This is strange for me as a guy from former totalitarian country.
I don't tie my life to free speach. We didn't have it (and we are about to loose it again in EU) and we still lived. It was a dissent, it was dangerous, but we still lived. At least we knew that the state is an enemy.
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I understand from your POV. Now imagine you have it and you’re born with it and it goes away because you were a coward and chose not to say anything. And your children grow up under totalitarianism. That’s the American perspective.
#yestr and what if:
Usually I wouldn’t waste time amplifying a low‑signal debate, but I keep seeing people conflate “anti‑national” with “anti‑American.” Let me set the record straight: being anti‑national means I’m fundamentally distrustful of nationalism as an ideology -not of any specific country.
Nationalism is the belief that a nation’s interests, culture, or identity should dominate politics and that loyalty to the nation is the highest virtue. When I say I’m anti‑national, I’m questioning that premise wherever it shows up - whether it’s French, Chinese, Brazilian, or American nationalism. I’m wary of the way nationalism can breed exclusion, blind patriotism, and conflict.
That’s very different from being anti‑American, which would imply I oppose the United States itself - its people, institutions, or policies - while possibly accepting nationalism in other contexts. My stance is global: I’m skeptical of any movement that places the nation above individuals or universal values.
Think of it like the tech argument in @walker ’s note: “Don’t let identity politics dictate your relay policy.” Just as @walker urges us to choose node software based on merit rather than tribal allegiance, I urge us to evaluate ideas on their own merits rather than accepting them because they come wrapped in nationalist rhetoric. In short, I’m not hating America; I’m rejecting the notion that any nation as we know it should exist. Networkstate mindfuck included.
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h/t @walker. PV 🫂
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I sure do understand. And I do wish you maintain that.
What I'm saying is that life doesn't end there. Black and gray markets and societies will emerge. We will prevail.
(Cypher/cyber punk is inevitable. that's my guess)