Selling America: Patriotism
Since the terrorist acts of September 11th, Patriotism has suddenly fallen in fashion across America. Flag-waving has become so popular that many small countries are working overtime to manufacture enough American flags to meet demand. Corporations are cashing in on a tragedy and many people are buying in to it. With the intentions of supporting a nation in need, millions of American citizen's have succumbed to the patriotic cries from like individuals who place American flags on their bumpers. By feeding on the words of war from right-wing political figures, beloved U.S. citizens fork out the money to have their own minds brainwashed by political propaganda. Does being united really stop suffering in all parts of the world? Can one become a better person from reading a billboard that says, "United we stand?" What are the proper evasive actions? These questions are over-looked and blind many of the people we co-exist with everyday. Today's capitalist society is as competitive as an avid sports fan, with remote control in hand, on that comfortable chair, right in front of the TV. Take a look any sports team and the amount of all American band-wagon support is present at a time when a team is doing wel
America wants to win the support of citizens, but it also wants to make a pretty penny out of it while guarding assets. Huge corporations such as Pepsi seem to lean against a nation in need by offering products that appeal to the patriotic American. With a niche the size of America you would have to be crazy to pass an opportunity like this. Thus, we find new products to emerge. Flags to stick on your car, flags to hang out of the top of your window, patriotic beanie babies and even "Operation Enduring Freedom" trading cards are all being marketed to the vulnerable American. In the world today it is incredibly easy to be informed or misinformed about the latest headline news. Is this the only news? What else is there to choose from? The various forms of mass media dig material out of a basket nearly the size of the earth, feeding off of what makes a good story. How easy would it be for a story to be manipulated to make a viewer feel patriotic or persuaded? With this known, it is easy to cover up truth -- in a realm, in a continent, in a country -- that is so unknown and so far away. When exposing one to mass media, besides being exposed to an unyielding amount of advertisement, the recipient is also can also only be receiving one person's side of the truth. A patriot must analyze and criticize perspective to create a new perspective that is even closer to the truth. Patriotism can be looked at in differe
Some common words found in the essay are:
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Approximate Word count = 966
Approximate Pages = 4 (250 words per page double spaced)
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