There are those who wrap themselves in flags and blow the tinny

“There are those who wrap themselves in flags and blow the tinny trumpet of patriotism as a means of fooling the people.” So declared George Galloway, with words that strike like thunder against the false idols of pride. In this saying lies a stern rebuke: not all who wave the banner love the nation, and not all who speak of patriotism serve the people. Some clothe themselves in the symbols of loyalty only to hide ambition, greed, or tyranny. Their trumpet blares not with truth but with hollow sound, seeking to stir emotion while silencing reason.

This deception is as old as empires. For there have always been rulers and demagogues who call upon the sacred love of country not to uplift the land, but to bind the people in chains. They know that nothing moves the heart more swiftly than the sight of the flag and the cry of devotion. Yet when this love is misused, it becomes a snare, catching the innocent in webs of falsehood. The people are made to believe that to question the rulers is to betray the homeland, when in truth the betrayal lies in the rulers themselves.

Consider the tale of Nazi Germany. Adolf Hitler draped his ambitions in banners and anthems, proclaiming love for the Fatherland while leading the people into ruin. The flag was exalted, the trumpet of patriotism sounded day and night, but beneath it lay lies, cruelty, and destruction. Millions followed, deceived by the trappings of loyalty, until the nation itself was left in ashes. This is the dire warning within Galloway’s words: when false patriots manipulate symbols for their own power, the people themselves are made to suffer.

Yet history also reveals the opposite: that true patriots often wear no cloak of grandiosity, nor sound their devotion with brass. Think of Mahatma Gandhi, who carried no weapon and waved no false banner, yet loved India more deeply than many who claimed to guard it. His patriotism was not noise but sacrifice, not a trumpet but a quiet strength that moved millions. He proved that true love of country is not in the wrapping of flags, but in the service of truth and justice.

The lesson here is both piercing and clear: discernment is required. Do not be swayed by empty shows of loyalty. The loudest cries of patriotism may come from those who betray it most. True patriots do not need to wrap themselves in symbols, for their devotion is visible in their actions—justice pursued, neighbors cared for, sacrifices made in silence. Look not to the noise of trumpets, but to the fruit of deeds.

Therefore, let each citizen guard their heart against manipulation. Ask always: who profits from these displays of loyalty? Who benefits when dissent is silenced beneath the cry of the flag? Do not mistake the symbols for the substance. The flag is holy only because of the blood, sweat, and sacrifice of the people; it becomes empty when wielded as a mask for tyranny.

Practically, this means living your patriotism not in loud declarations, but in steady faithfulness. Serve your community. Defend the weak. Question leaders when they stray. Honor the true spirit of the nation by living justly, even when the false patriots call you unfaithful. For in the end, the nation’s strength lies not in the wrapping of cloth or the blare of trumpets, but in the quiet, steadfast love of its people.

So remember Galloway’s warning: beware those who parade their patriotism too loudly, for their trumpet may be tinny, their devotion hollow. Look instead for the true patriots—the ones whose love for their land is shown in sacrifice, humility, and truth. For these are the men and women who keep the soul of a nation alive, even when the noise of falsehood fills the air.