
Shays's Rebellion was an armed uprising in Western Massachusetts and Worcester in response to a debt crisis among the citizenry and in opposition to the state government's increased efforts to collect taxes on both individuals and their trades.
When the Revolutionary War ended in 1783, Massachusetts merchants' European business partners refused to extend lines of credit to them and insisted that they pay for goods with hard currency, despite the country-wide shortage of such currency. Merchants began to demand the same from their local business partners, including those operating in the market towns in the state's interior. Many of these merchants passed on this demand to their customers, although Governor John Hancock did not impose hard currency demands on poorer borrowers and refused to actively prosecute the collection of delinquent taxes. The rural farming population was generally unable to meet the demands of merchants and the civil authorities, and some began to lose their land and other possessions when they were unable to fulfill their debt and tax obligations. This led to strong resentments against tax collectors and the courts, where creditors obtained judgments against debtors, and where tax collectors obtained judgments authorizing property seizures.
Just remember that the American Revolution was a bourgeois revolution that failed to address many of the underlying economic conditions plaguing the colonies from the outset. Yes, the American merchant class beat back the British Monarchists. But no, that wasn't a happily-ever-after for the proletariat of the nascent nation.

I'm feeling patriotic enough to burn US flags and I'm not even from the US!

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

Don't throw out the baby with the bath water. Nobody has ever liked everything about the US. Not even George Washington. If you can't appreciate the good about the country just because you're paying attention to the bad currently then you should have never celebrated it in the first place because the bad was always there.

The things you dont like about America don't have to be your complete view of the country or its history. If there is even a small thing you have ever liked about the country then the 4th is for celebrating that.

Celebrate our victories. Celebrate our culture and our successes. Celebrate how mad people are going to be at you for celebrating. Celebrate that there are like-minded people elsewhere in the country. Real Americans in hard times and with doubts. Celebrate our history and our positive contributions to the rest of the world.

Celebrate a possible and hopeful future of what comes after.

This, but OP, I think, pointed to the issue maybe without realizing it:
If you feel you are just a.cog in a capitalist machine and not a citizen of a country, why would you celebrate?
It feels like Fox news and all the wedge issues have done their work and destroyed our sense of collective citizenship. Now the GOP is doing their corporate owners' bidding.
- If you feel you are just a.cog in a capitalist machine and not a citizen of a country, why would you celebrate?
  I do feel like a cog. I don't feel like a valued citizen -- I just feel like some schmuck the administration and/or multinational corporations can siphon money from. The attitude of the USA doesn't feel like "Let's work together to make a great place!" Lately, it feels more to me like "Fuck everyone else, I want to get paid!"
  It feels almost abusive.
  One of the craziest things to me is it's 100% demonstrable the USA spends some of the most money per person on health care and does not get anywhere close to the top outcomes in health care, but if you ask people on the street, many of them will say USA is #1 in healthcare.
  That's the point where patriotism turns the corner into delusion.
I'm sorry but that makes me vomit in my mouth thinking about it. There is NOTHING good or right with this nation. Genocide against the natives, slavery, bigotry & ignorance, and then endless wars and division. This nation is the United Snake.
- I'm sorry your view of things is so bleak. I'll fire off an Excalibur round for you Friday.
I liked when we stopped putting immigrants in interment camps after WWII. They're building new one now so what am I meant to celebrate again?

How about you stage a huge protest, and this time you don't leave until Fuckwad McClowncar is out of the Whitehouse?

Not much of a social safety net. Take that much time off work and things are going to get uncomfortable pretty fast. Last I heard, it's like 1/3 of America that is two paychecks away from losing their housing. It's sad.
- And what do you think will happen to pretty much all of them in one or two years time?
  Come to think of it, i guess the US made a perfect system to quell protests; Just make it impossible for people to take time off work, nobody will be able to protest even your most sadistic fascist laws
- Rent costs half a month's pay, so that checks out.

I’m excited, it’s British Thanksgiving!

