Being a good person and contributing positvely to my community and society regarding art and literature, maybe having laws and schools named after me (though I wouldn’t want an excess of statues and paintings of me due to the whole “graven icons” verse of the Bible), and probably an ideology (regarding art, philosophy, politics, and video game design), among other things.
A school in my hometown, a state or federal law (that would prevent others like me from enduring what I have in my lifetime), or any kind of philosophy regarding ideology, politics, or specifically video games, since I have very unique takes on all of them.
No, for several reasons. First, no one gets to choose their country of origin, so I think it’s foolish to be proud of nationality. Second, any country in the world, America included, their histories, and all their leaders and policies, past and present, are just as subject to criticism, judgment, and review as in any other nation on the face of the Earth. Third, I think pledging allegiance to any country or their symbols such as their flags are forms of idolatry, which goes against my faith.
However, the true definition of patriotism can be flexible. For instance, given that America was founded upon defiance and treason, there is the quote, largely attributed to Thomas Jefferson (though it hasn’t been confirmed), that “Dissent is the highest form of patrotism.” Malcolm X further had the warning “You’re not to be so blind with patriotism that you can’t face reality. Wrong is wrong, no matter who does it or says it.” In general, I don’t believe in “my country, right or wrong,” but rather, “my country, only when genuinely right” (not ideologically speaking, of course).
If you had the power to change one law, what would it be and why?
Revise American campaign finance laws so that voters could only donate to or influence the campaigns of political candidates (through advertising or other means) for whom they’re actually legally able to vote, sort of like implementing the Westphalian system in that regard.
St. Gallen's Scribblings 