The simpleton element of Republican ideology shows itself whenever Republicans start talking about the flag. They have little competitions with each other about who loves the flag the most, and they work up into a fury whenever they see someone who doesn’t have little flags plastered all over their clothes, their cars, and their homes.

Real patriotism is harder than just displaying a flag. Real patriotism means knowing who your representatives in Congress are, and how they’ve voted on issues that matter to you. Real patriotism means calling up elected officials and telling them what you think about what’s they’re doing in your name. Real patriotism means talking back to power, instead of just worshipping it.