Patriotism Immigration What is Patriotism Identification pride behavior
Patriotism & Immigration
What is Patriotism? • Identification, pride, behavior, support, national identity, belonging • Jingoism: extreme nationalism, usually in aggressive foreign policy (“chauvinism”. . . you’re superior) • What would Marx say? • Nativism: political policy/ideology that is antiimmigration, xenophobic nationalism, but those who hold these views consider themselves patriots
Immigration in the US • Nearly 11 -12 million unauthorized immigrants in US, about half from Mexico • Since 2000, about 1 million annual legal immigrants • Policy and perspectives? • Xenophobia: fear or hatred of foreigners, often without reason – 1) towards a group present but not considered part of society – 2) cultural
“Goobacks” (2004) • Satire of both extremes in immigration reform debate, but lampoons conservative perspectives – Aging liberal hippie douche v. Pissed off white trash redneck conservative • Commentary on media coverage of immigration • Time-bashing; Timesist • Racialized future immigrants • Logic of debate=orgy
In Goobacks. . . • How do we see patriotism expressed? • How do we see nativism or xenophobia? • Dey terk er jerbs. . . what does it represent?
“Imaginationland” Trilogy • Satire/parody on. . . – US “war on terror” and military – Media and Hollywood directors – Christianity – Al Gore's climate change campaign • Imagination is essential to human life • Unimaginative leadership/simplified “solutions” and policy that don’t consider • Terrorists have control of our imagination
Dreamfinder, Journey to Imagination
3, Critical Thought • Connects imagination to critical thinking – “the ability to cut through the crap and see things clearly” (Kirby p. 30) • Philosophy is thinking critically and creatively and challenge prevailing attitudes • Major theme of SP is creative imagination and combatting small-mindedness • Socrates knew he didn't know, so he asked, and was sentenced to death. Afraid of the unknown
Hoffman on Terrorism • Political aims and motives: calling attention to socio-political inequities and to advance a cause • Physical violence: threat of harm or death • Psychological trauma: mental consequences • Organization: perpetuated by groups • Lack of state: sub-national
Unimaginationland • Post 9/11, a lack of critical thinking in US – Largely based on media and gov. fear inducement and patriotism/jingoism • Trying to anticipate what cannot be anticipated creates anxiety • “Risk is more like a state of becoming real” (Kirby p. 34). • Response to risk: – 1)denial (prevention, US gov. ) 2) apathy (Cartman) 3)transformation (critical thought)
“Cosmopolitan Moment” • When divisions vanish and people come together, “citizens of the world” – Arab Spring, Occupy, Fukushima, Hurricane Katrina. . . others? #BLM, #metoo • First, we pay attention to issues we usually ignore • Second, when we feel same threat/risk as “enemies” we may work with them • Imagination/creative thinking are key here
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