Patriotism merchants on social media: who appointed them guardians of love for the homeland?
Has patriotism become a commodity? Does proving belonging require a good-conduct certificate from social-media celebrities?
Editorial Team
Akhbar Al Watan 24 | Social opinion
Has patriotism become a commodity traded by some? Does proving belonging to the homeland now require a good-conduct certificate from social-media celebrities?
Some social-media users behave as though they hold patriotism's keys, issuing certificates of loyalty to supporters and accusations against anyone who disagrees.
Stranger still, some measure love for the country by tweet counts, slogans and applause for themselves, as though citizens must prove patriotism before virtual committees elected and authorized by no one.
Who gave you the right to judge people's belonging? Who said those who do not applaud you are less patriotic?
The homeland is not owned by an X account or reserved for a celebrity gathering followers. Citizens do not need permission to express love for their country in their own way.
The irony is that some who proclaim patriotism may be the first to harm its values when they turn disagreement into accusations of betrayal, discussion into insults and belonging into a public auction.
Has silence become betrayal? Is constructive criticism a crime? Does patriotism mean agreeing with the loudest accounts?
The most dangerous feature is not raised voices, but attempts to reduce an entire country to individuals' opinions, as though only they possess truth and everyone else must prove innocence of disagreement.
True patriotism does not need social-media guards or slogan merchants, but action, achievement and respect for people and their differences.
The question worth discussing remains: are they truly defending the country, or are some defending digital influence and using patriotism to silence opponents?
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