I hate the jingoism, but I understand it

Bike ride, passing houses, so many neighbors fly the flag.

In many cases it’s a jingoism or a chauvinism, distasteful. But I understand that it represents a communitarian impulse.

Real communitarian placement, solace, grounding is long gone. It’s a natural craving, fulfilled in a bogus, perverted way via identification with the nation-state in our modern mass society.

I crave it, too, but USA Ain’t US.

My “us” shall be grounded in real community.