Fifteenth Global Studies Conference

Abstract

With what seems to be growing support for the far-right movement and the use of nationalistic language in political discourse, it is imperative to understand how this rhetoric garners support and demonizes those who dissent. Claims of nationalism and patriotism within the United States come from both political parties while simultaneously accusing the other party of trying to destroy or corrupt the country’s values. Both parties seem to be vying for patriotic superiority over the other. This paper explores the ways language and actions create a sense of one’s identity and project one’s beliefs. This research also explores the backlash, primarily from the right-wing, against certain forms of protest, particularly the kneeling of Colin Kaepernick and the Black Lives Matter movement, by labeling them as unpatriotic and even un-American.