Simulation and Simulacra<\/a>:<\/p>\n \nThe whole concept of patriotism is nothing more than a simulacr[um] for the ideals supposedly put forth at the founding of the United States. I would even argue that the Constitution itself is a poor simulacr[um] of the ideal of individual liberty that really motivated the Revolution. So, we go from a passionate defense of individual liberty to the creation of a government designed to represent that ideal, to blind patriotism for that government, to blind loyalty to the President and the flag, to a chubby old guy wearing an American flag T-shirt, who has no idea what liberty is all about. It didn’t take very many generations at all to get to the least common denominator.<\/p>\n A belief in liberty is self-sustaining: it doesn’t require a government to keep it alive. Creating a government to protect liberty is a self-defeating proposition. Government only dilutes the essential essence of the concept, and can only lead to what we have today – idol (some would say ‘idle’) worship of a meaningless symbol with no thought given to its origin. Throw out your Pocket Constitutions – Constitution Worship might seem to be more intellectual, but it’s only a few notches more advanced than that guy in the T-shirt.\n<\/p><\/blockquote>\n Bob Tipton: Serenity blog<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Simulation and Simulacra: The whole concept of patriotism is nothing more than a simulacr[um] for the ideals supposedly put forth at the founding of the United States. I would even argue that the Constitution itself is a poor simulacr[um] of … Continue reading