Topic: Libertarianism
Independence Day Is Not For Patriots Independence Day's truly selfish character.by Steven M. Paquin
(libertarian)
Sunday, July 6, 2008
One should distrust those who celebrated Independence Day congregating. Those that formed mobs on D.C.'s streets, monuments' steps, and the National Mall's grass to look up and communally gaze upon the public fireworks display on Independence Day are suspicious. Those that spoke of the honorable feeling of camaraderie, and joined a mass of strangers waving flags and banners on Independence Day are treacherous. Those that spoke of their pride in America on Independence Day should be questioned and challenged. Collective celebrators of Independence Day are horribly misguided, for Independence Day is not for patriots.
A patriot is a collectivist. Firstly, he is a cog in a communal machine based on race, culture, ethnicity, nation, state, etc. Secondly, he is not proud of himself, he is proud of the collective, communal machine, race, culture, ethnicity, nation, state, etc. Pride is satisfaction in achieving what one perceives as virtuous. Therefore, a patriot believes it is virtuous to sacrifice one's self for the sake of a throng. He believes that one's life, liberty, happiness, and property are worthless unless they are surrendered to a mob. Essentially, patriotism is altruism, it is the belief that the individual does not belong to himself but to a collective. Patriotism is suicide, the self-destruction of the individual. Not only is this false and thus vicious, but it is also completely unrelated to Independence Day.
Independence Day is a selfish celebration of the individual. Historically, Independence Day is the date colonists' separated from the British Empire. Therefore, Independence Day celebrates the fact that man may break from a collective without the collective's consent. This right is provided by man's nature as a reasonable, independent individual with the natural rights of life, liberty, pursuit of happiness, and property. Essentially, Independence Day celebrates that man exists for his own sake and no other man. Independence Day celebrates man's freedom from other men.
Consequently, on Independence Day do not patriotically celebrate America. The day does not concern the formation of either America the people or America the state; it concerns the Truth that one is one's own. Instead, remember that a man's life is his own, it belongs to no other. A man's mind is his own, he can choose independently. A man has unique preferences; he may choose for his own sake. Finally, a man labors, extending his life over inanimate objects; thus, he may keep and use items he has earned. In turn, celebrate selfishly on Independence Day. Pursue one's own happiness. Forget the state and unknown fellow citizens. They are never one's concern, and Independence Day celebrates that.
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The views expressed in this
article are those of Steven M. Paquin only and do not represent
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