Selective patriotism

It was Ramazan, and a friend of mine refused to fast. When I asked why, he said that his doctor had advised against it due to health reasons. Yet, the same friend smoked incessantly. I tried to argue and asked whether the same doctor had advised against smoking as well. He made a poker face and said no such advice was given to him. I am not sure what kind of doctor would not advise against smoking. Even cigarette brands advise against smoking at the end of their ads. Life is a game of what one chooses to believe, practise, avoid and adopt.

Just like religion, citizenship and patriotism are practised quite selectively as well. In the US, a specially tailored form of patriotism is in fashion, especially with the ascension of Trump to the White House. He was really voted in due to the poor situation of the US economy and the miserable conditions that the citizens found themselves in.

Credit card debt had grown over a trillion dollars and even the paycheck-to-paycheck life that was once ridiculed had become an ambitious milestone quite far from the reach of the citizens. Immigrants were not really on people's minds when dealing with the inability to pay their bills. The genocide in Gaza and Elon Musk's tweets also played a serious role in defeating Biden.

However, once Trump started his term, one of the first major things that he did was an intense crackdown on illegal immigrants, legal residents and even naturalised US citizens. ICE raids have become the norm in this society. The broader promise of America First and Make America Great Again (MAGA) did include this racist and violent practice but it meant that the interests of the US would be put ahead of the interests of any other state.

Just like my friend who followed his doctor's advice on fasting but ignored it on smoking, when it comes to Israel, America is not first. The same politicians that make noise about patriotism and making America great again sacrifice all that in the interests of Israel. Ted Cruz, one such politician, proudly said that he had joined the US Senate with the goal of defending Israel and Israeli interests. Jews are disliked by this crowd but not when it comes to Israel.

One US politician is quite interesting. Her name is Marjorie Taylor Greene. She is MAGA on steroids. She supports Trump and his racist anti-immigration policy. She is all about America First. But that same ideology, if that is what one wants to call it, also compels her to question the blind support the US provides Israel. She started making noise against supporting Israel, Ukraine and the genocide in Gaza. She even calls it a genocide, which is a term the mainstream Americans like to avoid uttering. She perhaps does not like immigrants like me in the US, but she doesn't practise a selective belief system. So, as part of that same mindset, she also wants the US focus its own citizens and improve their lives instead of blindly giving Israel billions of dollars when the US itself is drowning in debt.

Moreover, politicians who care about keeping the US safe and loved around the world should also stick to the advertised image of America where it stands against the bullies and supports the oppressed. Supporting Palestine against Israel's terrorist actions is what America — if it truly prides itself on being the saviour of humanity — should be doing. This will not only be the right thing morally, but will also not generate anger against the US, which has always resulted in attacks against innocent Americans. This will be a policy very much in line with America First and MAGA.