Britains, thanks for giving up.
The founding immigrants

I'm not celebrating patriotism. I'm celebrating a 3 day weekend.

The last patriotism got squeezed out of me a good decade ago.

I could give two shits about this holiday.

Honestly nationalism for the US has always been kinda gross to me. We've never really had much to be proud of as a nation historically.

Well in that case there probably isn't a single nation ever that should be proud.

I don't know if I ever did but I certainly don't now.

Can't type.... Robot AI dog is following me....gotta keep running. Freedom!

Not at all, but I'll take the paid day off

Celebrate the Birth Of Your Country By Blowing Up A Small Part Of It

- Florida is well on its way

As if there was a reason to celebate that cancer country any other year

I'll make a nice meal and reflect on what's driving us further from the country we're supposed to be. Thinking of it more like memorial day until there's something to celebrate again.

I just want my day off so I can have morning sex with my partner and set fireworks off with my kids.

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.

It’s a free show. With the right people it’s good, but I understand your feeling.

This is all I've talked about at work.
What are we supposed to take pride in specifically? I suppose pride in our resilience--there is great potential to learn from our repetitious failures surely

Yup.

I'm kinda the opposite, but I have the same reasons. I love where I live, I just wish they'd do better and I do what I can to help. I don't need to wave a flag, people can see where I stand by what I do. If that's not patriotism I don't know what is.

I'm a pyro by nature, and love things that go boom. But yeah, not doing anything tomorrow.

While walking the dog I keep tabs on houses that have flags up, and there has been an uptick for about a month now. I assume it’s for the 4th, but I’m curious who will keep their flags up.

I’ve also noticed that some people keep putting theirs up then taking them down, and I wonder what changes…

The only celebration I will engage in this year is protest or subversive guerilla action

I'm gonna be drunk enough to quiet the fireworks. Every 4th in LA, it's like a war zone.

i never understood how people especially can be proud of once country. in Europe being a patriot is very much frowned upon.

Lot of people I know are staying home, Generally on the 4th, for the last decade trumpers get black out drunk and end up killing people with their boats and gaint trucks.

I would welcome a brain drain to Europe.

Nobody i know is hosting or attending a formal celebration, aside from one person attending a "Fuck Trump" bbq instead.

Considering I dont live in the US, yes

I have never really felt patriotic for that date, June 6th is more apropriate, or even better, june 20th (this year)

bravely seating down

yeah. but nothing to do with the country this is personal for me

Crossing my fingers for the local firework display barge catch fire in the bay. I just want a fun omen.

I’m traveling outside the US. Got a decent price on the flights too

Yep, not celebratin shit. Wife wants to invite friends over mostly cuz it’s a free day off.

I've never celebrated the 4th of July because I've been patriotic, I've done it because it's fun. When I stopped believing in God I didn't stop celebrating Christmas. In the same way Christmas is about gifts and seeing family, the 4th of July is about fireworks and seeing friends.

"Come all ye young rebels And list while I sing For the love of one's country Tis a terrible thing It banishes fear with the Speed of a flame And makes us all part of The patriot's game...."

it's just a day off to me, a chance to get wasted lol

I hope you keep this energy when your country does something stupid that you don't agree with.

God I hate Lemmy sometimes. Go buy some fireworks, get the grill out, and hang with family. I don't fucking care if you're not into it. Just do it.

Get off the screen for a few hours. You need it

I don’t fucking care if you’re not into it. Just do it.
What's the point in doing it if I'm not into it? Who am I doing it for at that point?
- Your own mental health
I dont need an occation to touch grass and meet friends
- Op does
You’re in the wrong sub.
No
- Yes. It'll be good for you
How do fireworks help my neighbor's PTSD, let alone my own mental health?
I can grill on my own time, thanks.
- Don't be a Debbie Downer
boom boom out go the lights
Aww, conservadaddy is upset the American tradition is dying of its own consequences. "Just do it 😭" they say.
🎻 🎶
- You should go touch grass too