Well, I recently cruised the 'Inside Passage' of Alaska, departing Seattle on a vast ocean liner stuffed with flag waving red state patriots, many of them citing the cruise as the perfect trip, relieving them from the fear of flying with terrorists, walking, and finding sensible food at night. Many many people were lovely, but some were so proud I thought there'd be a mutiny when the Captain announced we'd entered Canadian waters. (There was certainly some disaffection and hasty checking of itineraries). Some examples might be:
1. National pride expands US territory.
Some chick from Newport Beach (more Chino than O.C.), on reaching the summit of a mountain pass via narrated train journey, proclaiming to the group: "You gotta love this country hahhh? (Triumphantly.) Go-a-a-d bless the U...S... of... A...". We were in Canada.
2. State/Regional pride.
The persistently proud and competitive wearing of sweatshirts/ caps/ body art displaying one's state /city origin. It must be disorientating to holiday without your vehicle and its identifying state plate, so instead you get to advertise 'Delaware', 'Iowa', 'Nebraska' or 'North Dakota' on your person. Anyhows, state discipline quickly gave way to a wider national pride and desire to impress the folks back home, (or the taxi driver at Kansas City airport), so that within an hour of boarding ship, the name of most recently visited Alaskan port would be emblazoned abreast low-lying man breasts, and uni-boobs everywhere. This trend was most prevalent in the eat-yourself-into-a-wheelchair buffet court mind ;-P.
3. Mawkish pride.
Without doubt the most disturbing display was witnessed at the Bellagio water spectacular back in Las Vegas. The fountains splashed to the now unpleasantly arrogant 'God Bless the USA' (watch here). The assault on the senses was merciless; the red white and blue, the astonishingly embarrassing, and just plain weird lyrics, and the sweet stench of Alabama folks singing along and making sex noises. I assume the footage is used regularly by way of repetitive torture at Guantánamo.
Wednesday, 2 July 2008
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