Un-American, Is Patriotism Dead?

The reasoning behind why this term became so popular is because it started as a defense against communism. It began to be used to label liberal authors, who wrote of their opinions on the civil rights movement, anti-war protestors who picketed against the Vietnam War (Conflict), women burning their bras in protest for women’s liberation. If I recall correctly she so happened to interview a by-stander who was watching the whole thing unfold. As long as there are the patriotic, the conservative and of course the extremists this word will never die. The list is endless and the labeling continued, because in the eyes of conservative America the demonstrations, the violence, and the actions of certain people were seen as offensive and given the label of “un-American”. They could use this word loosely among each other to describe anyone who did not fit into their realm of thinking. the terminology of “un-American” was born. No one was really free to do anything around these times in history. , and it was no longer used for just communism. The anti-war demonstrators, the tireless workers of the women’s liberation movement, the gay community uniting a front for their cause, the Chicanos’ fight for their movement, and of course the coming together of the African-Americans who fought fearlessly for their freedom. It was a way to single out people who were different or had different beliefs.

I do not believe that the term of “un-American” has changed all that much. People in society wanted to label someone as “un-American” so that person could be ostracized from their community. I truly believe that the word of “un-American” is so hypocritical, because America was founded on the belief that America equaled FREEDOM! How could people use this word and still believe they lived in a country in which they considered free? The purpose of living in a FREE country is to be able to protest, to voice and to find others who agree with your points of view.